Bustin Timberlake has tough task off layoff
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Two divisions of a winter staple – a second-level allowance/optional $45,000 claimer for New York-breds – highlight Sunday’s nine-race card at Aqueduct. Both seven-furlong races drew fields of seven.
In race 6, Bustin Timberlake returns from an 11-month layoff for trainer Charlton Baker. In his last two starts, Bustin Timberlake won a first-level statebred allowance by 6 3/4 lengths before getting beat a nose in a three-way photo in this second-level condition last March 20.
Baker said Bustin Timberlake developed “a minor injury” in training out of that March 20 race and was given time off. He shows eight works over the last two months for his return.
“I did as much as I could do, but seven-eighths is a tough distance to come back in,” Baker said. “He might need a race. You never know, but he’s as fit as we can have him.”
Bustin Timberlake has good tactical speed and figures to be near or potentially on the lead under Kendrick Carmouche. Daddy Knows, claimed for $25,000 on Feb. 11 by Jeffrey Englehart, is wheeling back on short rest and looks like one of the other speed types in the field. Daddy Knows breaks from post 7 under Andy Hernandez, a seven-pound apprentice who recently came to New York and is riding here and at Parx.
Trainer Horacio De Paz is hoping for a spirited duel to set things up for his closer Our Man Mike. Our Man Mike is coming off a last-to-first victory in the first-level statebred allowance on Jan 14, his sixth try in that condition.
“For whatever reason, he likes to run the last three-eighths or quarter of a mile,” De Paz said. “They really came back to him that day.”
In race 8, De Paz brings Winners Laugh back to the races. Winners Laugh was off for six months when he ran sixth in this condition on Dec. 3. De Paz mentioned that Winners Laugh was off from June to December due to bone bruising.
Winners Laugh has plenty of early speed, but De Paz sees ample other speed in this race, including More Graytful and Whistling Birds.
“He’s a very forward horse and I don’t want to take that away from him,” De Paz said. “Last time, coming off the layoff, he probably needed the race.”
Winners Laugh will break from post 7 under Jose Lezcano.
Seven Lillies would benefit from some pace up front. On Dec. 17, he finished a solid second, with trouble, to Yankee Division, who beat Seven Lillies again on Jan. 14. In the latter race, the pace was slow and the inside paths were the better part of the track, while Seven Lillies was five wide in the lane.
Tapizearance finished third behind Our Man Mike on Jan. 14, though was elevated to second after being interfered with by runner-up Papa Smooth. Tapizearance came back to clear the first-level condition on Feb. 5.