California Night finds better spot in Jimmy Winkfield

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – California Night was scratched from last Saturday’s Grade 3 Withers Stakes where he would have been a longshot and was re-routed to this Saturday’s $150,000 Jimmy Winkfield Stakes where he would appear to be a better fit in a field of seven entered Wednesday for the seven-furlong feature for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct.

California Night, a son of Midnight Lute, won his debut here Dec. 10 by three lengths going 6 1/2 furlongs. The running of the race was far more uneventful than pre-race when two horses were scratched at the gate leaving a four-horse field. One of the actual runners, Fixed Point, broke awkwardly and California Night had little trouble recording a front-running victory.

“We’ve always had high expectations for him,” trainer Mike Maker said. “He’s a very attractive colt that we’ve been high on from Day 1.”

Maker said the Winkfield, at seven furlongs, seemed like a more logical step than the Withers, which was run at 1 1/8 miles and featured two graded stakes winners.

The Winkfield drew a field of seven with A Different Style the lone stakes winner having taken the James F. Lewis at Laurel last Nov. 11. Most recently, A Different Style finished fourth in the Heft Stakes going seven furlongs at Laurel.

Kendrick Carmouche, who rode California Night in his debut victory, will ride A Different Style for trainer John Servis in the Winkfield. Rafael Hernandez will ride California Night on Saturday.

Devine Entry, second in the Heft behind Diamond King, could go off favored for trainer Linda Rice. Devine Entry finished first in a first-level allowance race Nov. 25 at Laurel but was disqualified for interference. He came back three weeks later to clear that condition before running second, eight lengths clear of the field, in the Heft.

Junior Alvarado rides Devine Entry.

Mid-Atlantic-based runners Global Citizen, Jumpmaster, and Smooth B, a supplemental nominee, and Glennwood complete the field. Glennwood is expected to scratch from a starter allowance here Thursday to run in the Winkfield.