Conditions favor Eye Luv Lulu in Thursday allowance

A return to sprinting, a return to Aqueduct’s main track, and the prospect of a wet surface combine to give Eye Luv Lulu a big chance in Thursday’s $75,000 allowance feature for New York-bred males at seven furlongs.

The race brings together the top three finishers from the Feb. 15 Hollie Hughes Stakes, won by Drama King, followed by Eye Luv Lulu and Between the Lines. That race was run at six furlongs over a fast Aqueduct inner track.

This one will be run at seven furlongs on the main track with a forecast that calls for rain.

Eye Luv Lulu, a 5-year-old gelding by Pollard’s Vision owned and trained by David Jacobson, is 5 for 6 over a wet track. His lone loss on such a surface came in the Saginaw Stakes, run at 1 1/16 miles.

Eye Luv Lulu is coming off a last-place finish in the Haynesfield Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 21.

“I believe he can go a distance, but every time I run him in a distance race, he doesn’t fire,” Jacobson said. “I won’t be doing that again.”

Cornelio Velasquez rides Eye Luv Lulu from post 2.

Like Eye Luv Lulu, Drama King is 2 for 2 over the main track and has two wins going seven furlongs. He’s in career form, having won his last three races, including a 1 1/2-length victory over Eye Luv Lulu.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has entered the uncoupled entry of Ostrolenka and Notacatbutallama. He said Monday that if the track is wet, then Ostrolenka – who is 0 for 4 over a wet surface – likely would not run.

KEY CONTENDERS

Eye Luv Lulu, by Pollard’s VisionLast 3 Beyers: 62-88-83

◗ Seeks his first win since Nov. 10, when he won an allowance/optional claimer at Parx off a 46-day layoff. This start comes 46 days after his last-place finish in the Haynesfield.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the last three years, Jacobson is 26 for 107 with a $1.73 ROI when going sprint to route at Aqueduct.

Drama King, by Nobiz Like ShobizLast 3 Beyers: 91-91-85

◗ In career form, with three consecutive victories, including a win in the Hollie Hughes over Drama King.

◗ Is 2 for 2 at Aqueduct, including a 7 1/2-length score in a starter allowance going seven furlongs last April 10.

◗ Finished third in his lone start over a sloppy track.

Notacatbutallama, by Harlan’s HolidayLast 3 Beyers: 84-87-66

◗ Was in too deep in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf, where he finished last behind Heart to Heart.

◗ Returns to dirt, where he is just 1 for 6, the win coming in the off the-turf Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga three years ago.