Cut the Cord not a cinch dropping off stakes win
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OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Though Cut the Cord is dropping out of a stakes victory and is back in a condition he has already won three times, he’s no sure thing in a New York-bred second-level allowance/optional $45,000 claiming race that is the feature on Wednesday’s nine-race card at Aqueduct.
Typically a dark day, Wednesday was added to the schedule by the New York Racing Association to make up for two canceled cards on Oct. 30-31 during the Belmont at the Big A meet. In addition, there is a $31,372 pick six carryover on Wednesday after the wager wasn’t hit Sunday.
First post Wednesday is 12:10 p.m. Eastern, and the pick six begins in race 4 (1:40 p.m.).
Trainer and part-owner Ilkay Kantarmaci claimed Cut the Cord for $45,000 on Aug. 16, the day he won a one-mile race in this condition by three-quarters of a length. After trying him in an open first-level allowance at Saratoga, where he finished fifth, Kantarmaci shipped Cut the Cord to Finger Lakes where he won the Genesee Valley Breeders’ Stakes on Oct. 13.
That Aug. 16 victory was the third one in the last five tries in this condition for Cut the Cord. Kantarmaci said he had tried to claim Cut the Cord in June, but he got outshaken.
“Finally, I got him,” Kantarmaci said. “I think this is his spot. I like him at the one-turn mile and got Manny Franco.”
Cut the Cord is only 1 for 13 at Aqueduct, but his best Beyer Speed Figure of 91 came here in January when he was beaten a neck by Locke and Key.
“I think this is the right spot for him and I want to make his job easy, that’s why he’s in for this” price, Kantarmaci said.
The last time Shadow Dragon, trained by Bill Mott, raced in this condition, he won by a head here Jan. 23. He’s been running in open company the last five starts, winning a first-level allowance in March. This is the first time he is being offered for the claiming price.
Pineapple Man, trained by Michelle Nevin, won a statebred first-level allowance on July 11 going two turns at Saratoga. Most recently, he finished a well-beaten second behind My Noble Knight in a starter allowance in August.
Sheriff Bianco, one for his last 27, last raced in this condition three years ago, winning by 5 1/2 lengths going six furlongs. He comes out of a third-place finish in a second-level open-company race on Oct. 24. Trainer Linda Rice is adding blinkers to Sheriff Bianco, equipment he won with when blinkers were added in September 2021 for three starts.
Aggregation, trained by Chad Brown, is winless in seven starts the last two years. He did win in this condition in October 2023. He was beaten three-quarters of a length by Cut the Cord at Saratoga in August.
Shared Success, Refuah, Leftembehind, and Dolly’s Bank complete the field.
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