Decker and Brei hoping for better racing luck in New York

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Ken Decker and owner Fred Brei suffered two tough beats in stakes races run on the Feb. 17 card at Laurel Park, losing both the Grade 3 General George and the listed Miracle Wood by a neck.

Undeterred, Decker and Brei will take shots in three of the four stakes scheduled for Saturday at Aqueduct.

Old Time Revival, a 34-1 longshot who was run down by Still Having Fun in the Miracle Wood, will take his shot in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes for 3-year-olds. Fellowship, who was outfinished by Something Awesome in the General George, will stretch out to a mile in the $150,000 Stymie Stakes. Awesome Banner, fourth in the General George, will shorten up to six furlongs in the Grade 3, $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap.

After losing his first two starts at five furlongs last summer at Laurel, Old Time Revival, a son of Brethren, won a seven-furlong maiden race Dec. 11 at Laurel. He got used up in a speed duel and finished last of seven in the Frank Whiteley Jr. Stakes before rebounding with a game effort in the Miracle Wood, holding off Wentz to his outside but getting passed by Still Having Fun on his inside.

Referring to the Whiteley, Decker said Old Time Revival “got a little anxious and he used himself up. He was nice and relaxed the other day. I don’t think he saw the horse on the inside. But he ran a nice race, came out of it good, and if everything stays in one piece between now and Saturday we’ll see what he’s all about.”

Steve Hamilton will ride Old Time Revival in the Gotham, which is likely to draw a 10-horse field led by Grade 1 winners Firenze Fire and Free Drop Billy, as well as Grade 2 winner Enticed.

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays

The fact the Stymie and Tom Fool are both one-turn races enables Decker to split up Fellowship and Awesome Banner after both ran in the seven-furlong General George.

Fellowship, a son of Awesome of Course, was 14 lengths off the early pace in the General George before commencing a rally that fell just short under Hamilton, who will be up again Saturday.

“He pretty much does everything himself,” Decker said. “We tried to keep him closer, but he gets a little anxious and makes his run too early. You got to let him to do what he wants. A one-turn mile should fit him well.”

Among those under consideration for the Stymie are Backsideofthemoon, Hit It Once More, Securitiz, Vulcan’s Forge, and Watershed. Harlan Punch, who won an allowance race at Aqueduct on Sunday by four lengths and earned a career-best 100 Beyer Speed Figure, also is expected to enter.

Awesome Banner prompted the pace in the General George and still did well to finish fourth, beaten just 1 1/2 lengths. Prior to that, he won the Fire Plug Stakes at six furlongs. His regular rider, J.D. Acosta, will come up from Laurel for the ride.

“I don’t think he much cared for the [wet] racetrack the other day; he didn’t really put forth the kind of effort that he did in the Fire Plug and he only got beat a length and a half,” Decker said. “Shorter and a better racetrack, he’s going to be awfully tough. He seems to be on his game.”

Those expected to run in the Tom Fool include Classy Class, Do Share, Favorite Tale, Great Stuff, Green Gratto, Skyler’s Scramjet, and Threefiveindia. Life in Shambles, My Boy Tate, and Spartiatis are possible.