Diverse cast in Discovery

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Arrogate was the only 3-year-old to run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Gun Runner, Accelerate, and Texas Chrome were 3-year-olds who opted for the Dirt Mile. The remainder of what’s left standing in the division has seemingly converged at Aqueduct for Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Discovery Stakes.

Eleven 3-year-olds, of varying degree of accomplishment, were entered for the Discovery, which offers 3-year-olds one last chance to face their own age group. Gift Box and Governor Malibu may have name recognition, but horses like Sticksstatelydude, Adulator, and Hot Seat are interesting prospects, not only for Saturday but the future.

Sticksstatelydude has not had much luck in his career. At 2, he was scratched out of the Hopeful because of a temperature and missed the Breeders’ Cup due to a tendon tear. He has run some solid races this year, including a 3 1/4-length allowance win at Belmont Park in July and a runner-up finish to Texas Chrome in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby last time out. In between, he finished a well-beaten fourth in the Grade 3 Smarty Jones at Parx with some traffic trouble.

“I think he’s maturing,” said Greg Burchell, who is part-owner and the usual trainer of Sticksstatelydude. Kiaran McLaughlin will be the trainer of record Saturday, according to Burchell.

“He’s figured it out. He’s training a lot kinder right now.”

Sticksstatelydude tends to run better when he can stalk the pace, and there doesn’t appear to be much early speed in the Discovery.

Joel Rosario saw fit to choose Sticksstatelydude over Governor Malibu, whom he has ridden in his last six starts, including a fourth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes and a runner-up finish in the Jim Dandy.

Governor Malibu, who will be ridden by Joe Bravo, is coming out of a second-place finish in the $300,000 Empire Classic for New York-breds at Belmont.

“If you believe in numbers, he ran the best race of his life,” trainer Christophe Clement said. “If you believe what you saw, it was a nice race.”

Discovery, Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Sticksstatelydude, by First Dude

Last 3 Beyers: 94-77-103

◗ Just got outfinished by an in-form Texas Chrome when second in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby last out at Remington Park. Has worked well since and looked a picture of health at Belmont Park on Thursday.

“He’s sitting on go,” Burchell said. “The race came up a little tougher than I thought, but I think we’ll be competitive.”

Governor Malibu, by Malibu Moon

Last 3 Beyers: 96-99-95

◗ Returns to graded stakes company after running two good races against New York- breds.

◗ He was second in the Jim Dandy before running fifth behind BC Classic winner Arrogate in the Travers.

Gift Box, by Twirling Candy

Last 3 Beyers: 97-99-98

◗ He was second to stablemate Connect in Curlin Stakes going 1 1/8 miles around two turns two starts back. Connect won the Pennsylvania Derby and is being pointed to Clark Handicap or Cigar Mile on Thanksgiving weekend.

◗ He was third behind Mohaymen in last year’s Remsen going this distance at Aqueduct.

Adulator, by Flatter

Last 3 Beyers: 100-96-93

◗ Goes two turns for the first time since he won a first-level allowance race at Saratoga going 1 1/8 miles. He has twice finished second at the second-level allowance condition, most recently behind front-running winner Wake Up in Malibu in a one-turn mile race at Belmont.

“It was really speed-favoring that day,” said Jimmy Jerkens, trainer of Adulator.

Hot Seat, by Unbridled’s Song

Beyers: 93-97

◗ Steps up into graded stakes company after two dominant wins at Parx.