Dr. D.F.C. best suited to the distance

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - More than two-thirds of the 67 horses entered Thursday at Aqueduct are New York-breds, including six older males who will go once around the 1 1/8-mile main track in the $65,000 Smart Coupons.

The distance of the overnight stakes works to the benefit of Dr. D.F.C., who last year beat Stud Muffin - the eventual winner of the Empire Classic - at 1 1/8 miles. That victory was Dr. D.F.C.'s finest hour, and also makes him the lone entrant with a nine-furlong win to his credit.

After finishing fifth in the Empire Classic, Dr. D.F.C. was freshened by trainer Rodrigo Ubillo, and returned for three starts during the second half of the winter meet. Most recently, he ran third in a shorter route behind multiple stakes winner Giant Moon, who set a leisurely pace.

Meanwhile, See More Spirit, Judge William, and Alexandros have made 58 starts, but not one of them was beyond 1 1/16 miles.

Since John Hertler put blinkers on See More Spirit, the gelding has shown improved positional speed in two sharp efforts - a win over open optional claimers at a mile, followed by a placing in the Mr. GJG overnight stakes at 1 1/16 miles.

Judge William and Alexandros have both won on the front end, and they figure to be vying for the early lead.

Judge William, an off-the-turf maiden winner in his only start on the Big A main track, is back quickly for Scott Schwartz after a troubled stretch run in a starter allowance last Friday.

Alexandros has two wins and a photo-finish placing from three starts on the main track, beginning with a nine-length maiden win on a surface labeled good as a 2-year-old. He met open company in all four starts at the winter meet, and makes his second start back from a layoff for Del Carroll II.

Carroll also saddles Stopbluffing, who hasn't been 1 1/8 miles in 22 starts since a sixth-place finish in the 2007 Albany Handicap.

Undocumented, stepping up from a win over $14,000 claimers, rounds out the field.

* In race 3, Flashing, a promising 3-year-old filly owned by Darley Stable fresh off an easy first-level allowance win for Tom Albertrani, takes on five older rivals headed by the Bruce Levine-trained entry of One Step Ahead and Lucky Revival.