Drop in class should help Fabulous Kid

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – After four unsuccessful stakes tries, Fabulous Kid takes a slight drop in class when he faces five rivals in a high-priced optional-claiming sprint that serves as the feature on Wednesday’s nine-race card at Aqueduct.

Last Nov. 18, Fabulous Kid got up by a nose in an optional $100,000 claiming race, the same price for which half of this field is being offered. That day, Fabulous Kid defeated Green Gratto, who came back to win two stakes, as well as two horses – Heaven’s Runway and Joking – who he meets in this spot.

After winning that race, Fabulous Kid came back on short rest Nov. 26 and ran third, beaten a half-length by Green Gratto, in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight. Since then, he was soundly beaten in the Gravesend, the Grade 3 Toboggan, and the Grade 3 General George at Laurel.

“We freshened him up a little bit,” said trainer and owner David Jacobson. “I think it’s a good spot.”

Jacobson also runs Heaven’s Runway, who finished fifth in this same condition Feb. 25. Mean Season was the favorite in that race, but a slow start and a fast early pace did him in as he finished last. The horse he dueled with that day, Classic Salsa, is back in this field.

Nubin Ridge finished second to Alex the Terror in that Feb. 25 race. Joking comes off neck loss in a cheaper optional claimer on March 20.

KEY CONTENDERS

Fabulous Kid, by Congrats

Last 3 Beyers: 87-89-87

◗ Though his numbers have tailed off, he does return to the surface on which he recorded his career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 101.

◗ Has the look of a stalker from the outside post in a race that should have a hot pace with Mean Season and Classic Salsa in the field.

◗ Jose Ortiz, coming off a seven-win weekend, has the call.

Mean Season, by Henny Hughes

Last 3 Beyers: 71-89-56

◗ Was off slowly, then dueled with Classic Salsa through a half-mile in 45.05 seconds before fading to last as the 8-5 favorite in this same spot Feb. 25.

“He had a lot of pace problems, so that seemed to affect him,” said Leana Willaford, assistant to trainer Bill Mott. “He seemed to come out in good order.”

◗ After a series of slow works leading up to his last race, he has picked up the pace, including a bullet half-mile in 47.47 seconds, the fastest of 88 moves at the distance April 2.

“We want to slow him down to keep him as sound as possible,” Willaford said. “That being said, he’s been moving very well.”

◗ Is reunited with Junior Alvarado, who was aboard for an eight-length win in December 2013.

Joking, by Distorted Humor

Last 3 Beyers: 94-92-91

◗ Returned from a three-month layoff with a neck loss in an optional $62,500 claiming event over the inner track March 20.

◗ He was given time off after bleeding through Lasix when third in a spot similar to this Dec. 20.