Dutrow pair figure despite imperfect distance
?q=100)
In Rick Dutrow’s perfect world, neither The Obliterator nor Slay Sadie Slay would be tackling a one-turn mile at Aqueduct this week. The trainer said one might prefer a little longer while the other might prefer a little shorter, but the 3-year-old colts should still be able to make the most of things in the seventh on Friday, a starter allowance/optional $50,000 claiming race.
“We’re not going to wait around and choose our position,” Dutrow said. “They use this race and we jump on in there.”
The Obliterator has run a mile at Aqueduct in each of his last five starts, improving into a solid runner after an injury scare in November. On Jan. 1, Linda Rice claimed the Vino Rosso colt from Dutrow for $40,000 after a 5 1/4-length statebred maiden victory, only for Dutrow to claim him back 10 days later. He ran second in his first start against winners that day and will return to the same level Friday without a tag.
“It seemed like he was worth the money when we lost him and when we claimed him back,” Dutrow said. “It looks like he fits in this spot too. He likes Aqueduct, been running good there. Just a nice little solid horse.”
Another start at a mile shouldn’t be an obstacle for The Obliterator, but Dutrow said he’s been wanting to try him around two turns for some time without any luck. A distance test could come soon as the colt continues to prove himself.
Less seasoned than his stablemate, Slay Sadie Slay will make his third career start off a maiden victory at 6 1/2 furlongs on Jan. 18. He earned a 70 Beyer Speed Figure on a muddy track that day, appearing much sharper than he did in his December debut, in which he hit the starting gate and quickly faded.
Dutrow said seven furlongs would probably be ideal for the third-time starter, but the added distance shouldn’t be a major issue.
“His first start, I would have to say, he just wasn’t quite ready for it and seemed surprised about some things, which is okay,” Dutrow said. “And then he just came right back and got his mind into things more and he’s been doing good since he’s run. We’re excited to watch him run too.”
Slay Sadie Slay is one of four last-out maiden winners in the field of seven, which will also include the Rice-trained colts Kid Rich and Anyway. Both last ran on Feb. 11, when Kid Rich romped home to win a $25,000 maiden-claiming race by 6 1/2 lengths. Rice claimed Anyway from Todd Pletcher for $40,000 out of his 2 3/4-length debut victory over statebreds.
No Bees, an impressive maiden winner at Keeneland in October, will return from a layoff of more than three months for Saffie Joseph Jr. He has not run since Nov. 13, when he veered out at the start and faded at short odds in a $50,000 starter allowance at Churchill Downs.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.