Eightyfiveinafifty blazes in work
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Eightyfiveinafifty, currently the fastest 3-year-old in the nation after winning a maiden sprint with a 105 Beyer Speed Figure on Jan. 9, activated trainer Gary Contessa's radar gun with a blazing workout on the inner track Wednesday.
There is some question whether the five-furlong move, with Nick Santagata up, was the fastest or second-fastest of nine at the distance. Eightyfiveinafifty was officially credited with a time of 59.41 seconds, while Castaneda, a 3-year-old maiden gelding also trained by Contessa, got the bullet of 58.66.
"I had them the opposite," Contessa said. "I like to work them in hoods when it's cold, and without the head markings they're very similar in appearance."
Either way, it was a fast work - no one else broke 1:01 - and speedier than Contessa would've liked.
"Nick asked how fast I would like him to go, and I said '1:02,' " said Contessa, "but I'm not unhappy because he did it in his usual ridiculously easy fashion. He worked strong to the wire, galloped out strong, and came back none the worse for wear. If he gets away from you the first jump, he's going to have a helluva work."
Eightyfiveinafifty remains on target to stretch out in the $100,000 Whirlaway Stakes at 1 1/16 miles a week from Saturday.
"We'll come back a week from now and work again," Contessa said. "The key is being able to train when you need to train and have the weather work on your behalf."
Paumonok draws field of six
A field of six older sprinters entered Saturday's $65,000 Paumonok Stakes at six furlongs.
Driven by Success (post 3) will be the one to catch in his first start since a pace duel in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile.
Also entered were Laysh Laysh Laysh (post 1), Wall Street Wonder (2), Peace Town (4), Mt. Glittermore (5), and Shoptate (6).
Allowance, starter top Friday card
The richest races Friday carry purses of $41,000: a one-mile first-level allowance for 3-year-old New York-bred fillies (race 3) and a six-furlong starter allowance for 3-year-olds (race 8).
Five entered the statebred allowance, with Offlee Cool drawn on the rail and likely to be favored
Seven entered the starter allowance. Tutor may go favored after edging Gimmeanotherwink for second in a similar spot last time out.