Eightyfiveinafifty handles morning test

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The big question surrounding Eightyfiveinafifty entering the Whirlaway Stakes on Feb. 6 will be his ability to handle two turns. On Wednesday, trainer Gary Contessa gave the speedy 3-year-old colt a trial run around two turns by working him seven furlongs over Aqueduct's inner track.

Contessa was quite pleased with what he saw as Eightyfiveinafifty worked seven furlongs in 1:26.14 - by Contessa's watch - and galloped out a mile in 1:40.20. The official clocking was 1:27, the discrepancy being the time of the first eighth, according to Contessa and the clockers.

"He went really good and strong, 12 and change every eighth," Contessa said. "I was very, very pleased. He navigated the two turns well, which is what I was more concerned with."

Eightyfiveinafifty jumped onto the radar screen with a 17 1/4-length maiden victory over the inner track on Jan. 9. He ran six furlongs in 1:10.85 while being taken in hand late and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 105, the highest number by a 3-year-old. As a son of Forest Camp, Eightyfiveinafifty isn't necessarily a candidate to be successful around two turns, but that remains to be seen.

"Will he go two turns? There are so many factors involved," Contessa said. "We'll see. At least we know he's a hell of a sprinter."

Last week, Eightyfiveinafifty went a quick five furlongs in 58.66 seconds, according to Contessa, and the colt will have one more work next week before the Whirlaway, which is run at 1 1/16 miles. The Whirlaway is a prep for the Grade 3, $250,000 Gotham on March 6, also at 1 1/16 miles over the inner.

The Whirlaway drew 25 nominations, nine of them from trainer Todd Pletcher's stable. Pletcher indicated Wednesday that Three Day Rush, a first-level allowance sprint winner at Gulfstream on Jan. 9, is his likely Whirlaway starter.