Fellow Crasher gets rematch

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Though it appears the fastest of his three entrants will not run, trainer Tony Dutrow still stands an excellent chance to win Monday's $65,000 Jimmy Winkfield Stakes at Aqueduct.

Dutrow will definitely run the coupled entry of Fellow Crasher and The Prince. Dutrow's other entrant, the sharp maiden winner Z Day, is likely to scratch and ship to Gulfstream Park for the Hutcheson Stakes on Jan. 30, according to Sobhy Sonbol, racing manager for owner Ahmed Zayat.

Z Day would most likely have been the main speed of the Winkfield, a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds named for the last African-American jockey to win the Kentucky Derby. His defection most likely means that Taqarub and Great Debater will duke it out on the lead.

Fellow Crasher and The Prince would benefit from a pace duel. Fellow Crasher won the Tyro Stakes last August at Monmouth Park, a result that grew in significance when the horse he beat, Notonthesamepage, romped to victory in the Spectacular Bid at Gulfstream.

Most recently, Fellow Crasher finished second behind Taqarub, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, when that horse got loose on a relatively soft pace.

"I offer no excuses," Dutrow said. "Kiaran's horse did get a fantastic go of it. My horse made a run, didn't get to him; I'm looking forward to another try at him Monday."

Dutrow believes The Prince is talented, but also called him an "immature playboy." After winning his debut - a race that produced three next-out winners - The Prince finished second next out but was disqualified and placed third for interference. Dutrow will equip The Prince with blinkers, a move that the trainer has been successful with 35 percent of the time the last two years.

"I'm keeping my fingers crossed, hoping this does the trick, but this guy is still not all there mentally," Dutrow said. "But a talented horse, nice horse, I'm feeling good about him. The day will come that he does pull it all together."

Taqarub, a son of Aldebaran that cost $300,000 at auction, has yet to be tested in winning his first two starts in front-running style. Alan Garcia will eschew a day off at Gulfstream and fly in for the ride from the rail.

The New York-bred Giant Ryan, a winner of two straight, and Naos, a debut winner, complete the field.

With Aqueduct open Monday, the track will be dark for live racing Tuesday and Wednesday, but open for simulcasting those days.