Full Moon Madness on the improve in competitive sprint

Full Moon Madness will look to build off a career-best performance last out and potentially earn his way back into stakes company when he heads a field of seven entered in a second-level allowance/optional $62,500 claimer that serves as Friday’s feature on Aqueduct’s eight-race card.

A son of Into Mischief out of the Grade 1-winning mare By the Moon, Full Moon Madness galloped to a 4 1/2-length victory in an entry-level allowance at Aqueduct on New Year’s Day. The 91 Beyer Speed Figure he earned was a career-best.

In his start prior to that, Full Moon Madness finished second, beaten a neck, but was disqualified and placed fifth. His jockey, Trevor McCarthy, said the horse attempted to lug in badly that day and he bumped another rival.

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Those races were the second and third starts off a 10-month layoff, and showed an ability to be successful from off the pace.

“I think since he’s come back, he’s a lot stronger, he’s a lot more settled, and I think that’s probably helping him,” trainer Michelle Nevin said.

A good performance by Full Moon Madness in this spot could potentially lead to a start in the Grade 3, $175,000 Tom Fool Handicap at Aqueduct on March 2.

The 7-year-old New York-bred Listentoyourheart makes the second start off a six-month layoff for trainer Ray Handal. In his first start off the bench, Listentoyourheart chased the speedy Andiamo a Firenze, and though he hung in to the wire, he finished fourth, beaten one length by American Monarch.

“He came out of the race real good, I think he needed the last one, kind of felt like he was missing that last punch,” trainer Ray Handal said. “This is probably a little easier spot, there’s not as much speed, I think he’ll be pretty forward in there and hopefully he’ll finish better than he did last time.”

Handal said he expects Katie Davis to have Listentoyourheart on or near the lead breaking from post 6.

“I like the post, I like the pace, I like the way he looks in there tactically,” Handal said. “We’re going to be aggressive and kind of come away from there.”

Trainer Linda Rice has two entered in this spot. Rice is cutting Lord Captain back from 1 1/4 miles to six furlongs in his first start since Aug. 2, when he finished fourth in a starter allowance at Saratoga. He has run well sprinting before, including an allowance win going 6 1/2 furlongs last February at Delta Downs when in the barn of trainer Tom Amoss.

Rice also sends out Power Seeker, who turns back from a mile where he finished sixth, beaten three lengths in the mud on Dec. 29.

Midlaner, trained by Michael Moore, ships in off a first-level allowance win at Parx on Jan. 8. Life Changer and Jake Rocks complete the field.

◗ After canceling two cards (Jan. 20-21) earlier this meet due to cold temperatures, Aqueduct will race Thursday Feb. 29, originally scheduled as a dark day, the New York Racing Association announced Wednesday.

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