Gierkink's preview: Jockey colony a little light

Friday, Aug. 8, preview

Absent jockeys

There are a host of riders who will miss some time here in the next few days for various reasons. Patrick Husbands is serving a suspension Friday, Saturday, and Wednesday. He has an exemption to ride Queen’s Plate winner Lexie Lou in Sunday’s $250,000 Wonder Where Stakes.

Leading rider Luis Contreras is suspended Sunday, Wednesday, and next Friday. Eurico Rosa Da Silva is suspended Friday due to a whip infraction. Emma-Jayne Wilson is riding in the Shergar Cup, a jockey challenge Saturday at Ascot in England.

David Moran has the mount on Grand Arch in Saturday’s Grade 2 Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga. He won the Grade 2 King Edward Stakes on the Brian Lynch charge here June 22. Chantal Sutherland-Kruse has been on vacation in California and might not return here for a while.

Midnight Aria vulnerable?

Midnight Aria competes for the first time since his gate-to-wire triumph in the 2013 Queen’s Plate in the eighth race, going a mile on the grass. The imposing 4-year-old fits nicely in the $50,000 starter allowance, but can he put away the other speed and keep on going?

Trainer Nick Gonzalez possesses solid numbers with long-term comebackers, and he said Midnight Aria has lots of miles under him, including three five-furlong works. He’s not worth the risk at the 7-5 morning-line price but should be used in the late pick four, along with Jubilate (5-2) and Sky Commander (9-2).

Jackpot Hi 5 carryover building

The Jackpot Hi 5 carryover is $136,956 heading into the ninth race, a wide-open Ontario-sired maiden special. Arthur’s Pass (12-1) is in with a longshot chance in his first venture around two turns, since the son of Alphabet Soup is bred for stamina.

Other contenders include Winning Shot (6-1), Milwaukee Flash (8-1), and Derek’s Prince (3-1). Another Bid (7-2) is dependable enough to round out the bottom of one of the exotics.

Horse to Watch

ENTWISTLE
Trainer: Roger Attfield
Last race: Aug. 4, 5th
Finish: 2nd by 1
Beyer: 50
He awaited room on the turn before closing wide and then galloped out strongly at first asking in a six-furlong maiden special for Ontario-sired juveniles. The son of Strut the Stage is a half-brother to Grade 2 turf stakes winner Something Extra and could find his calling on grass. Presumably, he’s named after the late John Entwistle, who was the bass guitarist for The Who.