Golden Moka brings solid credentials into Discovery Handicap

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – A field of seven entered Saturday’s Grade 3, $100,000 Discovery Handicap, a 1 1/8-mile race that is the last open graded stakes of the season for 3-year-olds in New York.

The most accomplished entrant is Golden Moka, owned in part by former jockey Rene Douglas, who purchased the colt on behalf of Good Friends Stable after viewing tapes of his three winning races in Panama last year, and turned him over to Woodbine-based trainer Brian Lynch. Golden Moka missed a start in the Queen’s Plate due to illness, but captured the $500,000 Prince of Wales at 10-1 in his Canadian debut.

“Since he had won three allowance races in Panama he was not eligible for any easier races here, so we took a shot,” said Lynch, who formerly trained for Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs Farm, the breeder of Golden Moka.

Golden Moka, who suffered his first loss when fifth in the Super Derby as the second choice, drew the rail and will carry top weight of 118 pounds. To his outside, in order, are Stormy’s Majesty, Teaks North, Overcommunication, Not Abroad, Al Muhtasib, and Dominant Jeannes.

Saturday’s card will feature two $60,000 overnight stakes, beginning with the 1 1/8-mile Mad Hatter, which is carded as the opener and will be the first two-turn dirt race at the meet. Dry Martini, last year’s Suburban winner, and Understatement, who won two stakes on the inner-dirt track last winter with Beyer Figures of 115 and 105, head a field of six.

Eight 3-year-old fillies entered the Foil, which will be race 7, and the third leg of a $250,000 guaranteed late pick four.

◗ A full field of juvenile fillies entered Friday’s one-mile feature, a $48,000 first-level allowance scheduled for turf.

Contenders include Cloneylass, third in the Jessamine in her U.S. debut; Excited, second in the Good Mood overnight stakes last out; and Lucky Strikes Gold, who finished fast at Keeneland first time on turf.

◗ Eminent Tale ($6.20) sped clear soon after the start, and widened to win Wednesday’s Great White Way division of the New York Stallion by 7 3/4 lengths under Ramon Dominguez.

Eminent Tale improved to 2 for 3 for Rick Dutrow, after running six furlongs in 1:11.65 on a track labeled good.