Goombada Guska nails speed for Stymie win at Aqueduct

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Sitting in the garden spot off a speed duel, Goombada Guska rallied outside to collar the spent leaders in the stretch and turned back a late bid from More Than a Reason to win a four-horse renewal of the $61,750 Stymie Stakes by a half-length at Aqueduct on Saturday.

Goombada Guska ($7.10) rated comfortably in third early beneath Jose Valdivia Jr., as 2-5 favorite Remand went to the lead and was pressured constantly from outside by Masala through fractions of 23.16, 48.88 and 1:13.81.

Goombada Guska swung three wide to go after the leaders turning for home, reached the front after a mile in 1:38.96 and gamely repelled More Than a Reason, who was making his third start in 16 days and seventh at the winter meet. The winner ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.53 over a fast inner track and earned $39,000 in notching his second stakes win of the meet for trainer Scott Volk, to go along with the Cosmic Bob in mid-December.

"The race set up for him perfectly," said Volk. "The horse has to have something to run at, and he got it today. Jose fits the horse very well - he's a patient rider."

More Than a Reason had 2 3/4 lengths on Masala. It was another 6 1/4 lengths back to a fading Remand.

Arson Squad, battling a foot infection, was scratched.