Gravesend scratches down to five runners

OZONE PARK, N.Y. -- Seven scratches took a seemingly interesting 12-horse field in Friday’s $135,000 Gravesend Stakes at Aqueduct down to a field of five.

The biggest scratch was that of Greeley and Ben, the 7-2 morning-line favorite, who had a temperature Friday morning, according to trainer Jeffrey Englehart. Greeley and Ben, a winner of 23 of 39 starts, was coming off a victory in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap here on Nov. 26.

“We are putting the horse first and will find a better day for him,” Englehart said.

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Also scratched as of 9:30 Friday morning were Parx-based runners Smooth B, Beren, Repo Rocks, and Twisted Ride. Smooth B, Repo Rocks, and Twisted Ride are entered in next Wednesday’s rescheduled Blitzen Stakes at Parx. Beren is entered in Friday’s Dave’s Friend at Laurel Park. Also scratched from the Gravesend are Amundson, entered back in a Sunday allowance at Aqueduct, and Synthesis.

Of those who remain, Morello is likely to go favored.

Morello won his first three starts including the Grade 3 Gotham here in March. Morello is coming off a fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap on Oct. 29, a race in which he stumbled at the break. In fact, Morello has been his own worst enemy at the start of his races, breaking slowly and/or hitting the side of the gate in five of his seven starts.

“We hope he breaks well, gets away from there, and gets to run his race,” said Toby Sheets, Belmont-based assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen. “He’s been doing well.”

Morello, who will now break from post 4, is reunited with Jose Lezcano, aboard for the 3-year-old colt’s first three victories.

Drafted, who won three stakes this year, will likely go off second choice. He finished third in this race last year before winning the Grade 3 Toboggan in January. He is coming off a fifth-place finish in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler, a race in which he was only beaten 1 1/4 lengths.

Three Two Zone hasn’t been out since a sixth-place finish behind Cody’s Wish in the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga on Aug. 27. He has since undergone throat surgery.

Bezos, who was beaten a nose in a Dec. 17 allowance, and Little Vic, winner of the City of Laurel Stakes at Laurel Park on Nov. 26, complete the scratch-reduced field.

The Gravesend goes as race 7 on an eight-race card that begins at 12:50 p.m.

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