Hagler adding blinkers for Jimmy Winkfield Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Hagler, fifth in the one-mile Jerome Stakes on New Year’s Day, will shorten up to seven furlongs and get blinkers for the $100,000 Jimmy Winkfield on Jan. 30, trainer Rudy Rodriguez said Friday.

Prior to his Jerome defeat, Hagler won an allowance race going seven furlongs at Aqueduct. Rodriguez felt that Hagler didn’t pay full attention in the Jerome.

“When we ran him the other day he was on the lead by himself, he looked like he was playing around,” Rodriguez said. “We’ll put the blinkers on, put him on the lead and put him in the game early, and see how it goes.”

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Despite the frigid temperatures Friday morning that prompted the cancellation of Aqueduct’s live racing card that afternoon, Rodriguez worked Hagler a half-mile in 51.11 seconds. It was the fastest of 19 works at the distance.

“I know the time was slow, but I really like the way he went,” Rodriguez said.

Other Winkfield possibles include Dance Code, Morello, and Witty.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez said Wudda U Think Now, a 10 1/2-length winner of an open-company second-level allowance race on Jan. 16, would make his next start in the $100,000 Hollie Hughes Stakes on Feb. 19.

Wudda U Think Now, a 5-year-old gelding by Fast Anna, earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure for his Jan. 16 win.