Healthier Breslau drops down in attempt to regain winning form

There are several reasons to believe Breslau could bounce back from his last-place finish in his most recent race when he runs in a six-furlong starter allowance with a $50,000 optional claiming tag Thursday at Aqueduct.

Thursday’s race will be a drop in class for Breslau, who faced the likes of seven-time winner Light the Way and stakes winner Signator in a conditioned allowance race at Aqueduct on Dec. 4. Also, trainer Mike Miceli said Breslau came out of that race with a respiratory issue.

“He came out of the race kind of dull. He had a little mucus. We got that cleared up. Hopefully, he’s on target to run a decent race,” said Miceli, who claimed Breslau for $32,000 in August and won first off the claim with him sprinting at Aqueduct.

Breslau moves from the inside post to the outside draw in this eight-horse field, which includes another Miceli horse, Gunner Bay.

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“With that post, you don’t have to be in front. You can lay second or third and that would be cool,” said Miceli, who has Jose Lezcano to ride Breslau.

Miceli claimed Gunner Bay for $20,000 out of a second-place finish to Funny Uncle on Jan. 3. Funny Uncle came back to win his next start.

“If he runs one of his better races, he’s got a shot,” said Miceli, who has Flavien Prat named.

The veteran Twenty Four Mamba drops to the $50,000 claiming level at which Michele Giangiulio took him for in Saratoga last August. Forgiving Spirit, a seven-time winner, hasn’t raced since Nov. 28 but has run two good races off the claim for Rudy Rodriguez.

Tuskegee Airmen won at the $40,000 claiming level last out for JKX Racing and trainer Ernesto Padilla-Preciado. Thursday, he’ll make his first start for Chad Summers.

One race earlier on the card, Concorde Spirit heads a field of seven entered in a first-level allowance race for New York-breds. Concorde Spirit won this condition on Dec. 28 but was disqualified and placed fifth for lugging in and causing crowding in the stretch under Eric Cancel.

Trainer Gustavo Rodriguez is making a rider change to Kendrick Carmouche and is hoping that going 1 1/8 miles will allow the horse to be kept a little closer to the pace than last time.

“A mile and an eighth, he’s going to keep him right there,” Rodriguez said.

The speed in this field looks to be Mad Banker, who would be shipping up from Parx for trainer Jamie Ness.

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