Hot barn sends out No Reply
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin enjoyed a pretty sweet weekend, winning five races, including two graded stakes at Keeneland while returning to the races a very promising 3-year-old in Lieutenant Ron.
McLaughlin will try to build on his momentum Wednesday with No Reply, who looks to finally clear the second-level allowance hurdle in Aqueduct's featured event on a nine-race card. McLaughlin also has contenders in three allowance races at Keeneland.
No Reply, a gelded son of Deputy Commander, lost three times at 5-2 or less at this condition on the inner track. His last race, however, was his best, a neck loss to Marina Market on Feb. 7. He finished 4 1/2 lengths clear of the rest of the field.
On the advice of jockey Alan Garcia, McLaughlin is taking the blinkers off No Reply for this start, which will be run at 1 1/8 miles over the main track.
"Alan thought the blinkers might have kept him from winning last time," McLaughlin said Monday. "He thought he didn't see the other horse. He's been wearing them for a long time and probably doesn't really need them, so we decided to take them off."
The 1 1/8 miles will be the farthest No Reply has raced, but McLaughlin does not feel it will be a problem.
"I would think that would be plus, not a negative," he said. "He's a big, leggy horse."
On paper, there appears to be ample pace in the field, with Oedipus O'Neal and Angelic Aura entered. Oedipus O'Neal is coming off a front-running score in a first-level allowance race over the inner track and will be coupled in the wagering with Irish Majesty, who is one of two horses entered for the optional claiming price of $50,000. Both are trained by Gary Contessa.
Angelic Aura comes off a front-running score in a $35,000 claiming race from which he was taken by owner Michael Ricatto Jr. and trainer David Jacobson. Mucho Margaritas ships up from Maryland for trainer Michael Trombetta. Reptillian Smarts and Hawkinsville round out the field.
There is a pick-six carryover of $52,307 on Wednesday's card. The first two grass races of the year are included in the sequence.