Huge Asset returns to New York looking much improved
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLEOZONE PARK, N.Y. – When last seen on this circuit, Huge Asset was hardly living up to his name. He had won just once in eight starts and on July 9 finished last in a $25,000 claiming race on the turf at Belmont Park.
On Wednesday, Huge Asset returns to New York looking, at least on paper, like the horse to beat in a $57,000 first-level allowance race for New York-breds. The one-mile race drew a field of eight older horses, none of whom appear as sharp as Huge Asset.
After leaving New York, Huge Asset went to Monmouth where in August he won a $5,000 claiming race on dirt by 13 3/4 lengths. Twenty-two days later, he went up to the $10,000 level at Parx where he finished second and was claimed by Gumpster Stable and trainer Patricia Farro.
In four starts for them, all at Parx, Huge Asset has a win and three seconds, mostly in starter-allowance races for horses that have started for a claiming tag of $16,000 or less. After winning a starter allowance by four lengths on Nov. 25, he came back in a similar spot on Dec. 16 and finished second, giving way to Sanculpa in the final 50 yards.
“He ran really big,” said Michael Farro, assistant trainer to Patricia, who is his wife. “It wasn’t an easy race. He’s just come up from the bottom, been getting good, been doing good. The high spot is hopefully running this race in New York.”
KEY CONTENDERS
Huge Asset (Last 3 Beyers: 84-77-77)
◗ The Farros became bullish on Huge Asset after his Nov. 25 win over Giroux, a horse they also train. Giroux came back to win a starter allowance by 1 3/4 lengths on Dec. 29 with an 84 Beyer Speed Figure.
“That horse,” Michael Farro said, referring to Giroux, “is really doing well. That’s why I’m thinking in my mind coming up here we could be okay.”
◗ Irad Ortiz Jr., New York’s leading rider in 2014, has the call.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past three years, Patricia Farro is 8 for 32 shipping to Aqueduct, including 3 for 17 over the inner track.
Bambisfrostyracer (Last 3 Beyers: 63-63-45)
◗ Trainer Linda Rice has won with three of her last four starters at the meet and is the second-leading trainer with 11 wins since the inner track opened on Dec. 3.
◗ On speed figures, Bambisfrostyracer is lacking, but he is making his third start off a layoff and is getting blinkers for the first time. He comes off a fifth in a one-mile New York-bred allowance.
“I think he’s going to move forward off that last race,” Rice said. “Blinkers might help. He was a little timid. He trains like he would like more distance.”
Giantinthemoonlite (Last 3 Beyers: 77-63-77)
◗ A full brother to route winner Giant Moon, Giantinthemoonlite makes his initial start around two turns.
◗ He raced with blinkers for the first time when third in this condition sprinting last out.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 6 Giantinthemoonlite. Trainer Bruce Brown is 58-7-13-6 with a $0.92 ROI over the past five years going sprint to route on the Aqueduct inner dirt. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Adams Note. Trainer Michael Dilger is 53-12-11-5 with a $4.76 ROI over the past two years in dirt routes. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan