Indebted back for more in Sunday turf allowance
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Not only is Sunday the final day of racing over Aqueduct’s main track for 2015, but it also will be the final day of turf racing for the year on the New York Racing Association circuit.
To mark the occasion, NYRA has scheduled four turf events on the nine-race program, including the featured $67,000 first-level optional-claiming race restricted to 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles. With dry conditions and temperatures in the mid-50s forecast, expect a “good” turf course Sunday.
Indebted, who already has won this type of race twice, heads the field of eight. In July, Indebted won this condition by three-quarters of a length at Belmont Park. Three weeks ago, in his first start off a near-four-month layoff, he won again when offered for the $80,000 claiming price. He is being offered for $80,000 again Sunday by Christophe Clement, who trains Indebted for Robert Evans.
Clement’s assistant Christophe Lorieul said: “I was supposed to put him on a van, but at the last minute Christophe and Mr. Evans decided it was one of the last spots here, so they wanted to try it one more time. The horse is doing well. He’s training well. He’s eating well. He looks good.”
In between his two wins for this condition, Indebted finished fifth as the favorite in the Toronto Cup at Woodbine just 15 days after he won at Belmont. He received a break after the Toronto Cup and should be able to handle the 22-day turnaround here.
Other top contenders include Red Guard, a maiden winner here Nov. 13; Burndines, who has finished first in three of his last four starts (though disqualified from one); and Furyofthenorsemen.
Key contenders
Indebted (Last 3 Beyers: 84-81-84)
* Should be able to work out a nice stalking trip from his outside post with speed types such as Burndines and Ross J Dawg in the mix.
* Has shown preference for less-than-firm turf.
“That was one of the reasons, too, they want to run him back,” said Lorieul.
Red Guard (Last 3 Beyers: 87-85-65)
* Ability to handle less-than-firm turf makes him a player in this spot.
* Won a maiden race over yielding ground Nov. 13 in his second start off a layoff. Ran second to Takeover Target over yielding ground at Belmont as a 2-year-old. Takeover Target is a multiple graded stakes winner this year.
* Robbie Medina, assistant to trainer Shug McGaughey, said Red Guard missed most of his 3-year-old season due to foot issues.
* He is a half-brother to multiple turf graded stakes winner Summer Front and the Grade 1-winning filly Laragh.
Furyofthenorsemen (Last 3 Beyers: 73-89-85)
* Ran respectably in his only two starts on turf, both at Saratoga, including a neck loss for this condition going a mile Aug. 14.
* Last two dirt starts are better than they look, especially the race two back when he stumbled badly at the break.