Inspeightofcharlie exits nose defeat from key race
?q=100)
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The connections of Inspeightofcharlie had almost reached the Aqueduct winner’s circle when the order of finish was posted on the tote board for the ninth race on May 10, but their horse was shown to be in second place, losing a nose decision to Just for Luck.
“We thought we won,” Robin Smullen, assistant to trainer Barclay Tagg, said. “We were headed to the winner’s circle, four people congratulated us and we got to the top of the stairs and were like, ‘What?’ ”
Despite the result, there was a lot to like about the race. Aside from the price, there certainly is a lot to like about Inspeightofcharlie Friday, when he makes a second attempt at clearing the first-level New York-bred allowance condition going 1 1/16 miles over Aqueduct’s inner turf course.
The May 10 race produced four next-out winners including Just for Luck, who won his second-level allowance condition last Saturday. A Little At First, Solo Empire, and Chummers, the fifth-, sixth-, and eighth-place finishers that day, also came back to win their next outs.
In that race, Inspeightofcharlie was making his first start since he won a one-mile maiden race at Gulfstream by 3 1/4 lengths on Feb. 14. Smullen explained that it made sense financially to try and win a couple of New York-bred allowance conditions before heading back into open company – or a restricted stakes – which explains the three months between starts.
“I think he’s got the ability to do all that because he keeps getting better,” Smullen said. “He’s started to figure out he wants to be a racehorse. This looks like the right spot.”
Manny Franco, the meet’s leading rider, has the call from post 2 in this nine-horse field.
Willpowered, a 4-year-old son of War of Will, finished second to A Little At First in a June 3 race going 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga. Willpowered was late to change leads in that race, but when he did, he was able to outfinish Honoree by a head for second. That was Willpowered’s first start on turf against New York-breds after winning a maiden and finishing second in an allowance at Tampa during the winter.
George Weaver has the pair of Newlyn and Tough Critic in this spot. Newlyn, a 3-year-old son of Munnings, has not been out since winning a maiden race last Nov. 8 by three lengths at this course and distance. Over the last three years, Weaver is 12 for 42 with a $2.92 return on investment with turf horses returning from a layoff greater than 180 days.
Tough Critic, who raced in last year’s Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot, will be making his second start off a layoff after finishing seventh against repeat winner Voodoo Doll here on May 16.
Newlyn and Tough Critic both get Lasix for the first time.
Horacio De Paz brings English Castle back to the races off an eight-month layoff. Last Nov. 7, jockey Joel Rosario lost his irons on English Castle. The horse was ultimately pulled up and vanned off. English Castle has the speed to be prominent throughout.
Over the last three years, De Paz is 7 for 44 with a $2.45 ROI with turf horses returning from a layoff of greater than 180 days. Twice in a span of a week in April at Aqueduct, De Paz won with Downtown Channel off a 286-day layoff and Sounds Like a Plan off a 181-day layoff.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.