Invasor cranking up for Suburban
ELMONT, N.Y. - After an easy half-mile in 50.80 seconds last week, his first published workout since winning the Dubai World Cup, Invasor picked up the pace Wednesday by working the same distance in 48.10 on the main track, the fifth-fastest of 33 workouts at the distance.
"He went very well this morning," said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. "We weren't sure when we were going to work him because rain is coming, so we decided to get it done today. We still have plenty of time."
Invasor, the Horse of the Year in 2006, is likely to make his next start here in the Suburban Handicap on June 30, a race he won last year.
"We're pointing both Invasor and Jazil to the Suburban, but we're not going to run both," said McLaughlin. "The Hollywood Gold Cup is the same day."
Sugar Shake opts for Shuvee
As many as eight older fillies and mares may run in Saturday's Gradeo2, $150,000 Shuvee Handicap.
Sugar Shake, front-running winner of the Grade 2 El Encino and Grade 1 Santa Maria at Santa Anita earlier this year, was entered in Friday's Allaire du Pont Breeders' Cup Distaff at Pimlico, but is expected to scratch in favor of the one-mile Shuvee because she is not Breeders' Cup-eligible and would be running for only half the purse there.
Also eyeing the Shuvee are Altesse, Last Romance, Magnolia Jackson, Silmaril, and Teammate.
Rahys' Appeal and Swap Fliparoo are possible starters.
Six or seven in Peter Pan
A field of six to seven 3-year-olds is taking shape for Sunday's Grade 2, $200,000 Peter Pan.
Among the leading contenders for the 1 1/8-mile race are Sightseeing, a close second in the Wood Memorial last time out; Vitruvius, who has won both of his starts; Hal's My Hope, 12-length winner of the Unbridled Stakes at Calder; and Fearless Vision, an impressive allowance winner at Gulfstream Park most recently.
Espinoza has ankle surgery
Jockey Jose Espinoza underwent successful surgery Tuesday to repair a broken right ankle sustained in Sunday's fourth race. He had a plate and two screws inserted into the ankle at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.
"The surgery went well and he already started some physical therapy," said his agent, Richard Destasio. "It looks like he'll be out three to four months."
Sports Town wins Ogygian
Sports Town ($4.70) trailed after the first quarter-mile, but rallied wide entering the stretch under Garrett Gomez and finished strongly to win Wednesday's $66,500 Ogygian Stakes by four lengths. Cherokee Country edged Silver Source for third.
Trained by John Terranova, Sports Town was making his first start since finishing eighth behind Hard Spun in the Lane's End on March 24.
Sports Town ran the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.67 on a fast track.
Funny Cide enters Wagon Limit
Four years after coming up short of a Triple Crown in the 2003 Belmont Stakes, Funny Cide gets another shot to race 1 1/2 miles in the $65,000 Wagon Limit Stakes on Friday.
Funny Cide, third in the Kings Point Handicap last out, faces seven rivals, including the Gary Contessa-trained entry of Malibu Moonshine and Successful Affair, the one-three finshers in the Pleasant Colony Stakes at Aqueduct on April 7.
Also entered are Evening Attire, fourth in the Westchester Handicap opening day; Monopoly Pricing, second in the Pleasant Colony; Chucker; Single Mon; and Rising Moon.
* Norberto Arroyo Jr. was unseated from Again and Again after the finish of Wednesday's second race, and was taken to North Shore University Hospital for X-rays of his left hand, which were negative.