Jacobson likes his new acquisition

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - A salty field of five older sprinters squares off in Thursday's third race, a $50,000 starter handicap at six furlongs.

Yes It's the Truth, Acclimate, Sea Cat, and Max's Bid combined for nine wins at the inner-track meet, and Florida invader El Bandido Rojo has led at some point in each of his last 10 races.

Yes It's the Truth confounded bettors, winning at 8-1 or better, three times over the winter for trainers Atreo and Randi Persaud, including two wins in a 10-day span in March, after which he was purchased by trainer David Jacobson.

"Any time you can get your hands on a fast horse, it's like MasterCard - it's priceless," said Jacobson. "He's in good form, and he's got a lot of speed."

Yes It's the Truth shouldered 123 pounds winning last out and will carry the same weight on Thursday, while spotting six to nine pounds to each of the others.

"I'm not that concerned," said Jacobson. "That means he's got the best shot to win. I think he'll carry his form over to the main track."

The speedy Sea Cat won both his starts on the inner. He is trained by the red-hot Bruce Levine, whose 6-for-16 opening week on the main track included Bustin Stones's victory in the Carter and Temporary Saint's in the Excelsior.

Sea Cat wired an open $7,500 sprint Jan. 27, and returned from a 53-day break March 20 and beat a restricted $20,000 group with a 100 Beyer. Levine said the $7,500 race was probably a tougher spot than the restricted $20,000 claimer.

"This horse is pretty fast," he said. "The fact that he made a right turn out of the gate from post 11 in that $7,500 race and still had the lead was mind-boggling."

Levine also has a contender in race 8, an optional claimer with second-level allowance conditions for New York-bred fillies. If Rizzi's Twist is to win that race for him, she will do it with a late run. But there is no clear-cut pacesetter among her eight rivals, which include the Gary Contessa-trained entry of What's Your Point and City in the Clouds.

Rizzi's Twist has been at least 10 lengths behind in each of her last two victories, both at six furlongs. She stretches out to seven furlongs after meeting open company in four starts on the inner, including Grade 2 Distaff winner Rite Moment and the speedy Mulligatawny.

"I'm not sure she's going to get the pace she really needs; maybe the seven-eighths will compensate," said Levine.

Other contenders include Salt Water Reign, Just Zip It, and Guts Game.