Jacobson loaded for Claiming Championship
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer David Jacobson left for Dubai on Thursday to prepare Salutos Amigos for the $2 million Golden Shaheen at Meydan on March 28. But his presence will be felt immensely Saturday at Aqueduct, where he has seven horses to run on New York’s inaugural Claiming Championship card.
The card comprises 10 races – all stakes – for horses who have participated in claiming races since 2014. A total of 90 horses were entered, with Jacobson putting in seven horses in six of the stakes.
Jacobson has horses entered in five of the six open stakes, including the uncoupled entry of Stormin Monarcho and Spa City Fever in the $100,000 Mr. Sinatra, the richest race on the program. The Mr. Sinatra, at 1 1/16 miles, drew only five horses and will be run as the third race.
Stormin Monarcho has run in 10 consecutive stakes – winning three – but is coming off fifth-place finishes in the Native Dancer at Laurel in January and the Evening Attire here Feb. 22.
“We freshened him a little bit, and the class relief, he’s going to look forward to that,” Jacobson said.
Spa City Fever has lost his last 11 starts, with his last win coming over the inner track March 14, 2014.
Don Dulce was claimed for $62,500 by Blue Stork Stables out of a win in his last start. In January 2014, Blue Stork claimed Don Dulce for $75,000 and raced him four times before losing him for $80,000.
Celebrated Talent, beaten a neck by Don Dulce last time, and Howl, seemingly overmatched in this spot, complete the field.
In the $80,000 Stud Muffin, for horses who started for a tag of $25,000 or less, Jacobson sends out Wealth to Me, third in a $62,500 claimer last out with a wide trip. There should be ample speed in this race, with Readthebyline and Village Warrior in the field.
Among the challengers in the Stud Muffin is Siete de Oros, one of six horses entered on the card by Ramon Preciado, among the leading trainers based at Parx. Siete de Oros, beaten a neck in the Jerome here in 2013, fractured both knees in the 2013 Illinois Derby. He has two wins from his last five starts sandwiched around a race in which he was eased in the slop at Parx.
“He doesn’t really pick it up in the slop,” Preciado said. “The track was very, very bad, and I told [jockey Pablo Fragoso], ‘If you don’t think he’s handling the track, don’t push him.’ ”
Cease and Conspiracy are others in with a chance in the Stud Muffin.
In the other open stakes:
◗ Doubledown Again and Praetereo are both dropping from out-of-the-money finishes in graded stakes in the $90,000 Caixa Eletronica at six furlongs. They’ll take on the uncoupled Gustavo Rodriguez-trained trio of Regulus, Energetico, and Doc Almon.
◗ In the $70,000 Peeping Tom at six furlongs, Joking, trained by the red-hot Charlton Baker, could be the beneficiary in a field that appears loaded with early-speed types. Others who would seemingly benefit from a lively pace include Bug Juice and Jeter.
Sir Bond had a three-race winning streak snapped when facing tougher in his last start.
◗ Preciado’s best shot may be in the $50,000 Kelly Kip Stakes, where he sends out Dukati, who has four wins and three seconds in his last seven starts. In his last race, an open allowance race at Parx on Feb. 14, Dukati won by 6 3/4 lengths and earned a 106 Beyer Speed Figure.
“To be honest, we claimed him to go long,” Preciado said. “He never wanted to finish, so we cut him back to seven-eighths. When I saw this race at three-quarters, I said, ‘Even better.’ ”
Dukati’s biggest threat could be the Jacobson-trained Classic Salsa, who has three wins and a second in his last five starts.
◗ In the $60,000 More To Tell, Lucky Lotto seeks his fourth consecutive victory – all over the inner track. He was claimed two starts back for $12,500 by Eddie Barker.
Second City, claimed by Nick Esler from Jacobson, and the Jacobson-trained Stallwalkin’ Dude top the competition.