Jacobson shifts Gulfstream turf contingent to Aqueduct inner track

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – After going winless with his first 14 starters at the meet, trainer David Jacobson last month pulled his division out of Gulfstream Park and has brought those horses back to Aqueduct, where he is the leading trainer with 23 wins.

“I had my grass horses down there,” Jacobson said Wednesday at Aqueduct. “I’m just going to have to teach them to run on the dirt.”

On Jan. 23, the turf horse Golden Story found the dirt – and softer company – to his liking, winning a $16,000 claimer at Aqueduct. On Friday, Jacobson hopes Great Attack also will handle the move to the dirt from the turf when he runs in a $69,000 second-level optional-claiming race that highlights Aqueduct’s eight-race card. Great Attack is being offered for the $62,500 claiming price.

With a forecast that calls for a high of 20 degrees but winds of 20 to 30 mph, Friday’s eight-race program could be in jeopardy of being canceled.

Great Attack, an 8-year-old son of Greatness, does have some dirt form, having won 3 of 10 starts on dirt, including 2 of 5 on fast tracks. Those two fast-track wins came in the first three starts in 2009.

In his most recent dirt start, Great Attack finished last behind Honor Code after getting off poorly in a spot similar to this.

“I’m running him based on that second to Associate,” Jacobson said, referring to a race at Belmont last October run over a muddy track. “It wasn’t the fastest race in the world.”

Friday’s race doesn’t feature the fastest horses in the world, and if Great Attack can handle the dirt, he could prove the one to catch.

Jacobson is also running McKenzies Way, a horse he recently purchased privately from Southern California-based trainer Mark Glatt.

“He’s over his head in here, but he could surprise us,” Jacobson said. “He’s a cheaper horse, but he’s a very fast horse.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Great Attack (Last 3 Beyers: 84-86-63)

◗A three-time stakes winner on turf, this son of Greatness transfers to dirt after two losses in decent turf-sprint tries at Gulfstream.

◗ He did finish second to Ben’s Cat in the-off-the-turf Jim McKay Turf Sprint the day before the Preakness last May 16.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the last three years, Jacobson is 7 for 24 going from turf to the inner-track dirt surface.

John’s Island (Last 3 Beyers: 88-88-78)

◗ He showed some courage when, after bumping with a rival to his outside in upper stretch, he was able to run down Leilani’s Ticket and win an entry-level allowance here Dec. 27.

◗ He figures to get an outside stalking trip under Angel Arroyo.