Jacobson's got strong one-two punch

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – If he didn’t have Stallwalkin’ Dude in the barn, perhaps trainer David Jacobson would be pointing Chief Lion and/or Great Stuff to Sunday’s $125,000 Gravesend Stakes.

Instead, Chief Lion and Great Stuff will make up 40 percent of the field for Friday’s featured allowance/optional $100,000 claiming race at Aqueduct.

Though the two horses run uncoupled, their running styles certainly complement each other. Chief Lion figures to be on the lead under Irad Ortiz Jr., while Great Stuff will try to mow him down in the stretch under Angel Arroyo.

Chief Lion may have been too fast for his own good when he set fractions of 21.45 and 43.68 seconds in the $200,000 Fabulous Strike Handicap at Penn National on Nov. 23. He opened up a five-length lead in midstretch but was caught late, finishing third, beaten three-quarters of a length.

“He got away from the rider in the race,” Jacobson said. “Hopefully, he’ll be on the lead again but under more favorable fractions so he has something to finish with.”

Great Stuff’s late kick fell just a nose short to Life in Shambles in a spot similar to Friday’s on Nov. 23.

“It was a spectacular race,” Jacobson said. “A really nice horse beat him, but he ran a winning race. A little racing luck didn’t go our way that day.”

This will be the first start over the inner track for both Chief Lion and Great Stuff.

This allowance goes as the third on a nine-race card that begins at 12:20 p.m. Eastern.

KEY CONTENDERS

Chief Lion, by Wildcat Heir

Last 3 Beyers: 90-76-89

◗ Looks like the primary speed in here, though Silver Ride, drawn to his outside, has shown speed as well.

Great Stuff, by Quality Road

Last 3 Beyers: 97-78-96

◗ Rallied widest of all when beaten a nose by Life in Shambles at this same condition over the main track.

◗ Has three wins and a third from four starts at six furlongs.

Alex the Terror, by Minehsaft

Last 3 Beyers: 76-69-95

◗ Broke through the gate but did not run off just prior to the start of a Nov. 23 allowance in which he finished last of six. That was his first start since March 12, when he finished 10th of 11 in the Grade 3 Tom Fool.

◗ Won two allowance sprints over wet surfaces last winter, including a 1 3/4-length score over the inner track in February.