Klesaris entry seeks upset

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Having won the Gallant Fox Handicap in both 1995 and 1996, trainer Steve Klesaris knows the type of horse it takes to handle the race's demanding 1 5/8-mile distance. Klesaris believes both Angelic Aura and Park Avenue Prince are that type of horse.

Saturday, at Aqueduct, Klesaris will send both horses against Successful Affair in the $65,000 Gallant Fox, named for the 1930 Triple Crown winner. The Klesaris horses will be coupled in the wagering because both are owned in part by Jeff Puglisi and Klesaris.

Angelic Aura comes off a second-place finish behind Successful Affair in the Coyote Lakes Stakes here on Dec. 2. Klesaris believes Angelic Aura was compromised that day by some early pressure from Malibu Moonshine - who is also back in the Gallant Fox - while Successful Affair had the perfect trip.

"I think he got some substantial early pressure from a horse that finished up the racetrack, which cost him late,'' Klesaris said.

Park Avenue Prince, a 3-year-old son of Siphon, is making his third start since having a knee chip removed following a last-place finish behind Barbaro in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park in February. After finishing fourth in a second-level allowance at Delaware, he cleared that allowance hurdle with a front-running victory at Philadelphia Park on Dec. 12.

"He's bred to run the distance,'' Klesaris said. "He's always shown me the further he goes the better he's going to like it. He was a little too sharp and in need of the [Delaware] race. He's right where I like him.''

Though Park Avenue Prince and Angelic Aura show a similar front-running style, Klesaris believes Park Avenue Prince is the quicker of the two and the one more likely to be on the lead. Park Avenue Prince, the 113-pound lowweight, will break from post 3 under C.C. Lopez, a three-time Gallant Fox winner. Angelic Aura will break from post 6 under Shaun Bridgmohan.

Successful Affair seeks his fourth consecutive win since trainer Gary Contessa claimed him for $16,000 on behalf of Steve Sigler's Winning Move Stable. Last out in the Coyote Lakes, Successful Affair got a ground-saving ride from Ramon Dominguez before rallying three wide in the stretch to win.

Contessa said Successful Affair, who will break from post 2, "is training off the charts.''

Win With Beck, 3 for 6 over the inner track, was beaten just two lengths by Successful Affair in the Coyote Lakes and gets a six-pound shift in the weights for the Gallant Fox. Angliana, second in the off-the-turf Red Smith, completes the lineup.