Learntodiscover drops in class, cuts back

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Though he’ll be meeting older horses for the first time, Learntodiscover gets a drop in class and a cutback to what seems to be at least a better distance when he ships in from Kentucky for Friday’s six-furlong first-level turf allowance feature at Aqueduct.

As a 2-year-old, Learntodiscover was competing against some of the best young talent in Europe. More evidence of that came Tuesday at Royal Ascot when Mission Central won the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes. Last August, Learntodiscover finished third to Mission Central in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes in Ireland.

Prior to the Round Tower, Learntodiscover finished last of four in the Group 2 Railway Stakes, also at The Curragh. The three who finished in front of him have since won Group 1 stakes. That includes Puerto Rico, a horse Learntodiscover beat in a six-furlong maiden.

In two starts in the U.S. for Brendan Walsh, Learntodiscover has finished sixth in the Cutler Bay Stakes at Gulfstream Park and fourth in the King Corrie Stakes over Woodbine’s Tapeta surface.

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Learntodiscover had a wide trip in the Cutler Bay, which was run at 7 1/2 furlongs around two turns. In the King Corrie, Learntodiscover was a bit rank and raced in behind horses and was steadied.

Walsh believes seven furlongs on turf would probably be what Learntodiscover wants to do, but finding those races is difficult at North American tracks.

“Six up there is as close as I can get,” Walsh said by phone from Kentucky. “His first start at Gulfstream I thought he ran good. The last time at Woodbine, draw a line through it. Hopefully, he’ll get out and get rolling and he’ll give a good account of himself on Friday.”

Dylan Davis rides.

Ten were drawn for the race, though trainer Rob Atras said he is likely to scratch Chasing Freedom for a different spot.

Trainer Cherie DeVaux ships in Strate Cash, who is coming off a runner-up finish behind front-running winner Moon Sniper in this condition going 5 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland last out. Strate Cash will break from the outside post.

Cuando went 0 for 16 before winning his first race, a front-running score going a mile here last September. He ran a solid second two starts back before dueling and then fading to last here on May 23.

Bite and Strike won his first start sprinting on turf after being claimed by Linda Rice for $40,000 on a day when the gelding finished last in a $40,000 claiming race on dirt.

Itza Teamster gets back to sprinting on turf for the first time since he won a maiden race going five furlongs at Tampa Bay Downs in March.

Voodoo Doll to Violette

Voodoo Doll, who improved his record to 3 for 3 with a gutsy head victory in a first-level allowance race on June 12, will likely target the $200,000 Rick Violette Stakes on July 24 at Saratoga, trainer Mark Casse said.

The Rick Violette is restricted to New York-bred 3-year-olds and run at 1 1/16 miles.

In his allowance win going a mile, Voodoo Doll was passed by Woods in the stretch but came on again to get the victory. It was his first race beyond six furlongs.

“I thought he ran good, the pace was slow and he fought, he’s getting better that horse,” Casse said. “I want to run him on dirt sometime the way he trains over it.”

Delightful Flame plans

Trainer David Duggan called Delightful Flame’s 3 1/2-length victory in a second-level allowance Sunday at Aqueduct “a nice surprise.”

After seeing Delightful Flame run an opening half-mile in 43.36 seconds in her first start off an eight-month layoff, Duggan thought his 4-year-old filly might pack it in. But she kept on going to win by open lengths under Katie Davis while completing six furlongs in 1:07.28. That translated into an 89 Beyer Speed Figure.

“That exceeded my expectations,” he said. “She definitely did well from 3 to 4, got a little bit stronger, everything you wanted to see.”

Duggan said he would like to find another allowance for Delightful Flame before trying stakes company, perhaps in something like the Smart and Fancy at Saratoga on Aug. 14.

Meanwhile, Duggan plans to try and close out the Aqueduct meet with a repeat victory in the John Hettinger Stakes on June 28 when he runs Sunday Girl, winner of last year’s Hettinger.

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