Litfin’s preview: Busy stretch ahead

As the second week of Aqueduct’s fall meet begins, it ushers in a busy stretch of racing. As part of a reconfigured schedule to allow for a Christmas-time break, there will be racing next Monday, which was originally a dark day. Starting with Wednesday’s card, the Big A will be open for live racing 11 of the next 12 days through Sunday, Nov. 16.

Chalky start on dirt

With turf racing rained off the turf opening weekend, the main track got plenty of use last week, and favorites did exceptionally well, winning 14 of 34 races, or slightly better than 41 percent.

Favorites were 2 for 9 on turf.

Flamingo Lane heads turf allowance

Assuming some cooperation from Mother Nature, there will be three turf routes Wednesday, highlighted by race 7, a $67,000 preliminary allowance that attracted an overflow field of 14 fillies and mars for turf and two for the main track only.

According to the overnight, the temporary rails, which were at zero feet last week, will be positioned nine feet out, so field size for the one-mile race will be capped at 10.

Heading the lineup is Flamingo Lane, who is a head and a neck away from a six-race winning streak for Abby Adsit, a run that began with a win over low-level restricted claimers on the main track at Aqueduct’s spring meet.

Flamingo Lane subsequently rose through the ranks to win for $25,000 and $40,000 at Belmont, and then narrowly missed in this condition at Saratoga, before taking a starter allowance on closing weekend. In one start at Belmont this fall, she came up just short as the favorite in a starter/optional race.

Striking Style, who improved through three grass races through the heart of the season, has been given a freshening by Fair Hill-based trainer Michael Matz since running third Sept. 12, and her steady series of workouts since then includes a bullet half-mile.

Horse to watch

FLAG ON THE PLAY
Trainer: Linda Rice
Last race: Nov. 1, 6th
Finish: 2nd by 5 1/2
Beyer: 79
Upon further review, this 3-year-old gelding ran gamely chasing odds-on winner Pulling G’s in the slop when hiked back to the special-weight level, right after being haltered from a $50,000 maiden claimer. These same connections claimed Palace and made him Grade 1 winner.