Litfin's preview: Uncertain if three races will stay on turf
Turf racing: Wait and see
After a drizzly, dreary Thursday, showery weather was expected to linger in the New York area overnight, which may put a damper on turf racing yet again.
Three races are scheduled for grass, all of which are in the pick six sequence: a maiden special weight at a mile (race 4); and a pair of optional claiming races for New York-breds (the sixth and eighth races) that would shorten from 1 1/16 miles to a mile in the event of a surface switch.
Percussion returns
Percussion, who has campaigned primarily in stakes over the past two seasons, makes his first start since late May and takes on six rivals in race 5, a high-end $optional 75,000 claimer at a mile out of the chute.
Last seen at Aqueduct setting the pace and finishing third in the Grade 3 Excelsior back on March 22, Percussion returns for Todd Pletcher off a series of good workouts at Palm Beach Downs, including three bullets during the month of October
Percussion looks to be gearing up for another winter season on the inner dirt, where he posted a career- best Beyer Figure of 106 in his first start of 2014.
Several contenders boast sharp recent form, including David Jacobson’s uncoupled duo of Spa City Fever, who has led at the stretch call in each of his last three starts; and Tenango, who earned a 95 Beyer for his win over optional claimers at Delaware Park last time out.
Horse to watch
SON OF DIXIE
Trainer: Michelle Nevin
Last race: Nov. 5, 6th
Finish: 3rd by one-half
Beyer: 69
Far back early in his first start since June, he rallied to contention through some traffic in the stretch, altered course to a deep rail and narrowly missed at six furlongs; will be nicely suited to more distance, either out of the chute on the main track, or going two turns on the inner dirt.