Loki's Vengeance finds rebound spot

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Loki’s Vengeance may have found the company of the Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes a little too stiff three weeks ago, but he looks well spotted to rebound in Sunday’s $100,000 Times Square Division of the New York Stallion Stakes at Aqueduct.

The Times Square, for 3-year-old male progeny of New York-based stallions, and the Park Avenue division for 3-year-old females – both run at 6 1/2 furlongs – are the co-features on a 10-race closing-day card at Aqueduct. After three dark days, racing moves to Belmont Park on Thursday for the start of a 54-day spring-summer meet.

Loki’s Vengeance, a son of Frost Giant, recorded two open-length victories against New York-bred company over the inner track during the winter. He then finished a clear second behind Oliver Zip in the Fred “Cappy” Capossela Stakes on March 8.

Thinking there was still a forward move in him, trainer Mike Hushion ran Loki’s Vengeance in the Grade 3 Bay Shore, where he pressed the pace before fading to eighth, nine lengths behind Coup de Grace.

Hushion said he is running Loki’s Vengeance in this spot in part because his options are limited. But he also believes the horse came out of the Bay Shore in good order and is ready to go again. On Friday, he blew out three furlongs in 37.44 seconds over the Belmont training track as easy as one could work.

“He’s always been a horse without a hitch,” Hushion said.

Loki’s Vengeance appears to have enough early speed to clear this field, but Hushion said he will let jockey Manuel Franco judge the pace from his favorable outside draw in the six-horse field.

“He can go when he’s good and ready, whether it’s early or late,” Hushion said.

Empire Dreams, who won a division of the New York Stallion Stakes over the main track last November, makes his second start of the year in this spot. He comes out of a third-place finish in a seven-furlong allowance on March 29 run over a sloppy track.

Let’s Discuss, Double Gold, Lulu Rocks, and Bourbon Therapy are all coming out of low-level claiming races.

In the Park Avenue, trainer Linda Rice entered the trio of Miss Narcissist, Champagne Ruby, and Bella the Bandit. They run as separate betting interests.

Miss Narcissist hasn’t run since taking a division of the Stallion Stakes here by a head over Hey Kiddo last Nov. 23. She was entered in the East View Stakes in December but had to scratch when she acted up in the starting gate. Jockey Junior Alvarado suffered a broken ankle as a result of that incident and only recently came back to ride. Alvarado is named to ride Miss Narcissist from post 7.

Champagne Ruby finished third in the Stallion Stakes race last November before running second in the East View. Bella the Bandit won an allowance race two starts back.

The horse to beat in the Park Avenue could be Henry’s Gal, who romped to an 11 1/4-length victory in a starter allowance on April 4, one start after being claimed by trainer Rudy Rodriguez from David Jacobson for $75,000.

“I really claimed her for this race,” Rodriguez said. “It’s a little quick back but she looks like she’s ready to run. She really surprised us the way she won. Hopefully she can do it again.”

◗ Earlier on Sunday’s card, Rodriguez brings his 2013 Gotham Stakes winner Vyjack back to the races in a seven-furlong allowance race. Vyjack has not run since finishing sixth in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in July. He has been sidelined since then due to ulcers.

Rodriguez said he hopes Vyjack runs well enough on Sunday to consider running him back in the $1.25 million Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park on June 7.