Long-winded Mirinaque shortens up in Queens County, debuts for Ward

Multiple Group 1 winner Mirinaque has had a fun workout buddy while being prepared for the notable distance move he will make Saturday in the $100,000 Queens County at Aqueduct.

The race is for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles. It drew a field of seven, including stakes winners Backsideofthemoon and Forewarned.

Mirinaque is turning back in distance off a start at 1 5/8 miles in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at Keeneland. He finished second by a length in the main-track marathon held Nov. 6. For the effort, Mirinaque earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 91, which is the best last-race number in the Queens County.

“He ran a big race,” trainer Wesley Ward said. “He’s trained wonderful since. We’re shortening in distance, and he’s been breezing with Four Wheel Drive every week to put a little more speed in him. Not that a mile and an eighth is a short distance, but it’s short for him.”

Four Wheel Drive is a multiple stakes-winning sprinter, among his victories the Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in wire-to-wire fashion in 2019 at Santa Anita. His latest work with Mirinaque was a five-eighths move in 1:00.80 on Dec. 11 at Keeneland.

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Mirinaque is making his first start for Ward. He had been based with trainer Maria Munoz, who Ward said has since traveled back to Argentina. It was in Argentina where Mirinaque won both of his Group 1 races, the Polla de Potrillos at about a mile and the Nacional at about 1 9/16 miles. He also ran second in Group 1 stakes over 1 1/2 miles and 1 1/4 miles before heading to North America. Mirinaque is a 4-year-old by the Storm Cat stallion Hurricane Cat. He races for Parque Patricios Racing Stable.

“He’s a very nice horse,” Ward said.

Mirinaque will break from post 2. Dylan Davis, son of retired jockey Robbie Davis, has the mount in something of a reunion with Ward.

“I have a long relationship with him and his father,” Ward said. Put “him on his first mount. He’s a wonderful kid.”

Backsideofthemoon was entered in the Queens County as a back-up plan in case a snowstorm caused the cancellation of racing Thursday at Aqueduct, trainer Rudy Rodriguez said earlier this week.

Rodriguez made a sharp call, as Aqueduct on Thursday morning was forced to cancel its eight-race card on which Backsideofthemoon was entered. Backsideofthemoon will come into the Queens County off a local allowance win at 1 1/8 miles on Nov. 13.

“He always tries,” Rodriguez said. “He’s competitive, wants to do his job.

Jose Lezcano has the mount from post 4 for Repole Stable.

Forewarned is looking for the fourth stakes win of his career. He invades from Laurel Park, where he closed from 10th for fifth in the $100,000 Richard Small over 1 1/16 miles on Nov. 28.

Forewarned could sit closer to the pace on the move to 1 1/8 miles – added ground that would seem to be a plus for the horse whose last win came over 1 1/4 miles in the Best of Ohio Endurance in October at Mahoning Valley.

Eric Cancel has the mount for owner-trainer Uriah St. Lewis.