Micromanage has rabbit in his corner for Evening Attire
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Weather permitting, Aqueduct will conduct a nine-race Presidents Day card Monday topped by the $100,000 Evening Attire Stakes, where Micromanage will seek his third consecutive stakes win of the meet.
Following forecasted snow and cold that forced the cancellation of Sunday’s card, temperatures were only expected to be in the low 20s Monday, with winds between 20 and 30 mph, making running Monday a dicey proposition.
Micromanage, who was winning stakes races at marathon distances through the first half of last year, has now shown a prowess at middle distances. Since the inner track opened, Micromanage won the Queens County at 1 1/8 miles and the Jazil Stakes at a mile and 70 yards. The Evening Attire is run at 1 1/16 miles.
In both of his stakes wins here this winter, Micromanage benefitted from a legitimate early pace. To ensure that he gets that setup again Monday, owner Mike Repole and trainer Todd Pletcher supplemented Village Warrior to the race, presumably to serve as a pacesetter, or rabbit, for Micromanage.
On paper, it looks like West Hills Giant is the other speed in the race. However, West Hills Giant is cross-entered in Monday’s General George Handicap at Laurel Park. As of Saturday morning, his connections hadn’t decided where to run.
In the Evening Attire, Micromanage will face Turco Bravo, second to him in the Jazil, and Stormin Monarcho, fourth in the Queens County.
KEY CONTENDERS
Micromanage (Last 3 Beyers: 100-104-49)
* After an inconsistent fall, Micromanage has put together back-to-back stakes wins over the inner track, both with triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures.
* Will have to work out a trip from the outside post in the eight-horse field but should get some pace help from stablemate Village Warrior.
Turco Bravo (Last 3 Beyers: 99-91-98)
* A late-running sort like Micromanage, this Chilean-bred gelding made a good run to be second to that rival in the Jazil Stakes.
* That race was run over a muddy track, and though his form suggests he likes wet surfaces, trainer Gary Contessa believes he prefers dry footing.
“I think he’s better on a fast track,” Contessa said. “It’s always a trip thing with this horse. One day he’s going to get the perfect trip, and we’ll be sipping Champagne.”
Stormin Monarcho (Last 3 Beyers: 89-98-99)
* From Nov. 15 to Dec. 13, he ran three hard races, winning stakes at Laurel and Penn National and finishing fourth behind Micromanage in the Queens County. Those efforts and/or a muddy track at Laurel Park may have led to a disappointing fifth-place finish in the Native Dancer Stakes.
* He’s had six weeks between races, though trainer David Jacobson said earlier in the week that he wished he would have been able to do more with this gelding in the morning.
North Slope (Last 3 Beyers: 85-97-91)
* His four career wins have come on turf, but he’s run respectable races on dirt, including a second to Ever Rider in a second-level allowance at Saratoga in August. Ever Rider came back to win the $200,000 Temperence Hill Stakes at Belmont last fall.