Mister Hayes can extend win streak in allowance
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Mister Hayes will be cutting back in distance while Storm Prophet will be stretching out as both horses attempt to extend winning streaks in Thursday’s featured first-level allowance race at Aqueduct.
Mister Hayes, a 4-year-old son of Drosselmeyer, is coming off a neck victory in a starter-allowance race going 1 1/4 miles last Friday. That was his third consecutive victory dating back to Sept. 20, his second start after being claimed for $20,000 by Michelle Nevin. His last two starts have come around two turns, including a Nov. 19 race at Laurel that was declared a no-contest due to a fallen horse and rider, but in which Mister Hayes finished first.
Storm Prophet, a 5-year-old gelding by Tale of the Cat, went through his New York-bred allowance races in 17 days, winning two straight one-turn mile races over the main track.
Irad Ortiz Jr. rode Storm Prophet in both of those races. According to trainer Linda Rice, Ortiz told her “he thought running him farther would be better.”
Manny Franco will ride Storm Prophet on Thursday.
Astounding, third in an optional claimer in the slop Nov. 22, King Koa, Admiral Blue, and Jet Black complete the field.
Beginning Thursday, and lasting throughout February, first post will be 12:50 p.m. regardless of whether there are eight or nine races carded. Thursday and Friday there are eight races at Aqueduct.
