Ocala Jim at the top of his game

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer David Donk was brought up under the tutelage of Woody Stephens, who was never afraid to quickly run a horse back.

So, it shouldn’t come as a major surprise that Ocala Jim will be making his third start in 24 days on Monday in a $69,000 second-level allowance race that serves as the feature on a nine-race Aqueduct program. Aqueduct is open on Monday – and will be open again on Monday, Dec. 15 – to make up for days canceled because of an extended holiday break from Dec. 16-25.

“I’m not afraid to run one back, especially when they’re doing well,” Donk said.

Ocala Jim has been doing quite well, having won 4 of 6 starts since being transferred to Donk during the winter. His only poor performance in that stretch came two starts back on Oct. 18, when he finished fifth in the $200,000 Mohawk Stakes for New York-breds at Belmont Park.

“It was a step up in class, and he ran off down the backside,” Donk said. “He saw daylight and took off.”

Ocala Jim came back eight days later to win a first-level, open-company allowance race by 1 1/2 lengths.

“He came out of the race great,” Donk said. “It’s been easy on him running on the grass. He runs well over a soft grass course. This is probably my last opportunity to run him over a soft grass course.”

Jose Lezcano has been the regular rider of Ocala Jim, but he is committed to ride Artic North for trainer Pat Reynolds. Angel Arroyo has picked up the mount on Ocala Jim.

Artic North comes off a second-level allowance win going 1 1/4 miles when he was offered for the $80,000 optional-claiming price. On Monday, he cuts back to 1 1/16 miles.

Blacktype, Iron Power, Which Market, and Brickyard Kitten are among the contenders in a deep field.

Key contenders

Ocala Jim (Last 3 Beyers: 92-91-89)

◗ He has won 3 of his last 4, with a fifth in the Mohawk Stakes his only loss during that streak.

◗ He has shown a liking for ground with give in it, which almost surely will be the case Monday.

Iron Power (Last 3 Beyers: 85-86-87)

◗ He looms as the controlling speed from the rail under Jose Ortiz.

◗ He comes off a victory in an off-the-turf, first-level allowance Oct. 4 after two near misses in longer-distance turf allowance races.

Artic North (Last 3 Beyers: 91-90-89)

◗ He has run three solid races since being claimed for $50,000 by Reynolds for Paul Pompa in July. All three races came with blinkers and at distances longer than Monday’s 1 1/16 miles.

Which Market (Last 3 Beyers: 89-89-82)

◗ He has raced at this condition twice – with a win and a second – when offered for the optional-claiming price of $62,500. He is not being offered for the tag Monday.

◗ He owns a win and a third in two starts over Aqueduct’s turf course. The win came by a neck over Silver Max in a maiden race here in November 2011.