Only three to face Gronkowski in Discovery

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Gronkowski will face only three rivals when he looks to achieve his first graded stakes victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Discovery Stakes at Aqueduct.

Seven were entered in the Discovery but three - Bal Harbour, Life’s a Parlay, and Roaming Union - will scratch after running 1-2-3 in Friday’s off-the-turf Gio Ponti Stakes at Aqueduct.

Those scratches aren’t all good news for Gronkowski, who likely lost some potential pace in the Discovery, run at 1 1/8 miles.

Gronkowski, named for the New England Patriots All-Pro tight end, finished second to Justify in the Belmont Stakes. Since then, he disappointed in the Travers, running eighth, and in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, finishing sixth.

In the Travers, Gronkowski didn’t have a good trip after breaking poorly and was too far back over a speed-favoring track. In the Jockey Club, he didn’t run at all despite the racing setting up perfectly for his late-running style.

“He didn’t fire,” trainer Chad Brown said. “I don’t have any excuse. He trained great. I was very surprised. The horse looks good, he’s sound, he looks healthy.”

Brown said cutting back to 1 1/8 miles from two 1 1/4-mile races “will be okay for him.”

Plainsman, trained by Brad Cox, brings a two-race winning streak into the Discovery, including an allowance win over this track on Nov. 3.

Title Ready, trained by Steve Asmussen, has lost seven consecutive starts since taking a first-level allowance at Oaklawn in February. He was beaten a nose by Bal Harbour in a second-level allowance at Keeneland on Oct. 21. Bal Harbour was solid turning back Life’s a Parlay to win the Gio Ponti by 2 1/4 lengths.

Bon Raison, who had a three-race win streak snapped when he finished fourth in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler, completes the field.

:: Want to get the latest news with your past performances? Try DRF’s new digital PPs

KEY CONTENDERS

Gronkowski, by Lonhro

Last 3 Beyers: 94-86-99

◗ Has really disappointed since running second to Justify in the Belmont. But before the Belmont, he had excelled on synthetic surfaces going a mile, so perhaps he will benefit from a turnback in distance.

Plainsman, by Flatter
Last 3 Beyers: 96-96-90

◗ Has stepped up his game since joining the Brad Cox stable.

◗ Was compromised by wide trip in the last quarter-mile of 1 1/8-mile allowance race at Saratoga and has come back to win two straight.

Title Ready, by More Than Ready

Last 3 Beyers: 84-73-92

◗ Has toured the country looking for a stakes victory, having run at Pimlico, Thistledown, Indiana Grand, and Parx.

◗ Did beat Plainsman by 3 1/2 lengths when those two ran 1-2 in a first-level allowance at Oaklawn.