Queen’s Plate winner Midnight Aria makes comeback after yearlong layoff

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Midnight Aria makes his first start since his memorable victory in the 2013 Queen’s Plate on Friday at Woodbine in a one-mile starter allowance on grass.

Midnight Aria is eligible for the $50,000 starter because he competed in the maiden-claiming ranks early last year at Gulfstream Park, where he was claimed by Tucci Stables and trainer Nick Gonzalez for $35,000 in January 2013.

Midnight Aria subsequently won a maiden special weight race in the slop before placing in several optional starters, and then shipped here in the spring to join the 2013 Queen’s Plate trail. After ending up third in both the Wando and Plate Trial stakes, he rode a speed bias to an upset score over Up With the Birds in the $1 million Plate in July 2013.

“He had a little physical setback after the Queen’s Plate,” Gonzalez said. “By the time he got better, it was either going to be me bringing him to Gulfstream or just wait. We just gave him as much time as he needed and took our time because he’s such a big, massive horse.”

Gonzalez said the timing of Friday’s engagement is good, and that he didn’t request for the race to be written for Midnight Aria, who should be fit enough for the task at hand.

“He’s got a lot of miles and a lot of good work into him,” Gonzalez said. “He’s been off for over a year, and I don’t want to run him much farther than that. I thought it might be a little easier on him running over a fast turf course than a distance of ground on the Polytrack. He ran some very good races on the turf when he had him at Gulfstream.”

Jesse Campbell retains the mount on Midnight Aria, who has recorded six works since the beginning of June.

KEY CONTENDERS

Midnight Aria (Last 3 Beyers: 98-82-82)

◗ Formulator Fact: Gonzalez has a 15 percent strike rate with six-month-plus comebackers over the past five years, with a return on investment of $3.28. When you filter that layoff category down to strictly turf, he’s 2 for 7 (29 percent), with an ROI of $18.72.

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Jubilate (Last 3 Beyers: 87-84-51)

◗ The late-blooming 4-year-old is riding a two-race win streak on grass, most recently against second-level optional-claiming opposition.

Sky Commander (Last 3 Beyers: 83-75-87)

◗ He was competitive in optional-claiming events during the spring before checking in second July 11 in a quality $40,000 claimer, from which Northern Hammer exited to romp at the same price.