Quixotic on quest for stakes in Jimmy Winkfield

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Jonathan Thomas believes Quixotic is a stakes-caliber colt. Whether he proves it this early in his 3-year-old season remains to be seen.

However, Thomas feels good enough about the way Quixotic came out of his Jan. 18 maiden victory here in the snow to wheel him back in three weeks in Saturday’s $150,000 Jimmy Winkfield Stakes at Aqueduct. The Winkfield, a seven-furlong race restricted to 3-year-olds, drew a field of seven and will go as race 8 on a nine-race program that begins at 1 p.m.

Quixotic, a son of Quality Road who sold for $300,000 as a yearling, was beaten one length by favored Trash Talker in his debut on Dec. 7. That day, the Aqueduct main track was speed favoring and Quixotic attempted to come from off the pace. In the lane, he bumped with eventual third-place finisher Ego Man and hung on his left lead a little too long.

Quixotic came back on Jan. 18 and jumped out of the gate in front and led all the way, repelling a midstretch challenge from Mr. Phil to win a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race by 4 1/4 lengths.

“I don’t know that he has to be on the lead, but we didn’t want to take anything that was coming easy away from him,” said Thomas, who trains Quixotic for Ralph Evans. “He happened to be on the lead, but he’s shown a nice ability to rate if needed.”

Quixotic will break from post 6 under Eric Cancel.

“I love our draw. It looks like we have some speed inside,” Thomas said. “It’s back a little bit quicker than traditionally we’d run but the horse is doing well. It seems like a good spot to try.”

Some of the speed inside includes Secret Rules, an 8 3/4-length allowance winner here on Jan. 10, and Old Chestnut, who tries dirt for the first time after winning twice sprinting on turf. Parx shipper Johnny Ritt is another who looks to have speed.

Newstome won the Mark McDermott Stakes at Presque Isle Downs and the James F. Lewis Stakes at Laurel, both at six furlongs. He ended his 2-year-old season with a third-place finish in the Pennsylvania Nursery at Parx in his lone try at seven furlongs.

Trainer Michael Trombetta admits to not being sure if Newstome wants seven furlongs, but he did note that he was on the inside part of the Parx track in the Nursery.

“Everybody in the world who’s raced at Parx knows that’s the least desirable spot to be in,” Trombetta said of the inside. “I think it did get to the bottom of him a little bit. I’m hoping for a little bit better result up there.”

Newstome breaks from the rail for the third straight race and will be ridden by Manny Franco.

Montauk Traffic was a solid 4 1/2-length maiden winner for Linda Rice in her second start and projects to get a good setup in this spot.

Polar Bear Pete, a supplemental entrant, completes the field.