Reid looks like he will call audible, sending Mailata to Jerome

Though Mailata was the 5-2 morning-line favorite in Tuesday’s $75,000 Future Stars Stakes at Parx Racing, his connections also entered him in Saturday’s $150,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct.

Trainer Butch Reid said a decision on where Mailata would run would likely be made sometime Monday, but he sounded as though he preferred the Jerome.

“I like the spot, outside post in a five-horse field going a mile. Seems perfect for me,” Reid said.

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Reid said discussions were to take place later Monday with owners Chuck Zacney of Cash Is King Stable and Glenn Bennett of LC Racing.

Mailata, a Pennsylvania-bred son of Maximus Mischief, was just one of five entered in the Jerome, a one-mile race that offers 21 Kentucky Derby qualifying points (10-5-3-2-1).

Mailata, named after the Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Jordan Mailata, is 2 for 2 since Reid added blinkers to his equipment, including a victory in the Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes on Nov. 26.

Mailata, who drew the rail in the Parx race, faces a field that includes Nashua Stakes winner My World; Remsen third-place finisher Balboa; Aqueduct debut winner Enforced Agenda; and Parx-based Freedom’s Echo.

Freedom’s Echo also was cross-entered in Tuesday’s Future Stars Stakes, but he will run in the Jerome, trainer Guadalupe Preciado said. On Monday, at Parx, Freedom’s Echo worked a half-mile in 46.01 seconds, the fastest of 10 recorded works at the distance.

Also on Saturday at Aqueduct is the $150,000 Busanda Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. That race drew a field of six, led by two-time stakes winner Dazzling Dame, who scratched out of last Saturday’s Gin Talking Stakes at Laurel for this spot; second-out maiden winner Britain; and Tempted Stakes winner Shilling, who defeated Britain when the two finished first and third in a seven-furlong maiden race at Aqueduct on Oct. 16.

Also entered in the Busanda were Midnite Ginny, Believable, and Two Bits. The Busanda, shortened this year from 1 1/8 miles to a mile, offers 42 qualifying points (20-10-6-4-2) toward the May 1 Kentucky Oaks.

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