Reid wins two stakes and isn't done yet

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The Parx-based trainer Butch Reid won two stakes at Aqueduct over the weekend and he plans to try and win a few more over the next month.

On Sunday, Morning Matcha won the $125,000 Statue of Liberty Stakes for progeny of New York stallions. On Saturday, Dr B won the Grade 3 Go for Wand Stakes for the second consecutive year.

This Saturday, Reid will be back for more when he sends out Disco Ebo in the $120,000 Garland of Roses for fillies and mares at six furlongs.

Disco Ebo, a 4-year-old daughter of Weigelia, has won six of her last eight starts, including an allowance race at Parx on Oct. 31, her first start off a six-month layoff. One of her two losses since her hot streak began on Oct. 7, 2022 came in last year’s Garland of Roses where she finished third, beaten 5 1/2 lengths by Betsy Blue.

“I think she’s a more mature horse this year,” Reid said. “She’s filled out, she’s a bigger, stronger, and heavier horse than last year.”

Entries for the Garland of Roses close Wednesday. Those being mentioned as possible starters include Downtown Mischief, Headland, Kant Hurry Love, Quick Munny, Self Isolation, and possibly Olga Isabel and You Look Cold.

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Reid is pointing King Kumbalay, recent winner of the Richard Small Stakes at Laurel Park, to the $150,000 Queens County Stakes on Dec. 31. King Kumbalay earned a career-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure in the Richard Small.

“I thought it was a fantastic race. King Kumbalay pushed his way though on there and ran a very impressive race,” Reid said. “It was his best race for me so far.”

Reid appears to have a promising 2-year-old in Maximus Meridius, who won a six-furlong maiden race on Nov. 27 by 10 1/2 lengths at Parx, earning a 73 Beyer Speed Figure for the performance. Reid mentioned the Jerome, a one-turn mile which is expected to be run on Jan. 6, as a possible next spot.

“That might be a good spot. I’d like to give him six weeks and the timing of that would be pretty close,” Reid said.

Maximus Meridius is a son of Maximus Mischief, who won the Remsen here in 2018 for Reid before physical issues prompted his retirement following a third in the 2019 Holy Bull.

Reid said while he didn’t expected Maximus Meridius to win by 10-plus lengths, he was expecting a solid effort on debut.

“He trained well all along and came through and showed himself like that. It’s really exciting, especially being by a stallion I trained and had a lot to do with and still have a lot invested in,” Reid said. “He broke a step slow, worked his way up, and didn’t let the dirt bother him and did it pretty professionally.”

NYRA show to air Oaklawn races

America’s Day at the Races, the daily television show that broadcasts racing from the New York Racing Association tracks, will add Oaklawn Park to the telecast beginning Friday, the Arkansas track’s opening day.

Additionally, a Cross Country Pick 5 wager will be offered each day that Aqueduct and Oaklawn conduct racing. The pick five requires bettors to correctly pick the winner of five selected races from Aqueduct and Oaklawn. The minimum wager will be 50 cents.

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