Sadler's Joy goes for hat trick

Sadler’s Joy goes for his third consecutive win on Wednesday at Aqueduct in a second-level optional $62,500 claiming race at 1 3/8 miles on turf. The race for 3-year-olds and up drew a field of 12 and is the eighth race on a nine-race card.

Sadler’s Joy failed to finish better than fourth in his first three starts, but he broke through with a two-length win despite early trouble in his fourth start, a 1 1/2-mile maiden race at Saratoga on Aug. 22. A month later, he won a 1 1/4-mile, first-level optional claimer at Belmont. Both races came over turf rated “good,” and both times Sadler’s Joy rallied from near the back of the pack.

Owned by Woodslane Farm and trained by Tom Albertrani, Sadler’s Joy will be ridden by Javier Castellano, who was aboard for his maiden win.

Munjaz, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, may be favored off a head loss in a similar race at Belmont on Oct. 6. Munjaz went up to challenge pacesetter Roman Approval with about a half-mile to go in the 1 1/4-mile turf race, but Roman Approval was able to hold him off. That race was a big improvement over his seventh-place finish Sept. 3 at Saratoga in a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer.

Revved Up won a maiden race at Belmont in July and an optional claimer at Saratoga in August but never got into the race in his most recent start, the Grade 2 Commonwealth Derby at Laurel on Sept. 24. Trained by Shug McGaughey, Revved Up was shuffled back at the start of that 1 1/8-mile turf race and ended up fifth. His wins came at 1 1/4 miles and 1 3/8 miles, so the distance of this race is right up his alley.

Made in Detroit is the likely pacesetter. Back in June, he led most of the way and missed by a half-length going 1 1/8 miles at this level on the Belmont turf. His best races have come when he can put a gap between himself and his pursuers early in the race, and none of his opponents Wednesday looks capable of keeping up with him.

Gold Shield, a second McGaughey trainee, was beaten a half-length by Munjaz a month ago. That was a big improvement over his two previous races.

Request is 0 for 4 this year, but he ended 2015 with a win over this course and at this 1 3/8-mile distance.