Scanlon's Song returns off spectacular debut win

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Scanlon's Song, a visually impressive debut winner here on Jan. 28, will face winners for the first time in an entry-level allowance race at 1 1/16 miles on Saturday's Aqueduct card.

Scanlon's Song, a 3-year-old son of Partner's Hero, hails from the same connections as Achilles of Troy, the multiple stakes winning 3-year-old who is considered by many a top Kentucky Derby candidate. Owner Ernie Paragallo and trainer Jennifer Pedersen believe Scanlon's Song is equally as talented if not better than Achilles of Troy.

Scanlon's Song certainly didn't dispel that theory in his debut. Breaking from post 2, Scanlon's Song dropped back to last, more than 15 lengths off the early pace. He galloped along in the back of the pack while in the four path down the backside, before launching a wide bid around the far turn. He sustained that bid while seven wide in the stretch and despite still trailing Marco's Tale by 6 1/2 lengths at the eighth pole, he steamrolled home a 2 3/4-length winner. Scanlon's Song ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.60 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 87.

Marco's Tale, the only horse to have run back out of that race so far, flattered Scanlon's Song when he won his maiden by nine lengths on Feb. 11.

Scanlon's Song will break from the outside post in the seven-horse field under new rider Ramon Dominguez, who replaces Jose Rivera Jr.

The main competition figures to come from Rob'em Blind, who sandwiched a maiden win between a pair of third-place finishes to Achilles of Troy.

Trainer George Weaver sends out the coupled entry of Eye for Style and Greeley's Legacy. Greeley's Legacy won his maiden two back before finishing fourth at this level on Jan. 26. Eye for Style comes off a troubled sixth-place finish in the Whirlaway. Weaver removes the blinkers from Eye for Style.

Galloping Grocer returns Saturday

Galloping Grocer, the New York-bred champion 2-year-old male of 2004, makes his 4-year-old debut in an open company second-level allowance race on Saturday's card. The race will be run at a mile and 70 yards.

Following a strong 2-year-old season in which he won three statebred races and then finished a neck behind Rockport Harbor in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes, Galloping Grocer went 0 for 7 as a 3-year-old. One of those seven losses was a 36-length defeat in the Preakness.

Galloping Grocer suffered from a multitude of ailments during the second half of his 3-year-old season, which limited him to just two starts over the final seven months.

Following a 21-length loss in the Empire Classic in October, Galloping Grocer was turned out for a freshening. He has been working steadily since January.

"During the time off he put weight back on,'' trainer Dominick Schettino said. "So far, knock wood, everything's been going good with him. We're just trying to get him an easier race. He should be pretty fit; he's been training right along.''

While the race is easier than what he's been running in, it's certainly not an easy spot. Daddy Joe, Run Point, and inner-track-loving Stellianos are the main threats.

Great Intentions takes Flip's Pleasure

Great Intentions, a beaten favorite in her last two stakes attempts - including the Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita - returned to the winner's circle Thursday with a sharp 1 3/4-length victory over Storm Minstrel in the $63,450 Flip's Pleasure Stakes.

Under Pablo Morales, Great Intentions pressed the pace-setting Pretty Imposing through fractions of 22.85 seconds and 45.44 for the opening half-mile. Great Intentions, who raced along the inside, took command turning for home and finished strong while being ridden out.

Great Intentions, owned by Barry Schwartz and trained by Mike Hushion, covered the six furlongs in 1:09.97 and returned $6.30 as the slight favorite.

Bank Audit finished third, 4 1/4 lengths behind Great Intentions.