Sciacca has some leverage
ELMONT, N.Y. - Gary Sciacca followers were rewarded handsomely Sunday when he saddled a pair of double-digit priced winners on the turf. There may be another opportunity to cash on Friday when Sciacca sends out Currency Arbitrage in a conditioned allowance race at Belmont Park.
Currency Arbitrage has won only twice in his last 13 starts dating back to 1998, and both of those came in New York-bred stakes. He hasn't been out in seven months and is facing a field that includes accomplished runners Asidero, Stokosky, and Cryptic Rascal.
But none of the trio enters this race in good form while Currency Arbitrage has shown the ability to run well fresh. In 1999, coming off a nine-month layoff, Currency Arbitrage was beaten only a length in an open-company allowance at Saratoga where he bobbled at the start.
In 2000, coming off a seven-month layoff, Currency Arbitrage finished a solid second to the stakes-winning Rize in an allowance race at Monmouth Park.
Currency Arbitrage does his best running from just off the pace and should get some pace to sit behind in this 1 1/16-mile turf race.
Presente Senor and Asidero both do their running on the front end, and Rosie Dooley, in her lone turf try, pressed a hot pace before fading.
Asidero was a multiple Group 1 winner in Argentina before being sent to California last year. He ran four times for trainer Ron McAnally, with his best finishes being a win in an optional claimer at Hollywood Park and a third in the Grade 1 C.L. Hirsch Championship at Santa Anita.
In his first start for trainer Christophe Clement, Asidero finished last in the Grade 3 Red Bank Handicap over a soft Monmouth Park turf last month. Clement said he was surprised by the performance because the horse had trained well for the race.
"I just hope it was the ground,' Clement said.
Stokosky has been a huge disappointment since moving from trainer Juan Rizo to Bill Mott this winter. Under Rizo, Stokosky won the
Group 3 Tropical Turf Handicap, was second in the Grade 2 McKnight, and third in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap.
For Mott, Stokosky lost two graded stakes and finished last in a money allowance race two weeks ago at Churchill Downs. Mott removes the blinkers he put on Stokosky for his last race.