Sciacca has two solid contenders for Gander Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Gary Sciacca is enjoying a successful winter in New York, one that could get even better when he sends out a pair of runners in Sunday’s $100,000 Gander Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds at Aqueduct.

Sciacca has a record of 7-6-7 from 42 starters through the first half of the meet, his seven wins putting him in the top 10 among trainers at the winter session.

“Better horses,” Sciacca said about why things are going so well. “We’re nothing without them.”

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Horsemen are always happy to have a decent 3-year-old and Sciacca may have a pair of them in Chowda and Microscope, who are part of Sunday’s seven-horse Gander field.

Chowda, a son of Emcee, is coming off a neck victory over Microscope in a first-level allowance race going a mile on Jan. 17. Chowda has speed, and despite being pressed that day, he was able to hold off his late-running stablemate. Chowda won his maiden in similar fashion over Bourbon Bay, who is likely to be one of the favorites in the Gander.

Speaking of Chowda’s allowance win, Sciacca said: “He never got a break the whole entire race. He ran really, really well for a young horse. He ran the same way when he broke his maiden – they got in front of him, he came back again, which you rarely see. Twice he’s done it. He’s a little bit of a fighter.”

Sciacca claimed Microscope out of a win for maiden $40,000 claiming off Todd Pletcher and Mike Repole on Dec. 14. Microscope won a starter allowance on Jan. 4, and 13 days later finished a neck behind Chowda.

Sciacca said he was reluctant to claim off Pletcher, but owner Sebastiano Ciaccio, who races under the banner Five C’s Stable, wanted him.

“The horse ran one time, he ran really well, so we went to [Ciaccio’s] house, watched the films, and I said, ‘Let’s take a shot on him,’” Sciacca said.

Sciacca said that if the pace of the Gander gets hot, Microscope “can come running.”

“He came running hard last time,” Sciacca said.

Sciacca’s biggest success story this meet has been Sicilia Mike, a 6-year-old gelding who has won two straight races, with Beyer Speed Figures of 93 and 90. In 2017, Sciacca claimed Sicilia Mike for $40,000 as maiden at Saratoga and the gelding has made $403,229 for owners Gerry Marino, John Novello, and Richard Kwiecinski.

“When do you see that – claim a maiden New York-bred for $40,000 and make $400,000?” Sciacca said.

Sciacca said he has 28 horses. One he is looking forward to getting started later this winter or in the spring is Kamikaze Red, a 3-year-old New York-bred by Include.

Sciacca’s successful winter has moved him to closer to the 1,000-career win plateau. Entering Sunday’s card, Sciacca stood at 977 victories.