OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Backsideofthemoon ran the best race of his career last December winning the Queens County Stakes by six lengths, earning a 106 Beyer Speed Figure. Backsideofthemoon will make the 57th and final start of his career in Sunday’s $125,000 Queens County Stakes at Aqueduct, with his connections hoping he can conjure up some past magic before entering a forced retirement from racing. In April, the New York Racing Association instituted a policy banning horses age 10 or older from stabling or racing at its tracks. Backsideofthemoon, a gelding by Malibu Moon who has earned $801,016, will turn 10 on New Year’s Day. The announcement of that policy came shortly after owner Charles Hallas claimed Backsideofthemoon for $62,500 in February. Hallas had also claimed the gelding once before for $100,000. Following that claim, in November 2019, Backsideofthemoon finished a late-running fourth in the Queens County for then-trainer Bob Klesaris. In 2020, after being claimed away from Hallas for $62,500 by Mike Repole and Rudy Rodriguez, Backsideofthemoon scored a six-length victory in the Queens County. It was two races after the Queens County that Hallas took Backsideofthemoon again. He is winless in seven starts since. In his most recent start, Backsideofthemoon was fourth behind Empty Tomb in an optional $80,000 claimer going a mile. “That day he didn’t break quick and two horses pinched him out of there and then he was between a rock and a hard place,” said Pat Reynolds, Backsideofthemoon’s trainer since the summer. “He did the best he could and ran fourth.” :: Bet the races with confidence on DRF Bets. You're one click away from the only top-rated betting platform fully integrated with exclusive data, analytics, and expert picks. Reynolds didn’t decide to run Backsideofthemoon here until he worked a solid half-mile in 48.87 seconds Sunday at Belmont. “Normally, we don’t grate on him in the mornings, we try to save everything for the afternoon,” Reynolds said. “He worked well so we’ll have to take a shot.” Reynolds said Backsideofthemoon will retire to a farm Hallas has in Connecticut. Empty Tomb, who beat Backsideofthemoon by 3 1/4 lengths and earned a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure, also returns in the Queens County. The quick turnaround and the inability to race on Lasix has trainer Robert Falcone a little concerned, but he believes Empty Tomb could potentially be the main speed in the Queens County. “He did come out of the race in great shape and he’s acting as happy as he was going into it,” Falcone said. “Hopefully, he gets the lead by himself and they leave him alone.” With only two wins from seven starts, Mystic Night is the least accomplished horse in the field. But his allowance win going 1 1/8 miles here in March earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure and he is coming off two losses in allowance company to repeat winners Thomas Shelby and Beau Luminarie. Jose Ortiz rides the Chad Brown-trained Mystic Night from post 8 in the nine-horse field. You’re to Blame finished third and Olliemyboy fifth in a Nov. 21 allowance at Churchill Downs. Both those horses, trained by Rob Atras, are in this field. Completing the field are Bourbonic, the Grade 2 Wood Memorial winner, Bal Harbour, Shooger Ray Too, and Forewarned. Following Sunday’s card, Aqueduct is dark until Dec. 30.