Sloppy track could be Watershed moment in Queens County

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – His abilities to win at the 1 1/8-mile distance and handle an off track may give Watershed a slight edge in a seemingly wide-open 112th renewal of the $125,000 Queens County Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct.

Watershed, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin for Godolphin Racing, finished fifth behind War Story in last year’s Queens County. He won his first start of this year by 9 1/2 lengths in the slop at Gulfstream Park. Rain is in Saturday’s forecast.

After an ill-fated turf try in the Mac Diarmida at Gulfstream, Watershed won the Grade 3 Ben Ali back on dirt at Keeneland in April. He may have found the competition a bit too tough in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special and Grade 2 Suburban. Following a three-month break, he dueled for the lead and finished fourth in the Richard Small Stakes at Laurel.

“He ran well off of a long break, dug in, tried hard, ran well,” McLaughlin said. “He might not need to go a mile and an eighth, but it’s either short or a mile and an eighth.”

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Watershed is 2 for 5 at 1 1/8 miles.

Senior Investment will try to become the first 3-year-old to win the Queens County since Evening Attire in 2001. Senior Investment, trained by Kenny McPeek, is coming off a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Discovery for 3-year-olds here Nov. 25.

“It’s his first start against older horses, but we like the mile and an eighth,” McPeek said. “I think he wants to run farther than this, but he’s a good, solid horse, and if he runs well we’ll stay a little longer up there.”

Discreet Lover, a punching bag for Gun Runner in the Whitney and Woodward this summer at Saratoga, has won two of his last three starts and could be the pacesetter breaking from the rail.

Completing the field are Kurilov, Doyouknowsomething, Backsideofthemoon, Securitiz, Zanotti, and Alex the Terror.

KEY CONTENDERS

Watershed, by Bernardini
Last 3 Beyers: 89-97-92

◗ Has gone winless in three starts since taking the Grade 3 Ben Ali at Keeneland in April, but has found a modest field on Saturday and should get some pace to stalk.

Senior Investment, by Discreetly Mine
Last 3 Beyers: 96-82-76

◗ Does his best running late and would benefit from some early pace, which he might get with Discreet Lover, Doyouknowsomething, and Alex the Terror in the field.

◗ Beat West Coast in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes earlier this year at Keeneland, and finished third in the Preakness.

Kurilov, by Lookin At Lucky
Last 3 Beyers: 94-N/A-N/A

◗ A Group 1 winner in Chile, he came off a long layoff to set the pace before fading to fourth in a high-class allowance race going a one-turn mile here Nov. 12.

“He had a tough go on the front end off a long layoff,” trainer Chad Brown said. “Wasn’t the right style for him.”