Space Launch back after summer break for Friday allowance
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – A marathon turf allowance and a sprint dirt allowance highlight Friday’s nine-race card at Aqueduct.
Race 2 is a second-level/optional $62,500 claimer for 3-year-olds and up scheduled for 1 3/8 miles over the inner turf course. Space Launch makes his first start in about 2 1/2 months. The last time he ran at Aqueduct, he won a first-level allowance going 1 1/16 miles over the outer turf last December.
In two starts this year, Space Launch finished third behind He’spuregold in a Monmouth Park allowance in May and second in between Dynadrive and Kuramata in a 1 1/4-mile allowance at Belmont Park on July 1. He’spuregold came back to win two New Jersey-bred stakes sandwiched around a last-place finish in the Grade 1 United Nations. Dynadrive and Kuramata came back to win listed stakes at Saratoga and Monmouth, respectively.
Space Launch was given time off following the July 1 race because “he’s a horse that doesn’t do well with the heat,” said Christophe Loriuel, the assistant to trainer Christophe Clement.
In his most recent start, Space Launch was on the lead. In his win going shorter here last December, he came from just off the pace.
“He doesn’t have a great turn of foot,” Loriuel said. He lengthens [stride], so you don’t want to give him too much to do. He’s got to be on the lead or close to the lead.”
Manny Franco, aboard for both of Space’s Launch’s wins, is back aboard Friday.
Clement also sends out Megayacht, who finished fifth in this condition going 1 1/16 miles at Laurel Park on July 31.
“The race was a little bit against him,” Lorieul said. “They didn’t go that quick early, and at the top of the stretch he had to steady when everybody was gaining their momentum.”
The favorite will likely be Dream Works, a 5-year-old gelding trained by Chad Brown who finished fifth in this condition going a mile at Saratoga, 3 1/2 lengths behind stablemate Good Governance.
Tide of the Sea, a five-time winner, and Bluegrass Parkway are both in for the claiming tag. Founder, fourth in this condition on Aug. 21, completes the field.
Race 6 is a third-level/optional $80,000 claimer for females at seven furlongs on dirt. Betsy Blue looms large with 7 wins and 7 seconds from 16 starts. She is coming off a six-length victory in a second-level allowance over well-regarded Brattle House at Saratoga. Two back, she was beaten a neck by Smash Ticket and three back she was second to Goodnight Olive, who has come back to win the Grade 1 Ballerina.
“I’ve been thrilled with her last two races,” trainer Linda Rice said. “She’s certainly a lot of fun to have in the barn.”
Rice also sends out Piece of My Heart, who finished third to Goodnight Olive on Aug. 7 but was disqualified and placed last for breaking through the starting gate a fraction of a second before the official start of the race and was deemed by the stewards to have gained an unfair advantage. Rice believes Piece of My Heart hit her head on the gate but still ran well.
Jose Lezcano rides Betsy Blue from post 5, while Flavien Prat rides Piece of My Heart from post 4.
Wholebodemeister, the 2021 Grade 2 Davona Dale winner; Sharp Starr, the 2020 Grade 3 Go for Wand winner; and Dealing Justice complete the field.