Space Launch might have found a softer spot; $68,497 pick six carryover
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Though the calendar has flipped to December, the New York Racing Association plans to offer turf racing at Aqueduct as long as Mother Nature allows. With a favorable forecast this week, 11 turf races have been carded over the first two days of the week.
Among the five turf races offered Thursday – when temperatures could reach the mid-50s – is a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds and up that serves as the feature on a nine-race card that begins at 12:20 p.m. The 1 1/16-mile race is the penultimate leg of a pick six sequence that has a $68,497 carryover.
The rails on the outer turf will be out 36 feet from the hedge, perhaps offering horses drawn inside a slight advantage. Space Launch will break from post 1 in what figures to be an eight-horse field after the four main-track-only entrants are withdrawn.
Though Space Launch has lost five straight since winning his debut 14 months ago, he appears to have faced better competition than his counterparts. In four tries in this condition, Space Launch has a second and two thirds, finishing behind the likes of Safe Conduct, Public Sector, Sifting Sands, and Ocala Dream, all of whom have gone on to win stakes.
“He’s faced the better 3-year-olds,” said his trainer, Christophe Clement, who enters December with 104 wins on the year, equaling his personal best first achieved in 2016. “He’s doing well. I think he’s holding his form,”
Manny Franco rides Space Launch.
Trainer Chad Brown sends out the uncoupled entry of Advise and Consent and Lonesome Fugitive. Advise and Consent is coming off a maiden win. He was forwardly placed in that race, a tactic that might prove useful Thursday in a race lacking confirmed speed. Lonesome Fugitive is 0 for 5 in this condition.
“Lonesome Fugitive has been plagued by some rough trips,” Brown said. “Advise and Consent is a horse we got started pretty late that always trained well, and it seems like he’s got some room to develop. They both look like they fit in that race. Either one, with a trip, I could see potentially winning.”
The well-named Caveat Emptor, beaten three times at 6-5 or shorter, has shown speed to be a factor for Jimmy Toner. Jose Ortiz will become the sixth different rider Caveat Emptor has had in seven starts.
Carrothers, a 3-year-old son of Mshawish, is the wild card in the field. He went 2 for 3 in Great Britain while trained by David Simcock and will be making his first start in the United States and for trainer Bill Mott, and first since Feb. 21. He does show a solid work tab, albeit on dirt. His one loss came 13 months ago to Rebel’s Romance, who went on to win this year’s UAE Derby on dirt.
Looking to take advantage of another turf race are Public Information and High Tide, who finished 1-2 in a starter allowance here Nov. 21.
The New York-bred Danzigwiththestars has run consistent figures and tries open company for the second time. He finished fourth in the Better Talk Now Stakes at Saratoga.