Spooky Mulder back on right track

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The abrupt shift to the inner track at Aqueduct won't hurt Spooky Mulder's chances Sunday in the featured $49,000 allowance optional claimer.

When the Thursday forecast called for heavy showers, the Big A moved the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday cards to the inner strip as a precaution to preserve the weather-battered main track.

Conditions permitting, main-track racing returns on Wednesday.

In the interlude, Spooky Mulder winds up on the winterized strip where he has a record of 4-2-0 in 8 starts.

"It's a speed-favoring track and he's got that early punch," said trainer Pat Reynolds. "Hopefully, he'll get back in form."

Overall, the 8-year-old gelding will be looking for his 28th win, facing seven rivals going six furlongs. Five runners in the third-level allowance, including Spooky Mulder, carry the $75,000 claiming tag.

Spooky Mulder looks to bounce back from one of his poorest recent efforts, an 11-length loss in the Eillo Stakes at the Meadowlands Racetrack on Oct. 17.

Spooky Mulder has never run well at the Meadowlands and that pattern continued.

"He didn't try when he went over there," said Reynolds. "He was very flat. The track was extremely hard, and he just doesn't like that surface."

Spooky Mulder tuned up with a three-furlong drill in 39.90 on Tuesday on the muddy Belmont Park training track

"After the track was harrowed, it was okay," said Reynolds. "We got a little breeze into him. He doesn't need a lot. He's got that class and he puts a lot into his gallops. He doesn't need a lot of fast workouts at this advanced age. He keeps himself fit."

Spooky Mulder is 2-1-1 in 6 starts since Reynolds claimed him for $100,000 at Aqueduct in April.

Reynolds also entered Si O No, a Chilean turf horse, in the event the field came up light.

The entry of Indian War Dance and Wild Nature gives trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. two solid shots.

Indian War Dance wheels right back for his third race in nine days. The heavy workload hasn't slowed him as Indian War Dance looks to extend his winning streak to four. He is unbeaten in two inner-track starts.

Wild Nature most recently ran fourth following a bobble at the break as the 3-2 favorite.

Ojibway, a four-time inner-track winner, returns from New Jersey for trainer Patricia Farro.

Completing the field are Stonewood, Jayar, and Morine's Victory.