Straight Arrow has Empire Classic in his sights

Mike Dini believes Straight Arrow will ultimately prove to be better on turf than dirt. If true, that figures to portend well for next year.

Fow now, however, Dini is going to keep Straight Arrow on the dirt, where on Sunday he’ll try to stretch out to 1 1/8 miles in the $250,000 Empire Classic at Aqueduct. The Empire Classic is one of eight stakes and 10 races overall on New York-bred Showcase Day, a card dedicated to celebrate the statebred industry program.

Straight Arrow made the first four starts of his career on dirt, winning two, before Dini tried him on the turf. Though Straight Arrow finished fifth that day, he encountered traffic and Dini wanted to try him back on the turf. A one-mile allowance race on Oct. 1 at Aqueduct came off the grass, and Straight Arrow, over a sealed, muddy surface, romped by nine lengths, earning a 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

“He could get a hold of the track because he’s got real flat feet,” Dini said. “That’s why I think he will run better on the turf.”

There is a 70 percent chance of rain Sunday, the timing of which is uncertain. The Empire Classic is scheduled for the last of 10 races and will go at 5:24 p.m. Eastern.

In the Empire Classic, Straight Arrow will have to wheel back in 13 days while trying nine furlongs for the first time and breaking from the outside in a 10-horse field. Dini said he trains his horses lightly, so he’s not too worried about running Straight Arrow back on short rest. He also believes the distance will be fine as Straight Arrow is by Arrogate, though he is a half-brother to Disco Partner, who earned the bulk of his $1.4 million sprinting on turf.

“The farther he goes the better because of the Arrogate in him,” Dini said. “The other day, after seven-eighths, he took off. There was no catching him.”

While Straight Arrow will stretch out in distance, Drake’s Passage will be cutting back a sixteenth of a mile after finishing third, beaten a half-length, in an open-company allowance against older going 1 3/16 miles. Before that, Drake’s Passage won the Albany Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles by 7 3/4 lengths at Saratoga.

Christophe Clement said in the allowance Drake’s Passage “ran very well, he did not quit. On [speed] ratings, it was as strong as his race in Saratoga.”

Clement said he was planning to enter Drake’s Passage in the $150,000 Discovery for open-company 3-year-olds next Friday and will look at the field for both races before deciding where to run. Under a new draw schedule being implemented with the opening of the Aqueduct fall meet next Thursday, entries for the Discovery were to be taken Friday.

Aggregation, winner of an open allowance race at Aqueduct on Oct. 4, and Olympic Dreams, fourth in an open allowance race on Sept.3 at Saratoga that has proven to be a productive race, are intriguing players in this spot.

Curlin’s Wisdom, one of three horses entered in this race by trainer Linda Rice, and Barese, trained by Mike Maker, finished second and third, respectively, in this race a year ago. Curlin’s Wisdom is coming off a five-month layoff after running last in the Commentator Stakes. Barese has won two of his last three, including the Genesee Valley Breeders’ Stakes at Finger Lakes, yet Maker sees fit to add blinkers to the 4-year-old who is 0 for 5 at 1 1/8 miles.

Sunday’s card is considered closing day of the Belmont at the Big A meeting. Aqueduct’s regular fall meeting opens Thursday.

Venti Valentine, Ichiban top Distaff

The emerging Ichiban and the resurgent Venti Valentine put modest win streaks on the line when they square off in the $250,000 Empire Distaff for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles.

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Ichiban, a 3-year-old trained by Rice, has won three straight, including the Fleet Indian at Saratoga going 1 1/8 miles on Aug. 25. Rice said she had Ichiban entered in an open-company allowance race but had to scratch due to inflammation in a hind leg.

“She’s been fine since,” Rice said.

Venti Valentine, a 4-year-old trained by Jorge Abreu, has won her last two starts, including the Johnstone Mile going a mile at Saratoga and an emphatic 7 3/4-length victory in the Jack Betta Be Rite Stakes going 1 1/16 miles on Oct. 2 at Finger Lakes.

“She’s doing great right now,” Abreu said.

Venti Valentine is 0 for 4 at 1 1/8 miles, but she did finish second in both the Grade 2 Demoiselle at 2 and the Grade 3 Gazelle at 3.

Tough Street returns to New York-bred company for the first time since she won back-to-back allowance races going a one-turn mile.

April Antics, Know It All Audrey, Sweet Mystery, and Sunset Louise complete the field.

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