Strong trio of 3-year-olds squares off in optional claimer

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The nine-race card Friday at Aqueduct includes a second-level optional claimer at a mile that will match three promising 3-year-olds – Mosler, Vinceremos, and Misconnect.

Mosler, trained by Bill Mott, and Vinceremos, conditioned by Todd Pletcher, finished second and third last time out at this level behind Bay of Plenty, who was winning his third consecutive race for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Bay of Plenty likely will be favored in the Grade 3, $200,000 Discovery Handicap here Saturday.

Misconnect will be making his first start for trainer Bernardo Callejas, who is overseeing trainer Bruce Levine’s stable while Levine serves a suspension for a medication violation.

Callejas, 52, is the son of longtime New York trainer Alfredo Callejas, who died in January 2008. Bernardo Callejas emigrated from his native Argentina in 1992, worked with his father for seven years, and was with Allen Jerkens from 1999 to 2007. He operated his own stable from 2008 to 2011. He has been Levine’s assistant since 2012.

Callejas also has horses in the first and second races Friday at Aqueduct. He has a career record of 70 wins from 625 starters.

Misconnect, owned by the Repole Stable, made his first five career starts for Pletcher.

Key contenders

Mosler (Last 3 Beyers: 91-85-53)

* With the exception of one race in which he was fractious at the gate, Mosler’s Beyer Speed Figures have improved in each of his five starts.

* Chased Bay of Plenty throughout his last race and held second by 1 1/4 lengths over Vinceremos.

Vinceremos (Last 3 Beyers: 89-55-48)

* Won the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in March over Harpoon.

* His recent third behind Bay of Plenty and Mosler was his first start in five months. He has worked twice since.

Misconnect (Last 3 Beyers: 93-91-82)

* Will be making his first start since finishing fifth, beaten four lengths, in the July 5 Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park. He was bumped between horses at the start of that race.

* He has worked three times at Belmont Park in October, including a 59.80-second breeze Oct. 26.

Grandpa’s Princess to Woodbine

Grandpa’s Princess, a 4 3/4-length maiden winner Oct. 5 at Belmont Park, likely will skip Sunday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Tempted Stakes and instead run the same day at Woodbine in the $250,000 Princess Elizabeth Stakes, according to trainer Carlos Martin.

The Princess Elizabeth is restricted to Canadian-bred 2-year-old fillies and will be run at 1 1/16 miles over Polytrack. Although Grandpa’s Princess has not raced over a synthetic surface, she did work a quarter-mile in 21.40 seconds over the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s Safetrack prior to the June sale of 2-year-olds and horses of racing age.

Grandpa’s Princess will race for trainer Brian Lynch at Woodbine. Her plans after that race have not been determined.