Tabeguache has best chance to end losing skid

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The seven horses entered in Sunday’s third-level allowance/optional-claiming feature at Aqueduct have combined to go 3 for 46 in 2024, meaning handicappers are going to have to be quite forgiving on the last card here until after Thanksgiving.

Perhaps this spot offers Tabeguache a chance to break his eight-race losing streak since he won the St. Louis Derby in August 2023. Tabegauache is coming off a decent third-place finish behind Law Professor going 1 1/8 miles on Oct. 25 and now cuts back to one mile for trainer Brad Cox.

Last December, making this same turnback, Tabeguache came within a nose of Kinetic Sky, a horse who would later win the Stymie Stakes, in this condition. In September, also turning back from 1 1/8 miles to a mile, Tabeguache finished fourth behind the front-running Phileas Fogg, on a day when Aqueduct’s main track favored inside speed.

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Joel Rosario rides Tabeguache Sunday.

Winit won this condition here in April but only defeated three rivals in doing so. Sunday, the 5-year-old gelding is in for the $80,000 tag and is coming off a decent third at odds of 35-1 in the Grade 3 Forty Niner.

Costa Terra, one of two in here for Linda Rice, is coming off a second-level allowance win going 1 1/8 miles on Nov. 7. If you forgive his last-place finish behind Locked in a swiftly run seven-furlong race on Oct. 19, Costa Terra has a top-three finish in four of his last five starts.

Rice also sends out Sheriff Bianco, a perennial bridesmaid who is 1 for 22 since winning an allowance on Dec. 17, 2022.

Instant Coffee, the Grade 3 Lecomte winner of 2023, showed an improved effort when beaten four lengths by Law Professor in this condition on Oct. 25.

Disarmed and Thin White Duke complete the field.

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