Taghleeb tries to prove dirt win was no fluke
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – After toiling in the second-level allowance condition on turf for the better part of the year, Taghleeb finally cleared that hurdle in an off-the-turf race over Keeneland’s main track on Oct. 29. Now, Taghleeb will try to confirm his fondness for dirt in Wednesday’s $75,000, third-level optional-claiming feature going a mile and 70 yards over Aqueduct’s inner track.
Taghleeb lost six consecutive times in the second-level allowance ranks – four times as the favorite – before winning nicely at Keeneland with blinkers added for the first time. He raced three wide throughout but polished off his race through the stretch better than he had done previously.
“I hope he just didn’t beat turf horses on the dirt,” said Joe Lee, the New York-based assistant to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “Kiaran said he got a good number. He definitely was forwardly placed, laid there very comfortably until Paco [Lopez] said, ‘Let’s go.’ He ran really well. He looked good.”
Wednesday’s six-horse field includes Majestic Affair, a stakes winner at six and seven furlongs this year who will try two turns for the first time for trainer Chad Brown.
First Spark won optional-claiming races at Monmouth and Parx before running fifth in the Grade 3 Discovery Handicap behind stablemates Tommy Macho and Madefromlucky.
Rounding out the field are Lucky Lotto, who has a 3-2-0 record from five inner-track starts; Second City, who is 2 for 2 over the inner track; and Souper Knight, who is entered for the $100,000 claiming option. This race goes as the third and thus will not be part of the pick six, which begins the day with a carryover of $26,203. The pick six starts with race 4.
KEY CONTENDERS
Taghleeb (Last 3 Beyers: 82-91-91)
◗ With blinkers added, he broke sharply and was within two lengths of the lead at all times before passing the front-runners to win a second-level allowance going 1 1/8 miles at Keeneland.
“To me, it made a big difference,” Lee said about the blinkers.
◗ Junior Alvarado rides Taghleeb for the first time.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Taghleeb. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin is 58-19-7-8 with a $2.42 ROI over the past five years with last-out winners on the Aqueduct inner dirt. – Mike Hogan
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DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past year, Alvarado is 9 for 28 for McLaughlin, with a $2.60 return on investment.
Majestic Affair (Last 3 Beyers: 79-64-79)
◗ He tries two turns after making his first nine starts at seven furlongs or shorter.
◗ He earned his fastest Beyer Speed Figure (97) in winning the Fred “Cappy” Capossela over the inner track Jan. 2.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Majestic Affair. Trainer Chad Brown is 20-2-6-4 with a $0.44 ROI over the past five years going sprint to route on dirt at Aqueduct following a layoff of 45 days or more. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Over the past three years, trainer Brown is 19 for 84 going sprint to route on dirt, with a $1.08 ROI.
First Spark (Last 3 Beyers: 88-88-88)
◗ He won a pair of optional claimers out of town at Wednesday’s distance of a mile and 70 yards.
◗ He caught slop and a tougher field when fifth in the Discovery.
◗ He won his career debut sprinting over the inner track here in March.