Today's Flavor gets a breather, tries rebound in Thunder Rumble

OZONE PARK, N.Y. –Today’s Flavor was making his third start in five weeks and got embroiled in a hot pace duel when he finished last of seven in the Hudson Stakes on Oct. 29 at Aqueduct.

When Today’s Flavor runs in Sunday’s $125,000 Thunder Rumble division of the New York Stallion Series, he’ll have had five weeks between races and, drawn toward the outside, could work out a more comfortable trip in the seven-furlong race at Aqueduct.

Today’s Flavor had won his previous four starts in restricted company prior to the Hudson. He won three allowance races here as part of an overall four-race win streak from Nov. 27, 2022, through Feb. 18. He also won the Affirmed Success Stakes at Belmont.

In open company, he won an allowance and, two weeks later, the off-the-turf Belmont Turf Sprint Championship. The Hudson was his next race and, breaking from the rail, he got used in a duel with eventual winner Rotknee.

“I got a little greedy, but with a horse like that, who’s out of conditions, there are only a handful of spots you can run in,” said George Weaver, trainer of Today’s Flavor. “The odds board said it was the right spot, but it was probably asking too much to come back in three weeks after doing that two-week turnaround, so that might have taken the starch out of him as well.”

Sunday, Today’s Flavor breaks from post 8 under Javier Castellano in a nine-horse field, which could allow for a trip outside the other potential speed.

“I don’t anticipate us taking him back or anything, but we drew outside, got the eight-hole, I’d imagine we’ll let him be comfortable down the backside whether it’s on the lead or not and see if he can get him home,” Weaver said.

Today’s Flavor is 3 for 4 on an wet track, so the forecasted showers are not an issue.

If Today’s Flavor cannot avoid a speed duel Sunday, then General Banker may be the one to pick up the pieces. General Banker won the $500,000 Great White Way division of the NYSS last December, which prompted his connections to try and jump on the Triple Crown trail.

After toiling in some ambitious spots and then two failed tries back in restricted company, General Banker was given a break. On Oct. 15, he returned from a five-month layoff with a first-level allowance win.

“The Beyer number’s the same [75] as they’ve always been, but he can improve off that,” trainer Jimmy Ferraro said.

Barese, a four-time stakes winner, will try to bounce back from a seventh-place finish in the Empire Classic when he runs in the Thunder Rumble.

He is trained by Mike Maker as is Be the Boss, who comes off a first-level allowance win for which he earned a career-best 90 Beyer Speed Figure.

Callaloo, Jemography, Lobsta, Niagara Skyline, and Vacation Dance complete the field.

Statue of Liberty

The seven-furlong distance may be less than ideal, but the company should be to her liking when Morning Matcha runs in Sunday’s $125,000 Statue of Liberty division of the New York Stallion Series.

Morning Matcha is a Pennsylvania-bred, but she is by the New York-based stallion Central Banker, making her eligible for this spot. Morning Matcha finished second in her lone try in a NYSS race on dirt, that being to Yo Cuz in 2021. She did win a Pennsylvania-bred stakes going seven furlongs at Parx Racing in April.

“A mile and an eighth is probably her best distance, but it depends on the competition,” trainer Butch Reid said. “If he treats her right, warms her up right, it won’t be a problem.”

Mychel Sanchez is in to ride from post 7.

Morning Matcha is coming out of a third-place finish behind Interstatedaydream and Tizzy in the Sky in the Turnback the Alarm going 1 1/8 miles here Nov. 3.

“Hopefully, this will be an easier spot for her on Sunday,” Reid said.

Bustin Bay had been in excellent form until a week ago, when she finished last of seven in an open second-level allowance race.

She came out of the race well enough for trainer Linda Rice to work her four days later to get her off the poor-performance list and run back in this spot.

“I’m just throwing out the race,” Rice said. “She had a bad day.”

Sweetie, who drew the outside in this eight-horse field, came back off a layoff to win a New York-bred allowance on turf before finishing third in the off-the-turf Ticonderoga.

Lisa’s Vision, Little Linzee, Vallelujah, Easy Play, and Bank On Anna complete the field.