Tommy Macho heading south following Queens County
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – With the retirements of so many top-class horses, the older male division in 2016 is certainly in need of a few good recruits.
Tommy Macho will look to audition for a leading role in the division when he heads a field of seven entered in Saturday’s $100,000 Queens County Stakes at Aqueduct.
Tommy Macho is headed to Gulfstream Park after the Queens County, with the Grade 1 Donn Handicap penciled in for him Feb. 6, according to trainer Todd Pletcher. Tommy Macho looked every bit like a Donn contender in his 4 1/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Discovery, run over a sloppy Aqueduct main track Nov. 11.
“I thought in a lot of ways it was his most professional race, not only for the way he ran, but the way he behaved in the paddock and the way he broke and put himself in a good position,” said Pletcher, a four-time winner of the Queens County.
In the Discovery, Tommy Macho prompted the pace established by Ocean Knight and then drew clear with authority down the lane. There appears to be a lack of pace in the Queens County as well. That could compromise Pletcher’s other entrant in the field, Mylute, who is coming off a fourth in an optional claimer Nov. 21.
Financial Modeling, should he run, is a bit of a wild card. He has won at the 1 1/8-mile distance on dirt but is coming off a solid close-to-the-pace victory on turf.
Turco Bravo won the Stymie over the inner track in March. Kid Cruz, a Grade 3 winner in 2014, also is in with a chance, though he too could be compromised by a lack of pace.
Queens County, Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Tommy Macho (Last 3 Beyers: 99-90-79)
◗ Prior to winning the Discovery, he was beaten 10 lengths in both the West Virginia Derby and Pennsylvania Derby. Pletcher said he believes Tommy Macho was compromised by being on the inside part of the track in West Virginia and a poor start in the Pennsylvania Derby.
◗ Though Javier Castellano was named to ride Tommy Macho, expect a rider change as Castellano will stay at Gulfstream, Pletcher said.
Financial Modeling (Last 3 Beyers: 92-75-85)
◗ Last time he raced 1 1/8 miles on a fast track, he won a first-level allowance at Saratoga. Comes off a second-level allowance win on turf Nov. 28.
“He’s won a couple of times on dirt, and I think he’s a versatile horse,” trainer Chad Brown said. “I left him in New York, thinking of this race. His numbers look like he fits, but we’re going to look at the race and consider it.”
Kid Cruz (Last 3 Beyers: 102-99-93)
◗ Comes off career-best Beyer Speed Figure when second to Page McKenney in the Swatara Stakes at Penn National.
◗ This will be his third start off a layoff precipitated by having a chip taken out of a knee over the summer.