Top contenders in Saturday sprint bookend field

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – There is no stakes race Saturday at Aqueduct, but the feature, a second-level allowance/optional $62,500 claimer, came up a contentious nine-horse affair that looks to set up for a closer.

Will Did It, who drew the inside, and Jan’s Reserve, who is drawn outside, meet for the third straight time at this condition. Will Did It finished in front of Jan’s Reserve in their previous two meetings, thought Jan’s Reserve was compromised by slow starts both times.

On Dec. 3, Will Did It finished second and Jan’s Reserve third behind Whitmore, who was returning from a lengthy layoff and rallied up the rail for the win. Whitmore came back to win another sprint allowance at Oaklawn last weekend.

On Dec. 31, Will Did It dead-heated for second behind Saturday rival Bond Vigilante, while Jan’s Reserve was fourth after getting bumped coming out of the gate. That race was run at six furlongs, the distance of Saturday’s race.

“He’s a very nice, up-and-coming horse,” said David Jacobson, who has three wins, two seconds, and a third with Will Did It since claiming him for $40,000 last August at Saratoga. “He appears to be improving. With a little more improving, a little racing luck, I think he can win.”

Will Did It finished four lengths behind Bond Vigilante, who was a front-running winner for Chris Englehart, who claimed the 7-year-old horse for $32,000 on Dec. 14. It appears that Bond Vigilante will have to deal with other speed types Saturday, including Proven Commodity and Still Krz.

KEY CONTENDERS

Will Did It, by Medaglia d’Oro

Last 3 Beyers: 86-88-90

◗ He has had wide trips in his last two starts, including in his solid second behind the stakes-placed Whitmore.

◗ For the 11th straight race, he will have a different rider, with Cornelio Velasquez getting the call Saturday.

Jan’s Reserve, by Ready’s Image

Last 3 Beyers: 83-83-74

◗ Took advantage of a hot pace to record a 21-1 upset in the King’s Swan Stakes in November 2015 and followed that up with a runner-up finish in the 2016 Lost in the Fog Stakes.

◗ Has gotten away slowly in his two most recent starts but has come with a decent late run in both.

◗ Rider switch to Aaron Gryder on Saturday.

Bond Vigilante, by Salute the Sarge

Last 3 Beyers: 95-92-84

◗ His speed makes him a factor over the inner track, which has been kind to early-speed types recently.

◗ He is 3 for 7 over the inner track.

◗ Eligible to be claimed for $62,500.

◗ Trainer Englehart is 10 for 39 at this meet.

Ostrolenka, by Musket Man

Last 3 Beyers: 93-79-89

◗ He is being offered for $62,500 after running in $100,000 claiming races in his last two starts.

◗ Has only one win in 13 starts since winning the Mike Lee Stakes at Belmont in May 2015.

◗ He is 0 for 4 at six furlongs.

Mills, by Any Given Saturday

Last 3 Beyers: 97-102-98

◗ Returns from a six-month layoff at six furlongs, a distance at which he has never been tried in 31 career starts.

◗ Finished second to stakes winners Comfort and Far From Over in a pair of one-turn routes at Belmont last spring.