Trash Talker among Magner's good-looking young horses

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Dermot Magner has at least three young horses that inspire hope for a solid 2020 season. Included in that trio is Trash Talker who faces winners for the first time in Friday’s $70,000 first-level allowance/optional-claiming feature at Aqueduct.

Trash Talker, a son of Competitive Edge, won a six-furlong maiden race here Dec. 7 in what was his fourth start. Though he may have been aided by a surface that turned speed-favoring over the second half of that card, Trash Talker has come back with a series of solid workouts since.

“He came out of the race pretty good,” Magner said. “He had a smart breeze here Monday morning, and it seems like he came out of that pretty good. The Bill Mott horse will be tough to beat there.”

Magner was referring to Secret Rules, who like Trash Talker is coming out of a front-running maiden win over Aqueduct’s main track. Secret Rules had shown the ability to run well from off the pace and may have gone to the front in his Nov. 30 maiden because he broke from the rail. Secret Rules has the rail again Friday.

“If somebody else insists on having the lead, he can go either way,” said Leana Willaford, Mott’s assistant.

Him She Kisses, Polar Pete, and King of American are all being offered for the $80,000 optional claiming price, even though all three are eligible for the allowance condition.

While Trash Talker is a Kentucky-bred, Magner has a pair of New York-bred 3-year-olds he could have fun with in 2020.

Hellbender, a son of Daredevil, won a New York-bred maiden race by three-quarters of a length on Dec. 29 in his fourth start. Magner said Hellbender is getting some time off on the farm and could return to the races in late March or April.

Fierce Lady, a stakes-winning New York-bred filly at 2, has recently returned to Magner’s barn after getting the fall off following her second-place finish in the Joseph Gimma Stakes on Sept. 18. She has worked twice at Belmont Park and is pointing to the $100,000 Franklin Square Stakes here Jan. 18.

“She trained on the farm and she came back in in good shape and looks well and fresh,” Magner said.