Turf or dirt, Dancing Buck should run his race in Thursday allowance

Turf racing is scheduled to return to the New York Racing Association circuit Thursday, though Mother Nature could intervene. Rain was in the forecast from Tuesday through Thursday, which could put the three scheduled turf races on Thursday’s eight-race Aqueduct card in jeopardy of being taken off the grass.

Dancing Buck looks like he could be effective on either surface in the seventh race, a six-furlong allowance race for 3-year-olds and up scheduled for turf. But should the race come off the turf, he could his lose rider, Kendrick Carmouche, who according to the overnight has first call on Trash Talker, entered for the main track only.

A 4-year-old son of War Dancer trained by Michelle Nevin, Dancing Buck would be making his first start since he won a New York-bred second-level allowance by a nose going six furlongs on turf under Carmouche last Nov. 18. Last April, Dancing Buck won a six-furlong turf allowance from off the pace over the turf at Aqueduct.

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Dancing Buck owns a maiden victory over a sloppy Aqueduct track, so the prospect of a wet track shouldn’t hurt him, but Nevin says if it’s necessary she’ll leave the decision on whether to run on dirt up to the owner.

“I definitely think he’s a better turf horse, but he can run a little bit on the dirt too,” Nevin said.

On turf, Dancing Buck may have to deal with pace pressure from R Boy Bode, who has been facing cheaper and is drawn on the outside on Thursday.

On dirt, Trash Talker, trained by Rob Atras, may possess the most early speed, but he did not run well last December in his lone sloppy track start.

Trainer John Terranova wants to bring back Kawhi Me a River on Thursday, but said he would not run if the race comes off the turf. Last Nov. 20, Kawhi Me a River encountered traffic trouble around the turn and again in deep stretch, and was beaten only 1 1/4 lengths by Scuttlebuzz, who came back to win his next start. Thursday’s race would be his first since then.

“It seems like every race there’s circumstances that he hasn’t gotten the trip,” Terranova said.

Kawhi Me a River is a half-brother to Phantom Currency, who came off a 13-month layoff to win last Saturday’s Grade 3 Appleton at Gulfstream Park.

In race 4, a first-level statebred allowance scheduled for 1 1/16-miles on turf, Umbria looks like a dual-surface threat for Linda Rice. He won his maiden on this course and at this distance last Nov. 28. In his only start since, Umbria finished second to 29-1 shot Invest in a one-mile dirt allowance here March 19. This race would be a cut back to a one-turn mile if moved to the dirt

Beyond Umbria, this race looks inscrutable on dirt, though Run for Boston has recorded three of his five wins from 49 starts over a wet track.

On turf, Terranova hopes to run Breadman and Mr. Kringle. Breadman won on turf in his career debut in September 2020 but is 0 for 6 since. Mr. Kringle is only 2 for 21 but has recency on his side, having had three runs at Tampa Bay Downs this past winter.

Thursday’s opener is for New York-bred maidens on turf. Excursionniste and Curlin’s Wisdom look like the best of those who have started.