Turf racing heralds return of spring
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Turf racing returns to New York on Wednesday with three races scheduled for the grass, including a $75,000 second-level allowance in which – no surprise – trainer Christophe Clement has the horse to beat.
Blacktype, who raced twice in New York last year, makes his first start as a 4-year-old in this 1 1/16-mile race, which drew seven runners for the turf and three more if the race is transferred to the main track.
Blacktype, who was a ridgling when he raced here last fall, will race as a gelding for the first time Wednesday. He spent the winter at Payson Park in Florida, where he shows a trio of five-furlong works, two on the turf.
“He’s much better since we gelded him,” said Christophe Lorieul, Clement’s assistant. “Physically, he’s done well and he’s been training well. Actually, the works at Payson have been decent. He should be competitive.”
Smooth Daddy, who finished ahead of Blacktype in last spring’s Grade 3 Hill Prince when the two were third and fifth, is back in this field. His lone try over Aqueduct’s turf was a neck loss in a maiden race in November 2013.
There is a pick six carryover of $22,223 on Wednesday’s card. It begins in race 4 (2:53 p.m. Eastern).
KEY CONTENDERS
Blacktype (Beyers: 88-90)
◗ He had difficult trips in both of his U.S. starts, including last November at Aqueduct when he was stuck in traffic in upper stretch. When room opened, he finished well to be third behind loose-on-the-lead Iron Power.
◗ Rain is in the forecast for Tuesday, and the turf course will probably be labeled “good” on Wednesday.
“I don’t think the ground should be a problem for him,” Lorieul said. “I think he can go well on any ground. Actually, some cut in the ground is probably a bit better for him.”
Smooth Daddy (Last 3 Beyers: 88-88-93)
◗ He drops into allowance company after competing in four consecutive stakes races.
◗ His last win came in a first-level allowance at Saratoga last summer in front-running fashion. He could face some early pressure here from Heiko.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Smooth Daddy. Trainer Tom Albertrani is 41-2-4-6 with a $0.37 ROI over the past four years in turf routes at Aqueduct. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Idle American (Last 3 Beyers: 79-74-82)
◗ The Fourstardave of the Aqueduct turf, this New York-bred is 4 for 7 at Aqueduct and 0 for 23 elsewhere. He won here once in 2011, twice in 2012, and also last Nov. 22, when he pulled a 6-1 upset in an open-company first-level allowance. That was his lone win in his last 22 starts.
◗ Angel Cruz, who has won a meet-leading 15 races over the main track, is aboard. Cruz was aboard for his win last November.
Barrel of Love (Last 3 Beyers: 92-82-82)
◗ Claimed last fall by Michael Dubb for $62,500, the 8-year-old gelding is back in for that price after two defeats at Gulfstream over the winter.
◗ He is coupled in the wagering with Days Ride, who comes off a 21-1 upset in the Stud Muffin Stakes on dirt.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1A Barrel of Love. Trainer Chad Brown is 11-4-1-1 with a $3.75 ROI over the past five years in turf routes with Junior Alvarado aboard. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan