Two-turn question looms
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Quick Action has shown that he will at least be a useful 3-year-old sprinter for trainer D. Wayne Lukas and the Overbrook Farm. Whether he can be more than that may be determined Saturday.
, who has yet to race beyond six furlongs, will try to stretch his speed around two turns against modest competition in the $75,000 Whirlaway Stakes at Aqueduct. The Whirlaway is run at 1 1/16 miles.
Quick Action comes off a 7 3/4-length victory here Jan. 19 in the Fred "Cappy" Capossela Stakes, in which he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 99. It remains to be seen, however, if his stamina matches his speed. He will break from post 3 under Herbie Castillo.
"I don't think it'll be a problem," said Peter Hutton, the assistant to Lukas. "Herbie said after the last race that he just kept going, going, and going. It's still in the back of your mind, it's still a concern, but going in I see absolutely no reason why he wouldn't."
The Whirlaway appears loaded with front-running types, including mid-Atlantic shippers Cairne, Acclimate, and Ottawa Chief.
displayed good speed when he won a two-turn allowance race here Jan. 17. His connections were extremely confident going into the Count Fleet Stakes, but Sinister G finished fifth. Trainer John Toscano Jr. said Sinister G didn't ship well from Belmont and "left his race in the paddock."
Sinister G was better behaved when he went gate to wire to win an entry-level allowance race Jan. 17. He earned a career-best Beyer of 91.
"He's doing awesome," Toscano said. "It seems like that last win turned the corner for him."
Toscano doesn't think Quick Action will get the 1 1/16 miles and hopes to get a stalking trip behind him. Toscano's main concern is the prospect of a wet track. He was also hoping for an inside post, but Sinister G drew post 8.
Risky Trick, who finished second in the Count Fleet and Capossela, is stuck on the outside in post 10.
Rick Dutrow, who has won 32 races over the inner track, including four stakes, will try to stretch out the undefeated New York-bred Jaglander, who is 2 for 2 at six furlongs.
"I'm not going in guaranteeing anybody that he's going to get two turns," Dutrow said. "It's an experiment. He's training really good, and I like a lot of things about him."
Little Matth Man, Rb's Glitter, and Christian Anthony complete the field.