Uno gets second chance to show he's No. 1 in Gander Stakes

Perfect Munnings led a 1-2-4 finish for trainer Todd Pletcher in last month’s Rego Park Stakes, but an argument could be made he didn’t run the best race of the trio.

Pletcher’s pacesetting Storm Shooter hung in gamely for second, while Uno – the even-money favorite – just missed third by a nose after breaking slowly.

When Perfect Munnings goes for his third straight victory to start his career in Sunday’s $100,000 Gander Stakes, he won’t have to face Storm Shooter, but he will have to deal with Uno in the one-mile race for New York-bred 3-year-olds at Aqueduct.

:: Want to get your Past Performances for free? Click to learn more.

In addition to having to overcome a slow start and rallying widest of all in the Rego Park, Uno was making his first start in two months, having been scratched from the Great White Way division of the New York Stallion Series with a bruised foot.

In the Rego Park, Uno “came out of the gate a little slow and got pinched a little bit,” Byron Hughes, Pletcher’s New York-based assistant, told the NYRA publicity office.

“He didn’t like the dirt hitting him in the face, but he was able to make a run for it and was able to get fourth and came very close to getting third,” Hughes said.

Uno, a son of Laoban, won his debut in the mud. Sunday’s forecast calls for a mixed precipitation of rain and snow.

Jorge Vargas Jr. rides Uno from post 6.

Perfect Munnings won his debut on turf before taking the Rego Park with a very good trip, after sitting behind dueling leaders. Sunday, he is the 123-pound highweight, conceding five pounds to the rest of the field.

There are mixed signals surrounding Nicky the Vest, a 3 1/4-length debut winner of a one-mile race on Dec. 18 at Aqueduct. Nicky the Vest was the only first-timer in a field of 12 that day, overcame a slow start when breaking from the rail to win by 3 1/4 lengths, and galloped out like he wanted to do it again.

:: Start earning weekly cashback on your wagering today. Click to learn more.

Runners from that race, however, are 0 for 9, and his trainer, Jonathan Thomas, is only 3 for 17 with second-time starters coming off a win. He is 0 for 4 with such runners in stakes.

“I was really pleased with it,” Thomas said of Nicky the Vest’s debut victory. “He touted himself in the morning. We didn’t tighten the screws to win first out.

“It looks like he’s taken another step forward in the morning. We’ll find out what he’s all about when we lead him over.”

Lobsta is a full brother to Chowda, who won this race at 15-1 last February. Lobsta finished fifth in his debut behind Dancing Buck before coming back to win a one-mile maiden race by 5 3/4 lengths on Jan. 16.

Dancing Buck defeated Lobsta after finishing second to Perfect Munnings in that November turf race.

Horn of Plenty and Re Created complete the field.