Vargas entry runners unlikely to compromise each other on front end
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The coupled entry of Life Is Great and Hagler give owner Esteban Vargas a strong one-two punch in Thursday’s allowance/optional claiming feature for 2-year-olds, scheduled for seven furlongs at Aqueduct.
Life Is Great, a son of Tapiture trained by Bob Klesaris, is coming off a 6 3/4-length maiden win on Nov. 20, a race in which he ran seven furlongs in 1:24.64 and earned an 81 Beyer Speed Figure.
“He’s been tough to try and get back and settle, he just wants to go as fast as he can as far as he can,” Klesaris said. “That’s the first time he semi-settled; he’s a fast horse.”
Life Is Great was making his fifth start in that Nov. 20 race. In two previous maiden races, he finished third behind High Oak and Mo Donegal. High Oak won the Grade 2 Saratoga Special in August and Mo Donegal won the Grade 2 Remsen on Dec. 4.
Manny Franco rides Life Is Great from post 4.
Hagler, a son of Tapiture trained by Rudy Rodriguez, is coming off a solid 4 1/2-length victory in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race at Belmont Park on Oct. 29. That race came off a 5 1/2-month layoff after Hagler finished second to Little Drama in a five-furlong maiden race at Belmont. Rodriguez said Hagler came out of that debut race with a shin issue and was given time off on the farm.
“He hooked up with a couple of horses and he won comfortable,” Rodriguez said of Hagler’s maiden victory. “He’s going to have to show up a little bit more because it’s a pretty solid race.”
Though both Life Is Great and Hagler appear to want to be forwardly placed, Rodriguez doesn’t anticipate them getting in each other’s way early on Thursday. Jorge Vargas Jr. rides Hagler from the outside in the seven-horse field.
“I know our horse can sit,” Rodriguez said. “I don’t think we’re going to send both horses to the lead.”
Two horses are entered for the $80,000 claiming price. Doin’ittherightway, a New York-bred gelding by Super Saver, won two races at Finger Lakes, including the Tin Cup Chalice Stakes. Doin’ittherightway previously ran on this circuit when he finished fourth, 11 1/2 lengths behind Shipsational in a statebred maiden race at Saratoga.
Rob Atras, who trained the gelding at the time, and the Windylea Farm of Philip and Kip O’Neill opted to send the horse to Finger Lakes and trainer Jon Buckley. In his second start for Buckley, Doin’ittherightway won a maiden race, but in the stretch was getting out, lugging in, and switched back to his left lead. Equipped with blinkers next out, Doin’ittherightway appeared a bit more professional in rallying from off the pace in the Tin Cup Chalice.
Atras has the horse back and said, “I think his numbers are a little light, but he’s improved since the last time I had him.”
Completing the field are Florida Gator, a maiden winner at Belmont in October, Bold Leader, Sterling Hill, and Southern Runner.
With eight races Thursday, first post is 12:50 p.m.