OZONE PARK, N.Y. – A beaten favorite in three of his last four starts, Certified Loverboy looms a significant player yet again in a second-level/optional $75,000 claiming race going 1 1/8 miles that serves as the feature on Thursday’s eight-race Aqueduct card.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Genius of Love has been knocking on the door at the nonwinners-of-three class and could finally clear the condition when traveling 6 1/2 furlongs on the Tapeta in Thursday’s sixth race at Woodbine.

The $25,000 claiming race lured five other fillies and mares for what’s a pivotal event on the seven-race program. The race rounds out the pick five and is the third leg of the lone pick four on the twilight card.

Trainer Todd Pletcher’s trio of Breeders’ Cup Classic candidates, two of whom are coming off Grade 1 stakes victories, returned to the work tab Thursday in Saratoga to prepare for the $7 million race to be held Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Several first-time starters are sure to make some noise in the seventh race at Gulfstream Park on Sunday, a $70,000 maiden special weight for juvenile fillies. Four of the five debuting runners in the field sold at auction for at least $250,000 and will begin their careers at seven furlongs on dirt.

A pair of rich races for New York-bred 2-year-olds, which lead toward an even more lucrative local prize, highlight four stakes on a strong Monday card at Finger Lakes.

Clooney ran a brave race to finish second by a head in a $20,000 claimer at Del Mar on Aug. 23, a result that leaves the three-time winner a contender in a one-mile allowance race at Los Alamitos on Sunday.

Trained by Peter Miller for Les Blake, Clooney returned from a layoff of more than 12 months on Aug. 23. The third choice in a field of seven, Clooney stalked the pace, led briefly and was competitive to the wire.