Aqueduct begins its 39-day Fall Meet on Wednesday. The long-awaited
construction to facilitate the installation of Video Lottery Terminals will
cause inconveniences throughout the meet, which concludes December 31.
As a result, all current grandstand entrances will be closed, the barbershop
will be closed, and the Clubhouse admission price will be reduced to $1. In
addition, a limited number of box seats will be available to the public at no
charge.
The Big A will conduct racing Wednesdays through Sundays, with two
exceptions. The track will be open next Tuesday (Election Day) and will be dark
the following day. Additionally, Aqueduct will be closed from December 19-27 for the
Christmas break. Regular post time is 12:30 p.m. (ET).
Preakness S. (G1) and Belmont S. (G1) hero AFLEET ALEX (Northern Afleet)
could return to action in the meet’s marquee event, the $350,000 Cigar Mile H.
(G1), the highlight of the HolidayFest on November 26. The card also
includes the $200,000 Remsen S. (G2) for two-year-olds at nine furlongs, and its
filly counterpart, the $200,000 Demoiselle S. (G2).
“That is the race I’ve been pointing for,” trainer Tim Ritchey said Monday.
“I want to schedule another set of X-rays within the next five or six days to
see how he’s coming along. He will stay in New York — I’ll have eight horses at
Aqueduct — and keep up the big gallops until I decide to work him. I might even
look at a prep for him, but right now, we want to run in the Cigar Mile if he is
100 percent and then take him down to Gulfstream.”
Afleet Alex has not started since his seven-length romp in the 1 1/2-mile
Belmont on June 11.
The $100,000 Fall Highweight H. for three-year-olds and up at six furlongs
kicks off the HolidayFest on Thanksgiving Day. On the following day, the
$150,000 Top Flight H. (G2) for fillies and mares at one mile will be decided.
As always, “New York City’s Racetrack,” is accessible by subway via the “A”
Train to Aqueduct Station.