RUSH NOW (Tiznow) and ARTHUR’S TALE (Bernardini) are the top draws in
Saturday’s $65,000
Count
Fleet S., Aqueduct’s first stakes
event of the New Year for three-year-olds.
Rush Now broke his maiden by 13 3/4 lengths
three starts back at Delaware Park and then captured the October 9 Dover S. by 3
3/4 lengths over the same oval. One of the favorites in the $1 million Delta
Downs Jackpot S. (G3) on November 20, the Tony Dutrow-trained colt never
threatened in a disappointing seventh-place effort.
“He didn’t run,” Dutrow said. “Why? I don’t know. He had no excuses
physically before or after the race, but maybe he didn’t care for the racetrack.
“In his maiden, and in that stakes race (the Dover), things went perfectly
for him,” Dutrow added. “He’s shown he has talent when things go perfectly for
him, but he needs to learn to face adversity.”
Rush Now will look to rebound on Saturday with Jeremy Rose.
The well-bred Arthur’s Tale, who is by sensational
freshman sire Bernardini and out of multiple Grade 2 queen Owsley (Harlan), exits a
two-length maiden special weight romp over the inner track at Aqueduct on
December 2, and the Tom Albertrani-conditioned colt will pick up a new rider in
Eddie Castro.
“I think that he was looking to go longer,” Albertrani said of the Darley
Stable colorbearer, who broke his maiden in his fourth start. “We’ve always
thought he had potential, but we weren’t getting that potential out of him.
“Last time was his first start around two turns, which I think definitely
helped him, and he ran in blinkers, which may have added a little more spark.”
Arthur’s Tale keeps the blinkers on for the one-mile and 70-yard Count Fleet.
Delaware maiden romper PANTS ON FIRE (Jump Start), who just missed in an
entry-level optional claimer at this track and trip on December 19, has been
installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite with new rider Ramon Dominguez. The
Kelly Breen pupil will break from the rail.
Others in the seven-horse field include J J’S LUCKY TRAIN (Silver Train),
three-for-four so far in his career, and impressive Philly Park maiden winner
TAP STAR (Tapit) from the John Servis barn.
The Big A will also offer the $65,000
Interborough S. and $60,000
Champagneforashley S.
on Saturday’s program. NICOLE H (Mr. Greeley), a 2
1/2-length scorer in the December 4 Garland of Roses H. last time out, tops a
field of five distaffers in the six-furlong Interborough. She’ll once again face
MEESE ROCKS (Rock and Roll), a three-time stakes queen this season who will look
for a measure of revenge following her runner-up in the Garland of Roses.
Nine
state-bred sophomores are set for the Champagneforashley, which will be run over
a mile and 70 yards, and the top four finishers from the December 5 Damon Runyon
S. — BEAU DE BEAUPRE (Holy Bull), ARTIE LUVSTO PARTY (Artie Schiller),
PREACHINTOTHEDEVIL (Pulpit) and SKY MUSIC (Sky Mesa), respectively — will
resume their rivalry.
Also on Saturday is NYRA’s annual calendar promotion, where for $2 fans can
purchase a 2011 calendar featuring the best horses and jockeys from the New York
circuit in 2010 as captured by track photographer Adam Coglianese.