Aqueduct

Native New Yorker Brooklyn Strong (Wicked Strong) earned his black-type badge against fellow Empire-breds last out in the Oct. 24 Sleepy Hollow S. and took his career to the next level Saturday with a gritty victory in the GII Remsen S. at Aqueduct. Away alertly under Joel Rosario, the 7-1 shot raced two wide near the back of the quintet as favored Ten for Ten (Frosted) clicked off early splits of :23.67 and :47.86. Inching up into third alongside GIII Nashua S. victor Pickin' Time (Stay Thirsty) on the backstretch...

2nd-Aqueduct, $80,000, Msw, 12-4, 2yo, f, 6fT, 1:10.45, gd,1 length. MISS DRACARYS (f, 2, Malibu Moon--Ask Me When, by Speightstown), the second-priciest offspring by her sire of 47 yearlings sold in 2019 when bringing $525,000 at Keeneland September, lit up the tote board at 23-1 in this debut run. She raced under a snug hold in seventh on the inside and was traveling nicely as the field hit the quarter pole. Kept along the fence by Kendrick Carmouche as they turned for home, the bay threaded the needle in deep...

Pickin' Time (Stay Thirsty) upset the GIII Nashua S. on his last visit to Aqueduct Nov. 8 and he looks to double up Saturday when he returns to Ozone Park for the GII Remsen S. A debut winner at Monmouth July 4, the Jersey-bred was a non-factor eighth in the GII Saratoga Special S. Aug. 7, but was second next out in the Sapling S. back in the Garden State Sept. 6. The dark bay scored a narrow winner in the Smoke Glacken S. at the Jersey Shore Sept. 26...

Phipps Stable and Claiborne Farm's Performer (Speightstown) looks to continue his hot streak as he takes his first crack at the highest level Saturday in Aqueduct's GI Cigar Mile. Graduating at second asking at Belmont in June 2019, the chestnut captured a 6 1/2-panel allowance at Saratoga that August and a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer at Belmont last September. Closing out his sophomore season with a victory in this venue's GIII Discovery S. just over a year ago, Performer was subsequently shelved and resurfaced with an optional claimer score in...

Five-time MLB All-Star Victor Martinez is following a dream with King Guillermo-- already a graded stakes winner who, after a seven-month layoff, is set to return to Grade I company.  King Guillermo (Uncle Mo) will be in a tough spot when he starts in the GI Cigar Mile H.at Aqueduct. The 3-year-old colt hasn't raced since May 2 and has never faced older horses. That's fine by his owner, retired MLB All-Star Victor Martinez. "I'm not a big believer in favorites," he said. [tdn_vimeo_embed title="Victor Martinez Talks on King Guillermo"...

Never Surprised graduated by a dominant 3 1/2 lengths in his six-furlong debut over this turf course Nov. 8. Stretching out for this second start, the bay colt had the lead all to himself after longshot Counterfeitcurency (Currency Swap) got bumped hard at the break and lost rider Mike Luzzi. Never Surprised jumped out to the early lead and was unchallenged through fractions of :23.85 and :49.37 as the loose horse drifted in and out of the field behind him. He had a three-length advantage in upper stretch and maintained...

4th-Aqueduct, $80,000, Msw, 11-28, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:45.62, gd, 1 3/4 lengths. SPIRIT MAKER (c, 2, Empire Maker--California Spirit, by Tale of the Cat), a $330,000 OBS April buy after breezing an eighth in :10 1/5, was given a 6-1 chance to graduate at first asking. Eighth through a half mile in :48.20, he began to wind up on the far turn, angled out five wide into the stretch and came charging down the center of the course to graduate by 1 3/4 good-looking lengths over Girl Dad (Malibu Moon)....

Forza Di Oro (Speightstown) took full advantage of an ideal run through the race and sprinted home fastest of all to give his sire a second consecutive victory in the GIII Discovery S., following on the success of Phipps Stable's Performer 12 months ago. Very alertly into stride for Junior Alvarado, the Don Alberto homebred fell into the perfect spot, as Monday Morning Qb (Imagining) set a strong pace from longshot Ralston (Tapiture) to his outside. Attachment Rate (Hard Spun) did it toughest three wide punching the breeze, while Shared...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency BROWN UNVEILS JUDDMONTE BLUEBLOOD 5th-AQU, $80K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:46p.m. Juddmonte homebred PRECIPITATE (Pioneerof the Nile) makes her career bow for trainer Chad Brown. Her dam is a half-sister to champion Close Hatches (First Defence), who is the dam of MGSW & MGISP Tacitus (Tapit); and to SW & MGISP Lockdown (First Defence). The dark bay prepped for this with a best-of-188 half-mile in :48 flat over the Belmont training track Nov. 22. Michael Trombetta unveils a half-sister to last year's GI Breeders'...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols 6th-Aqueduct, $80k, Msw, 2yo, 6f, post time: 2:15 p.m. ET Bob LaPenta, Gainesway and Bridlewood Farm's ALL MO (Uncle Mo) debuts for trainer Jonathan Thomas. The $450,000 KEENOV weanling turned $900,000 KEESEP yearling is a half to stakes winner and graded placed Fusaichi Red (Fusaichi Pegasus). TJCIS PPs 4th-Churchill, $85k, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16m, post time: 2:27 p.m. ET Andrew Farm and For the People Racing's BUGLE OF WAR (War Front), a $400,000 KEESEP yearling, debuts for trainer Eddie Kenneally. The colt is out of Group...

Mrs. Danvers went virtually gate to wire to earn her first stakes success with a dominant score while trying two turns for the first time in the Comely Friday at the Big A. Seizing the early advantage, the gray loped through a :24.30 opening quarter and was confronted by longshot Project Whiskey, who pressed the pacesetter and led between calls through a :48.69 half-mile. That rival burned out quickly and fell to the back as Mrs. Danvers continued strongly on the front end. The Joe Allen homebred opened up in...

Godolphin's Shared Sense (Street Sense), a dual Derby winner this season for champion trainer in-waiting Brad Cox, can complete a highly successful season as the likely favorite in Saturday's GIII Discovery S. at Aqueduct. Runner-up to next-out GII Toyota Blue Grass S. hero Art Collector (Bernardini) in a June 13 Churchill allowance, the homebred ran out a three-length winner of the GIII Indiana Derby July 8 and was done in by a dreadful draw when fifth to Art Collector in the Aug. 9 Runhappy Ellis Park Derby. The bay colt...