AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
| GRAVESEND H. (G3), 8TH-AQU, $100,000, 3YO/UP, 6F, 3:44 P.M.
EST, 12-17 |
|
| 1 |
SANTANA STRINGS, 4, c, by WheatonSmiling Santanna, by Prospectors Gamble O-Millennium Farms; B-Sez Who Thoroughbreds (Fl) |
| 2 |
INTROSPECT, 6, G, by In CaseAxspect, by Northern Prospect O-Castle Village Farm; B-Questroyal 100 LLC (NY) |
| 3 |
MANTOLOKING, 3, c, by Unbridled’s SongRegally Appealing, by Valid Appeal O-Narlinger Dennis; B-Classicstar (Ky) |
| 4 |
WILL HE SHINE, 4, c, by Silver DeputyChristmas Star, by Star de Naskra O-Pugliese Savario Wexler Marc; B-Verne H. Winchell (Ky) |
| 5 |
SPOOKY MULDER, 8, h, by BrunswickSuana, by Jade Hunter O-Golden Bruce; B-Jeff Allen (Ky) |
| 6 |
LUCKY GAMBLE, 5, h, by Dove HuntOut of Money, by Out of Place O-Weatherwatch Farm; B-Tinzkin Racing Stable LLC (Fl) |
| 7 |
MADDY’S LION, 4, c, by Lion HeartedMaddy’s Terms, by Private Terms O-Federico Dennis J; B-D. J. Federico (Md) |
| 8 |
JUDITHS WILD RUSH, 5, h, by Wild RushTie Talk, by Black Tie Affair (Ire) O-Tenenbaum Harvey; B-Sez Who Thoroughbreds (Ky) |
| 9 |
BISHOP COURT HILL, 6, G, by Holy BullJust Cuz, by Cormorant O-Melnyk Racing Stables Inc; B-Pam Dupont, LLC. (Ky) |
Nine well-matched sprinters will go postward in the $100,000 Gravesend H.
(G3) over Aqueduct’s inner track on Sunday. The eight-year-old SPOOKY MULDER
(Brunswick) will start for the 71st time in search for his initial stakes tally,
and we’ll sentimentally side with the old warrior in here. The inner dirt-loving
gelding was a game winner over this surface most recently and is surely good
enough to compete with this bunch. Trained by Steven Krebs, the bay has amassed
28 wins in his career and has placed in six black-type events, leading us to
believe that he’s due to crack through in here. Eibar Coa will pilot the
Kentucky-bred, who is likely the inside speed of the field.
WILL HE SHINE (Silver Deputy) has won four of his last five starts, and has
never been worse than second, so we find the colt a perfect fit for the exacta.
Conditioned by Dale Romans, the chestnut has topped two solid allowance fields
as of late and should be enhanced by the presence of the red-hot Ramon
Dominguez. The improving sort, who is a half-brother to Grade 1 hero Cuvee, could challenge for the top prize with his best.
JUDITH’S WILD RUSH (Wild Rush) looks to have landed in a good spot here to
rally for a top-three placing. The five-year-old gray has faced better in his
last four outings and has been off the board only once in seven career tries at
this trip. Trained for the initial time by Julien Canet, the Kentucky-bred could
be the one moving best in the end under Norberto Arroyo Jr.
LUCKY GAMBLE (Dove Hunt) lacks the credentials of most of his competitors,
but is in career form and loves the inner surface at Aqueduct. The bay
five-year-old has never topped a field of this stature and will likely have a
hard time doing so in here, but he’s definitely worth using in the exotics at a
huge price for Bruce Levine and C. C. Lopez.
The Grade 1-winning BISHOP COURT HILL (Holy Bull) certainly matches up well
with this group on his best day, but the Todd Pletcher charge is in poor form
and is drawn in the outside post. Expect the gelded six-year-old to be a pace
presence to the final turn, but racing on the outside for the entirety of the
race is not usually recommended on this oval. John Velazquez has the riding
assignment. MANTOLOKING (Unbridled’s Song) is much improved since earlier in his career
and was a very nice fourth in the Indiana Derby (G2) last out for Kelly Breen.
The three-year-old will be facing elders in here and cuts back from a route to a
sprint, two factors which will make it tough for the colt to overcome. We have
total respect for the connections, but the gray will likely be hard pressed for a
top three spot beneath Joe Bravo.
INTORSPECT (In Case) has been in the money 11 times over this surface and
could challenge for a piece of the pie with a well-timed ride by Mike Smith. The
same can be said for the rail horse, SANTANA STRINGS (Wheaton), who does his
best running late and sports a solid 11-3-3-0 mark at six furlongs. MADDY’S LION (Lion Hearted) owns a pair of local wins and hails from the
sharp Timothy Hills barn, but seems up against it versus this bunch.