TurfPublicists: AQUEDUCT RACETRACK NOTES: Friday, April 23, 2010

Friday, April 23, 2010

Contact: NYRA Press Office

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AQUEDUCT RACETRACK NOTES

Schosberg ponders next move for Giant Moon
Convocation breezes for Westchester
Le Grand Cru possible for Westchester
Decision looms on Westchester start for Ironman Jon
Interpatation ready for Fort Marcy
Pumpkin Shell to get another shot on the turf
Phone and Internet wagering available on dark days between meets

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Albert Fried Jr.'s Giant Moon appears to have finally overcome the foot troubles that have affected him throughout his career, but trainer Richard Schosberg faces a new challenge in finding a spot for the horse to return to the races following nearly a year layoff.

Under serious consideration is the 82^nd running of the Grade 3, $100,000 Westchester on Friday, April 30, Opening Day at Belmont Park, but with 2009 Met Mile winner Bribon expected to head a talented field in the one-mile race, Schosberg remains undecided on whether to start the 5-year-old son of Giant's Causeway, who has not run since May of last year.

"It's tough to find a spot for old Giant Moon," Schosberg said Friday morning. "The distance [of the Westchester] is fine for him, but they're going to run hard and it will be very, very tough to bring him back in this race."

Giant Moon, a New York-bred, broke his maiden as a juvenile at Belmont Park in September 2007 and moved straight into stakes company thereafter winning the Sleepy Hollow and Damon Runyon against fellow statebreds before moving into open company as a 3-year-old to take the Count Fleet Stakes.

After finishing ninth in a sloppy edition of the Grade 3 Gotham in 2008, Giant Moon ran fourth in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial and eighth in the Grade 1 Preakness before going to the sidelines.

Brought back in 2009, Giant Moon ran first and second in a pair of inner track overnight stakes at Aqueduct before capturing the Grade 3 Excelsior Handicap over the main track. His final start at four came in the Kingston Stakes on the grass at Belmont on May 10, in which he finished last of seven before again being sidetracked with foot issues.

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Convocation breezed six furlongs Friday morning in 1:13.64 over the main track at Belmont Park in preparation for the Grade 3, $100,000 Westchester, which will be the second start of his 4-year-old campaign. In March, the Pulpit colt was an easy five-length winner of an allowance at Gulfstream Park in his first start off a seven-month layoff, earning a 97 Beyer Speed Figure.

"He breezed well this morning," said Jimmy Jerkens, who trains Convocation for Centennial Farms. "It's a tough race, but he's ready to run."

After breaking his maiden last June, Convocation was beaten 3 ¼ lengths by Kensei in the Grade 2 Dwyer, then finished fifth in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga Race Course, his final start of 2009.

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Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens celebrated his 81^st birthday this week by settling into his new barn at Belmont Park with seven horses, with another seven on the way.

"Maybe that's all I need at my age," he said with a smile.

Among the residents is Le Grand Cru, who is under consideration for the Grade 3, $100,000 Westchester. Last year, Le Grand Cru won two of his three starts on the main track at Belmont Park – an optional claimer on June 15 and the off-the-turf Grade 3 Kelso on October 4. Now 5, the son of Dynaformer closed out his 2009 campaign with a victory in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler at Aqueduct.

In four graded stakes starts this year in Florida, his best finish was a fourth (moved up to third via disqualification) in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap on February 6.

"He and Formidable are the two best I have," said Jerkens on Friday morning, noting that Formidable, undefeated in three starts this year, is heading to Churchill Downs for a race on Kentucky Oaks day. "But there's always a chance that another good one will come."

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Also under consideration for the Grade 3, $100,000 Westchester is Ironman Jon, who has won both his starts at Aqueduct by a combined winning margin of 18 ¾ lengths. The 4-year-old son of Mineshaft was a five-length winner against New York-bred maidens on February 5 and then romped by 13 ¼ lengths in a first-level allowance, also against state-breds, on March 7.

"It will depend on how he breezes Saturday morning," said Mike Hushion, who trains Ironman Jon for Barry K. Schwartz. "He'll go five furlongs."

Hushion as well has Grade 3 Excelsior winner Goldsville nominated to the Westchester, which is likely to also attract Past the Point and Wicked B. Havior, with Elusive Warning, Honest Man, and Solar Flare questionable, according to NYRA stakes coordinator Andrew Byrnes.

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Returning next weekend to the site of his greatest victory will be Interpatation, who stunned dual Eclipse Award winner Gio Ponti in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational last October at Belmont Park. Now 8, the gelded son of Langfuhr will make his 2010 debut in the Grade 3, $100,000 Fort Marcy at 1 1/16^thmiles on the turf on Saturday, May 1.

"He doesn't know he's eight years old – he thinks he's two," said Bobby Barbara, who trains Interpatation for Elliot Mavorah. "He came back good last year; this year, I think he's come back even better."

The Joe Hirsch victory earned Interpatation an invitation to the Grade 1 Japan Cup last November, in which he finished 14th. After a winter off, Interpatation returned to training a month ago and has since turned in four works including a five-furlong move on April 19 over Belmont Park's main track in 1:00.50, the second-fastest of 11 at the distance.

"He came back from Japan in great shape," said Barbara. "He's still fighting, still going strong, and he's ready to go."

According to NYRA stakes coordinator Andrew Byrnes, also likely for the Fort Marcy are Baletti, Brother Nick, Dynamoor, Sal the Barber, and Storm Play, with Grand Couturier and Strike a Deal questionable

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December Hill Farm's Pumpkin Shell will have another go on the grass in next weekend's 33rd running of the Grade 3, $100,000, 1 1/16-mile Beaugay, trainer David Donk said Friday.

"I want to get her back on the grass once and see how good she is," Donk said. "She ran in the Miss Grillo in 2008 and was fifth and I ran her in a maiden on grass where she got into all kinds of trouble and finished fourth. We'll try this race and let that determine where we go for the rest of the summer."

Donk added that Pumpkin Shell, out of the mare Changing Ways, is a half sister to Pays to Dream, a horse Donk also trained for December Hill Farm. Pays to Dream was 5-0-4 from 12 starts on turf and was retired after sustaining an injury during the running of the 2008 Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park, in which he finished third.

Among other possible starters for the Beaugay are E EL R Stable's Chestoria, Live Oak Plantation's Dynaslew, Andrew Rosen's Liberally (IRE), Lael Stable's My Princess Jess, and Haras Santa Maria de Araras' Scolara.

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NYRA Rewards members can wager online and by telephone during the four-day break in live racing following closing day at Aqueduct Racetrack on Sunday, April 25, and prior to the opening of beautiful Belmont Park on Friday, April 30.

Fans who want to earn rebates on their wagers can sign up for NYRA Rewards, the wagering program that offers cash back just for wagering on the races, whether it's on NYRA races or simulcast events like the Derby and Oaks! Members can earn points through on-track self-service wagering terminals, phone wagering with Telebet, with NYRA Rewards Internet Wagering and on mobile devices such as Blackberrys or iPhones. Enrollment is free and available only to customers 18 years and older. To sign up or for more information, visit nyra.com, call 1-800-THE-NYRA, or stop by a customer service booth on-track.

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