| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2015
Najja Thompson
Contact: nthompson@nyrainc.com
(718) 659 - 2244
Regal Minister leads field for Rego Park
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The inaugural running of the $125,000 Rego Park Stakes for 3-year-old New York-breds at six furlongs on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack - features a field of six sprinters each looking to each establish themselves on the scene this year.
Leading the contenders is Regal Minister, owned by DATTT Stable and trained by Mark Hennig. The chestnut colt by Posse is 2-for-2 in sprints so far in his career and cuts back in distance for the Rego Park following a subpar fifth-place finish in the 1 Mile 70 yards Damon Runyon Stakes at 1 Mile on December 14 at the Big A.
"He's doing great, and we're happy to be getting him back sprinting," said Hennig. "Sometimes, coming out of a route race, horses tend to rate when returning to sprinting but the instructions won't necessarily be for him to rate. Hopefully that won't be a concern for us."
Regal Minister is the 9-5 morning-line favorite and will leave from post position 2 with jockey Manuel Franco aboard.
Trainer Rick Violette will enter the promising Deficit Hawk for owners William H. Lawerence and Klaravich Stables. The son of Midnight Lute made his New York-bred debut on January 2 a winning one, traveling four-wide in the upper stretch to earn a one length victory and a Beyer Speed Figure of 80.
At 2-1 on the morning line, Deficit Hawk will depart from post 5 with jockey Kendrick Carmouche in the irons.
Trying dirt for the first time will be Saratoga Dreamer for owner Peter Deutsch and trainer Christophe Clement. The Elusive Quality colt won his debut on the green this past summer at Saratoga before encountering a troubled trip to finish a disappointing eighth in the Grade 2 Summer Stakes on September 13 at Woodbine Racetrack
"He's never run on the dirt before but he's been training very well over it so we are encouraged by that," said Clement. "He is in good order and this race will let us know our future plans for where we want to go from here."
Saratoga Dreamer will leave from post 6 under jockey Junior Alvarado and is 4-1 on the morning line.
Chasing Bubbles, coming off a 1½-length upset victory in the New York Stallion Series on December 28, has turned his career around on the Aqueduct inner track with two wins from three starts for owners Windhorse Thoroughbreds and trainer Ken McPeek.
The Posse Colt is 6-1 on the morning line from post 4 with Fernando Jara up for the mount.
Rounding out the field are Breakin the Fever, who finished second to Regal Minister in the Notebook Stakes at Aqueduct on November 16, and Drama King for Lady Luck Stable.
The field for the $150,000 Rego Park Stakes: -30-
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