Brushed On, who scratched from the feature race Wednesday, has been retired from racing due to a reoccurrence of a suspensory injury in his left foreleg. The race Wednesday was to be his prep for the Grade 3 Aqueduct Handicap on Jan. 20. He was already publicized to stand at stud at Clermont Farm this year, so the Aqueduct Handicap probably would have been his last race.
* Trainer Nick Zito was suspended 15 days and fined $1,000 for the presence of Lidocaine in the post race urine of Mark’s Miner, who finished second in the second race of Aug. 2. Zito has appealed the fine and the suspension.
1ST RACE – Home On the Hill went out for the lead and never looked back as she won the opener for Chip DeRosa. Mary Margaret Six chased the pace and was in good position to overtake the pacesetter in the stretch but couldn’t get up in time. Oscar Chavez, the rider of Mary Margaret Six, had the longest 0 for the meet streak coming into the day at 39. Bewitching Eyes closed well on the outside for the show spot.
2ND RACE – Shifra was beaten 34 lengths in her career debut so Linda Rice dropped her to maiden claimers. She went out to the lead and drew off for an easy victory. Rice has now won on back to back days with horses trying maiden claimers for the first time. August rated off the pace while wide and then finished well in the stretch to be third, narrowly missing the place spot. Favored Lady O’Regan chased the pace and then tired badly to finish last.
4TH RACE – Speed continued to rule as Mr. Kuck led all the way to break his maiden. Mister Blues was closing well on the outside but could not catch the pacesetter for the victory. Rogues Road chased the pace and raced on the wrong lead for most of the stretch. Once he finally switched to the right lead it was too late to catch the winner.
5TH RACE – Apprentice Pauline Forkhamer won her first race since returning from Finger Lakes with a gate to wire victory aboard Air Karakorum. Forkhamer, who had the second longest 0 for the meet streak at 32, will ride with her bug until Feb. 18. Favored Angel of the Sea closed well on the inside to get the show spot.
8TH RACE – Speed had won the first seven races of the day so it was in the back of the minds of the jockeys to get to the lead as soon as possible. Favored Double Trick was last early but then on the backstretch, C. C. Lopez made a strong move to gain the lead and then try to draw away from the field. Reine Amandine was then last and then when she tried to make a move, checked entering the far turn. Norberto Arroyo Jr. then angled her outside and got her to close powerfully in the stretch, to catch the tiring Double Trick for the victory. There was a stewards’ inquiry and after a review, Double Trick was disqualified from second and placed third for bearing out and forcing Forever Cindy to check in deep stretch.
9TH RACE – Speed did not hold up again as Wolf Boy rated off the pace and closed well on the outside to gain the victory. Warthawk Boy raced between horses early and then checked sharply when Jim’s Mistake came over on him. He closed well in the stretch while racing on the rail to finish fifth. Rockin’ Ruby was moving with Wolf Boy in the stretch but then had to angle inside for clear running room and couldn’t catch He’s A Charm for the place spot.
YESTERDAY’S CLAIMS
1ST RACE: Home on the Hill ($18,000) by Errol Mattis
3RD RACE: Information Hiway ($65,000) by Juan Serey
9TH RACE: Warthawk Boy ($30,000) by Scott Lake
PICK SIX
Winning numbers: 6-3-1-7-1-1
No winners
13 consolation (5 of 6) winners
each receives $540
Carryover: $21,072.37