The Thanksgiving Day card at Aqueduct was cancelled yesterday after two races because of unsafe track conditions. NYRA issued rain checks to fans in attendance, which numbered 2,553 by 11 a.m. first post and eventually grew to 3,510.
The track was sloppy and sealed for the first two races. Suspicions arose that something was amiss when there was a short delay before the second for additional track maintenance. Then, after jockeys complained the track was uneven because moisture had penetrated to its base, post time for the third race was postponed 20 minutes while tractors tried to fix the problem by harrowing, then floating, the surface.
“The track was very inconsistent all around,” Shaun Bridgmohan said. “Hard in some spots, soft in others.”
The riders went out for the third but soon returned after agreeing the track was even worse than before.
“After the chute, there was a big puddle, a big hole made by the tractor, from the three-quarter to the half-mile pole,” Javier Castellano said.
When the jockeys got back to the paddock to dismount, they were met by a chorus of boos, which infuriated John Velazquez.
“Todd [Pletcher, trainer of Velazquez’ mount in the third race, 3-5 favorite Maillol] told me, ‘If you don’t think it’s safe out there, scratch him,’ ” Velazquez said. “It takes an hour, two hours to fix the track, not 20 minutes, so they shouldn’t send us out there and make us look like fools.”
Some riders suggested they move the remainder of the card to the inner dirt track, which opens for winter racing Wednesday and is apparently in fine shape, but the stewards reportedly declined.
Yesterday’s traditional Turkey Day feature, the Fall Highweight Handicap, will be re-drawn today and run Sunday. First post today and for tomorrow’s HolidayFest card, featuring the Cigar Mile, Remsen and Demoiselle, is 12 noon.
1ST RACE – Too bad Smarty Jones didn’t get trip in Belmont that Taking the Redeye did here under Stewart Elliott. He broke on top, cleared field into clubhouse turn, dropped to rail, opened daylight, easily turned back challenge from Bailie’s Band on far turn, won as much best.
2ND RACE – Wayward Liz and Nicoise alternated for lead down backside, with Little Miss Amanda sitting right off them and big gap back to rest of field. Wayward Liz went to front around turn, was overtaken top of stretch by Little Miss Amanda, who opened daylight in midstretch but couldn’t hold off late charge of My Nina Rose at wire.