OZONE PARK, N.Y. – After making a successful return off a layoff over his favorite course here last month, Fluid Situation will try to remain unbeaten over Aqueduct’s turf in Friday’s featured second-level allowance/optional-claiming sprint scheduled for six furlongs.
Fluid Situation, a 5-year-old gelding by Warrior’s Reward, made it 3 for 3 at Aqueduct with a three-quarter-length victory in this exact same condition on Oct. 17. That was his first start since June when he ran last in this same condition at Saratoga. Three of Fluid Situation’s five wins have come going six furlongs at Aqueduct, twice in this condition.
“He came back out of that race really well, it’s certainly logical right back in the same spot, then we’ll see what happens for the winter, if we end up bringing him down to Florida that would be great,” said trainer John Terranova, who will have horses based at Palm Meadows and Tampa Bay Downs as well as Aqueduct this winter.
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Fluid Situation won that Oct. 17 race sitting just off the speed under Kendrick Carmouche, who is back aboard Friday from post 7.
“He’s got good speed to put himself in a good spot,” Terranova said.
On Oct. 17, Fluid Situation held off a late run from Seaver, a New York-bred gelding who is back in this spot for trainer Tim Hills, hoping for a bit of a cleaner trip.
“I thought he ran really well, he had to pick his way through the field, but once he got clear, he really fired good, very happy,” Hills said.
Two starts back, Seaver finished seventh, beaten only three lengths in a New York-bred second-level allowance at Saratoga.
“The only thing he doesn’t handle well is any give in the turf and around the turn that day, it was really soft, he stopped running,” Hills said. “Then once he got on the firmer turf in the straightaway, he started running again.”
Javier Castellano rides Seaver from the rail.
Biz Biz Buzz ran a solid second behind Twenty Six Black in his first start off the claim for Mike Maker. He gets a rider change to Irad Ortiz Jr. Two starts back, Maker claimed Biz Biz Buzz for the same $62,500 tag he is offered for on Friday.
Boat’s a Rockin, a 7-year-old gelding, finished seventh after setting a strong pace going 5 1/2 furlongs at Keeneland on Oct. 25. That race came 20 days after he won a starter allowance in front-running fashion at the Monmouth at the Meadowlands meet. Last November, Boat’s a Rockin finished second at 44-1 in the Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship.
Andy Hernandez rides Boat’s a Rockin for trainer Brandon Kulp.
Live High Live Low is coming out of a runner-up finish behind Run Carson at odds of 23-1 in the Carle Place Stakes here on Oct. 18. The only two horses to have run back from the Carle Place both won, including Works for Me, who dead-heated for win in last Saturday’s Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship.
Manny Franco rides Live High Live Low from post 6.
Java Buzz, Barzini, Charging, Dr Oseran, and Gaslight Dancer complete the 10-horse field for the turf.
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