A runner-up in three of his last four starts going one mile, Mo for the King will shorten up to six furlongs as he tries to get the second win of his career in a starter allowance for New York-breds which poses as the feature on Thursday’s seven-race Aqueduct card.
Mo for the King is making just his second start for trainer Robert Falcone Jr., who claimed the 4-year-old King for a Day gelding for $30,000 last Dec. 12. In his first start for Falcone in this same condition on Jan. 15, Mo for the King finished second to Mad Banker. Mo for the King was chasing the pace that day and showed a short kick from the top of the stretch to the eighth pole before flattening out.
“I thought he would have kicked again and run that horse down, but he stayed the same pace,” Falcone said. “Maybe what he needs is the turnback to sustain his run for longer. I’m looking forward to seeing what he does at six furlongs.”
Flavien Prat picks up the mount on Mo for the King, who will break from post 7 in this eight-horse field.
Six members of this field come out of the same condition on Feb. 19, a race won by Tiote, the second-longest shot at 37-1. There was plenty of speed in that race, with Fric and Frac, New York Scrappy, and Pandemic Hero all part of it. Apollo Code, the favorite in that race, came with a wide rally and was beaten just a head by Tiote. Apollo Code, trained by Ray Handal, is a four-time winner but has been a beaten favorite in five of his last sevens starts.
One week after running sixth in that starter allowance, New York Scrappy came back to win a straight $30,000 claiming race by 4 3/4 lengths, earning a career-best 79 Beyer Speed Figure. Capt Jax Parrow, who got off poorly in the Feb. 19 race, was a late-running third and figures to be a closing factor once again under Jaime Rodriguez for Oscar Barrera III.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.