OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Top Gun Rocket was popular among horsemen and horseplayers alike when he won a $40,000 claiming race at Keeneland on April 19. Not only was he sent off the 4-5 favorite in a field of eight, but 28 entities put in a claim for the 4-year-old son of Into Mischief.
Final Turn Racing, managed by James Costabile Jr., won the 28-way shake with trainer Panagiotis Synnefias. Friday, Top Gun Rocket makes his first start for his new connections in a starter allowance going one mile at Aqueduct. The race drew a field of 11 including two entries. Top Gun Rocket will be coupled in the wagering with Golden Symphony, whom Final Turf Racing, along with Sandy Goldfarb, won with first off the claim last out.
Top Gun Rocket, a full brother to the 10-time stakes winning mare Frank’s Rockette, had finished second in five of his first 13 starts for trainer Riley Mott and owner-breeder Frank Fletcher. In his April 19 race, the first time he was entered for a tag, Top Gun Rocket stalked the pace, was passed on the far turn by Teen Idol, but rallied inside of him to win by 6 1/4 lengths.
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The horse went to Monmouth Park where he has had two workouts, including a half-mile move in 47 seconds on Sunday. That was the fastest of 193 works at the distance that morning.
Costabile said he was thinking of waiting for this same race going seven furlongs, but didn’t want to wait a few weeks to run him back.
“We’re still figuring out if his best races are between six and seven furlongs,” Costabile said. “He’s definitely handled the mile in the past for sure.”
There was rain in the forecast Wednesday and Thursday. Top Gun Rocket has two seconds and a third from three wet-track starts. Dylan Davis rides.
Golden Symphony, trained by Brad Cox, won a maiden $50,000 claimer at this mile distance on May 1. Manny Franco, aboard for that win, is back on Friday.
Among the contenders in this spot is Street View, a filly taking on the boys. Steven Schauer, owner-trainer of Street View, said this same race for fillies and mares has not filled, leaving him with little choice but to take on the boys. Street View is coming off a second-place finish in this same condition at Aqueduct on April 18, her first start off Schauer’s $25,000 claim.
Street View is 0 for 3 with a third over a wet track.
“I can’t control the surface. I’m going to see what she can do, all I can tell you is she’s going into the race with the intent to win,” said Schauer, who is 7 for 17 on the year. “She’s doing great, her exercise rider is telling me all the time we got to run her, otherwise we’re going to burn her out training.”
Romero Maragh rides.
Trainer Jamie Ness has the entry of Mad Banker and Devil’s Cay. Mad Banker has won his last two starts over a wet track, including a starter allowance/optional $25,000 claimer on May 13 at Parx.
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