By J.N. Campbell
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency
1st-AQU, $80K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:20 p.m.
Trainer Chad Brown has Aqueduct's first race on closing day bookended with a pair of firsters from his shedrow in OCASEK (Candy Ride {Arg}), who draws the rail with Dylan Davis aboard and to the outside ARMY TIMES (Into Mischief) with Manny Franco in the irons. Both have a Candy Ride connection as the former, who was a $440,000 '21 FTSAUG purchase by Spendthrift Farm, was sired by him, while the latter's dam, MGSW & MGISP Paid Up Subscriber, claims the stud as her own.
Peter Brant' Army Times was bred by Joseph Allen, who incidently co-owned his dam and was conditioned by Brown and White Birch Farm. Pointing to this spot, Brant's bay colt put forward a bullet four-furlong work Mar. 10 in :47 (1/125). Stablemate Ocasek is not without merits, as his dam Shananies Song (Eltish) has turned out a diverse group of offspring in GSP Bellamentary (Bellamy Road) and a pair full-brothers by Flatter in GSW Favorable Outcome and GSW Mouheeb. TJCIS PPS
11th-FG, $50K, Msw, 3yo/up, 1mT, 4:50 p.m.
Out of Unicorn Girl, champion MGISW Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) was a $95,000 Ylg KEESEP in 2019 and earned almost $3 million on the racetrack. Going for $600,000 at the Mixed KEENOV sale a year later, half-brother OCEAN CITY (American Pharoah) looks to continue that legacy in what will be his second start for Jackie's trainer Steve Asmussen at the Fair Grounds after a fourth place behind a pair of 'TDN Rising Stars' in Bishop's Bay (Uncle Mo) and First Mission (Street Sense) Feb. 18 going six panels. Switching to the grass and ridden by James Graham from the rail, the Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith-owned bay colt was bred by J&J Stables and Carlo Vaccarezza. TJCIS PPS
12th-TAM, $27K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1/16mT, 6:10 p.m.
From the chute on Sunday, look for FLYLIKEABUTTERFLY (IRE) (Kingman {GB}) to debut for trainer Kent Sweezey from gate one with Angel Rodriguez aboard. She is out of a family that includes a pair of graded-stakes winners in Nayyir (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) and Sky Hunter (GB) (Motivator {GB}). Drawing the eight hole with Javier Castellano in-town to ride is first timer for trainer Christophe Clement, MONEY BEETS (City of Light). She was a $575,000 '21 KEESEP buy and is out of stakes-winning mare Do the Dance (Discreet Cat), who counts Japanese MGSP Randonnee (Blame) as a half. TJCIS PPS
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