Lieutenant Ron gets acid test in Aqueduct’s Discovery
The promising Lieutenant Ron landed the outside post and has been installed as the 6-5 morning line favorite for Saturday’s nine furlong $100k Grade 3 Discovery Handicap at Aqueduct Race Track in New York.
The Kiaran McLaughlin three-year-old has won three of his four sprint starts by a combined 20+ lengths, with his lone loss a show finish at six furlongs following a troubled start off a layoff. The West Point Thoroughbreds ridgling son of Graeme Hall makes his graded stakes bow while trying a route of ground for the first time. He is 2-2 at the Big A and will make his presence felt throughout at low odds. He earned triple digit speed ratings in his three wins, and anything approaching that plateau will make him one tough customer. Alan Garcia has a return call.
That’srightofficer is a New York bred with an improving speed rating pattern. He has landed the place in three straight at this distance and could surprise today’s open company under regular pilot Edgar Prado.
Premium Gold is an enigmatic sort. It took him six tries to graduate, and he did it in style at Monmouth. He was dusted in his first start versus winners at the Spa, then came back to roll at that same venue in his next outing. A layoff followed, and he finished 5th in his Pegasus (G3) return. Well bred $400k purchase is versatile and earned a triple digit speed rating in an optional claiming win at this distance.
Big Truck has lost five straight since his upset win in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3). Barclay Tagg is 22% with horses moving from turf to dirt, and Eibar Coa has options with the versatile sort.
Ready Set has been productive in a few similar graded events, including a win in the West Virginia Derby (G3) and a nose defeat in the Pegasus (G3) last time. $800k Keeneland sales grad will be finishing.
Web Gem is 0-10 this year and will almost certainly be overbet for Nick Zito at 9-2 on the line. Well bred $170k Keeneland sales grad is best used underneath if at all. Note that his lone win in 15 outings did occur here.
Wishful Tomcat has won two straight on the grass and four of his last five. Dominguez rides the speedster well, be he could be compromised early and often by the fleet Lieutenant Ron.
Coach Shaw rounds out the field at 20-1, and the consistent late runner is riding a six-race trifecta streak. He reunites with Eddie Castro, who booted him home in August, and the Mark Hennig trainee appears capable of rallying for a minor share.
Photo Credit: Newscom
Below is a YouTube replay of Lieutenant Ron breezing.
Tags: Alan Garcia, Aqueduct, Barclay Tagg, Big Truck, Discovery Handicap, Graeme Hall, Kiaran McLaughlin, Lieutenant Ron, New York, Nick Zito, West Point ThoroughbredsRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Handicapping, Horses, Jockeys, Miscellaneous, Racetracks, Stakes Races, Trainers
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