Multiple stakes winners Lobsta and My Boy Tate are set to renew their rivalry for a third time in Sunday's $100,000 Haynesfield, a one-turn mile for New York-bred 4-year-olds and up at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Gary Sciacca, Lobsta will attempt to collect his third consecutive stakes score for owner Eddie F's Racing after a last-out win via the disqualification of My Boy Tate in the seven-furlong Say Florida Sandy on Jan. 8 at the Big A.
Sciacca refused to stir the pot when asked if Lobsta can again get the better of My Boy Tate.
“Hopefully, we can win again,” Sciacca said. “We got lucky last time when they disqualified him. We'll see what happens.”
Lobsta, by Emcee and out of the Chief Seattle mare Salty Little Sis, finished second in his stakes debut in last year's one-turn mile Gander, finishing up gamely to hold onto place honors by a half-length in his first start against winners.
The 4-year-old dark bay's breakout win came with a 28-1 upset win in the seven-furlong NYSSS Thunder Rumble at Aqueduct on Dec. 5, setting the pace under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano and digging in down the stretch to hold off a bid from My Boy Tate. The half-length score provided Lobsta his first stakes victory and a career-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure.
Lobsta was rated off the pace in the Say Florida Sandy, biding his time in third before being set down to the drive by Castellano to again battle with My Boy Tate. Lobsta was beaten a neck this time by his familiar foe but visited the winner's circle after My Boy Tate was disqualified and placed fourth for interference with fourth-place finisher and returning rival Chestertown.
Sciacca said Lobsta will be asked to claw his way to the front and hope the pace doesn't boil over as he stretches back out to one mile.
“He'll definitely be forwardly placed – maybe even right on the engine,” Sciacca said. “Javier is coming back to ride him which is really good. It's not jockey racing, but it's great to have a rider like Javier.”
Lobsta has come out of his shell in his last two starts, winning both times under Castellano, while posting the two highest Beyer Speed Figures of his career.
“His feet were bothering him earlier in his career. Now, he's doing well and he's a little older and more mature,” Sciacca explained.
Lobsta's recent works over the dirt training track at Belmont Park include consecutive bullets, completing five-eighths in 1:00.60 on Feb. 17 and a sharp half-mile in 47.60 seconds on March 1.
“He's doing well and training great. He went a little faster than I wanted him to go [on March 1], but he's just doing so good right now,” Sciacca said.
Lobsta's 5-year-old full brother Chowda, a stakes-winning stablemate who was nominated for the Haynesfield, will target an allowance tilt next week instead. The talented duo, both bred by Fedwell Farm, will be joined soon by Oysta, a 2-year-old half-brother by Micromanage.
Sciacca didn't clam up when asked to compare the siblings.
“Right now, Lobsta is probably a little better, but I can't take anything from Chowda – he's pretty good, too,” Sciacca said. “Oysta will be in by the end of the month. He's big like Lobsta. Chowda is a little on the smaller side.”
Lobsta, who exits post 4, will carry a co-field high 122 pounds.
My Boy Tate, also assigned 122 pounds, will look to rebound off a runner-up finish last out in the six-furlong Hollie Hughes to Wudda U Think Now.
Trained, bred and co-owned by Michelle Nevin with Little Red Feather Racing, the 8-year-old son of Boys At Tosconova will try the mile distance for the first time since his narrow victory in last year's edition over multiple graded stakes-placed Bankit.
The bay gelding's last victory came in the Leon Reed Memorial at Finger Lakes Racetrack in October where he sprinted away to an easy six-length victory. He then had a short layoff until his return to face Lobsta for the first time in the NYSSS Thunder Rumble.
My Boy Tate has shown consistency throughout his six seasons of racing, boasting a 9-for-10 in-the-money record from his last 10 starts. He owns an overall career record of 31-11-9-2 with six stakes wins and nine other stakes placings.
Manny Franco gets the call from post 3.
Nevin will also saddle J and N Stables' Our Last Buck, who enters from an off-the-board effort in the open one-mile Stymie on Feb. 26 at Aqueduct.
The 8-year-old Courageous Cat gelding, who boasts a record of 24-6-4-5, posted his last score in last year's Say Florida Sandy traveling seven furlongs at the Big A in Jan. 2021.
Bred in the Empire State by Gerardus S. Jameson, Our Last Buck has since finished third in three stakes, including the John Morrissey in July at the Spa, the NYSSS Thunder Rumble to Lobsta, and the Alex M. Robb on New Year's Eve at the Big A.
Kendrick Carmouche will ride Out Last Buck [122 pounds] from post 5.
Empire Equines' homebred Water's Edge will try stakes company for the first time after a professional win traveling nine furlongs in a state-bred optional claimer at the Big A on Feb. 10.
Trained by David Donk, the 4-year-old son of Candy Ride finished well against a formidable opponent in his first outing, losing a duel with eventual Grade 1 winner Americanrevolution by a neck sprinting six furlongs at Belmont Park in June. The 4-year-old colt graduated at second asking by 3 1/4 lengths over next out winners King Angelo and Golden Panda.
Water's Edge, who has never finished worse than second in seven lifetime starts, worked a half-mile in 49.92 over the Belmont training track on March 11.
“He's been working well and took a step forward in his last start,” said Donk. “I don't think cutting back to the mile will be a problem for him.”
Jorge A. Vargas, Jr. retains the mount from post 2.
West Point Thoroughbreds, Chester and Mary Broman, Woodford Racing, Siena Farm and Robert Masiello's Chestertown exited his third-place effort in the Say Florida Sandy to notch a four-length win an open seven-furlong optional-claiming tilt on Feb. 3 at the Big A.
Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the 5-year-old Tapit gelding boasts a record of 19-5-4-4 with four of his wins arriving at Aqueduct. The regally-bred grey, out of the multiple Grade 1-winner Artemis Agrotera, captured the 2020 Albany at Saratoga.
Jose Lezcano retains the mount from the outermost post 6.
Rounding out the field is Brew Pub [post 1, Raul Mena], a 4-year-old son of Street Sense trained and co-owned by Marcelo Arenas with Brilliant Horses Corp.
The Haynesfield is slated as Race 9 on Sunday's 10-race card. First post is 1:20 p.m. Eastern.
America's Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the winter meet at Aqueduct Racetrack on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.
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