Graded stakes action during the meet also includes the $200,000 GIII Pebbles S.–previously run at Belmont's fall meet–and the $300,000 GII Red Smith S. on Nov. 11 and the $300,000 GIII Long Island S. on Nov. 12. The $250,000 GII Hill Prince S. will be run Nov. 18.

Thanksgiving weekend at Aqueduct will feature a pair of Grade III events worth $200,000: the Nov. 24 GIII Fall Highweight H. and the Nov. 25 GIII Comely S.

The New York Stallion Stakes Series (NYSSS), open to progeny of eligible New York sires, returns to the Big A with four divisions offered in December. The Dec. 3 card will feature the $125,000 NYSSS Thunder Rumble for 3-year-olds and up sprinting seven furlongs on the main track, as well as the $125,000 NYSSS Staten Island for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up at the same distance.

The NYSSS returns with a pair of $500,000 stakes for juveniles  Dec. 16 with a lucrative card that will see eligible New York-sired fillies contest the NYSSS Fifth Avenue at seven furlongs, alongside the NYSSS Great White Way going the same distance.

Following the conclusion of Belmont at the Big A fall meet, which runs from Sept. 14 through Oct. 29, the 31-day Aqueduct fall meet will run from Nov. 2 through Dec. 31.

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Un Ojo, who made his first start for trainer Dutrow in the Great White Way, has shown improvement across his four starts this year, breaking his maiden at second asking and finishing fourth in the Jean Lafitte at Delta Downs in Vinton, La., in his first try at the stakes level.

“When I went over him this morning, he seemed very good,” Dutrow said. “I was extremely happy that he continues to improve. You can see in each race that he keeps getting a little better. And he continued that pattern yesterday. He was ridden impeccably too.”

The son of Laoban, who is missing his left eye, was piloted from the outermost post 11 by jockey Trevor McCarthy and raced three-wide down the backstretch before being swung to the center of the racetrack between rivals in the turn and making a bid for the lead at the top of the stretch.

With urging from McCarthy, Un Ojo closed the gap between him and pacesetter Unique Unions but lost momentum when eventual winner Geno drifted out and brushed up against Un Ojo's eyeless left side and defeated the gelding by a half-length. With both an objection from McCarthy and a steward's inquiry resulting in no change to the order of finish, Dutrow said he was not upset with the ruling by the stewards.

“At 63 and having done nothing but horse racing my entire life, I've seen those calls yesterday go either way,” Dutrow said. “The stewards don't have an easy job; nothing is easy with horses. Should the horse have stayed up? Sure. If the horse had been taken down, would that have surprised me? No. But I'm not complaining. I don't have a problem with them keeping the horse up.”

Dutrow believes that Un Ojo's lack of vision might have contributed to his loss of momentum.

“I strongly think that if Un Ojo had both eyes, that little bump wouldn't have done anything to him,” said Dutrow. “As I was watching it, I really thought he was going by [Geno]. Then we saw the head-on and at the bump, his momentum stopped. And I do think it's because he has no left eye. When he's bumped, he doesn't know what is going on. So he was startled and if he had been able to see the horse coming in, I don't think it would have been a problem.”

Un Ojo is out of the multiple stakes-winning A.P. Indy mare Risk a Chance, who herself is out of graded stakes-winning mare Seeking the Ante. Dutrow said he is confident that the dark bay's pedigree will allow him to stretch out going forward.

“I think the horse is crying to go a mile or a mile and an eighth,” said Dutrow. “I don't think there's a question about that being out of an A.P. Indy mare. I believe strongly that he can't wait for that. We've got no plans for him to be a six- or seven-furlong horse. I did learn that he's a decent enough horse to overcome a distance he does not prefer.”

Dutrow said he does not have a specific race circled on the calendar yet for Un Ojo.

“We aren't going to make the Jerome [on January 1] and I haven't really looked into it yet or talked to the client,” said Dutrow. “We would have to consider something at a mile and an eighth in February next.”

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Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the Laoban bay, who entered from a debut fifth in a state-bred maiden special weight sprint on November 21 at the Big A, broke third and was hustled to the lead by returning rider Jose Ortiz from post 5 to mark the opening quarter-mile in :22.96.

Yo Cuz maintained her lead down the backstretch through an easy half-mile in :47.10, a length in front of Bank On Anna with Laochi stalking another length back in third under Eric Cancel.

Morning Matcha, the 8-5 morning-line favorite piloted by Kendrick Carmouche, settled last of-11 through the opening quarter-mile but was keen to follow the rallying Shigeko through the turn as Yo Cuz attempted to kick clear of the field.

Yo Cuz opened up a four-length lead over Laochi at the stretch call as Morning Matcha overtook Shigeko and powered into contention down the center of the track. A game and determined Morning Matcha continued to find more but there was no reeling in Yo Cuz, who crossed the wire 1 3/4-lengths in front in a final time of 1:25.34.

Ortiz said Yo Cuz was much improved at second asking after experiencing trouble at the gate on debut.

“She was squeezed out of there and she was very green, too,” Ortiz said of the first-out effort. “I just sat patiently and tried to teach her some stuff. I didn't want to rush her. She's a big filly and she closed well last time. I was very happy with the race. I knew second time she was going to be a lot better. I expected she was going to win a maiden; I didn't know she was going to run in here. I knew this race was going to be a little bit tougher, but she proved that she belongs.

“She was ready today. She broke well today and he [Mott] worked on what she needed – breaking better, which she did,” Ortiz added. “She broke very clean and when I went to take position and looked around me, nobody could keep up with me in the first quarter. So, when I took [the lead] I slowed it down nicely and she was very relaxed.”

Ortiz, a three-time winner on the card, continued a solid run of form after going 3-for-3 on Friday night at Remington Park Oklahoma City, Okla., winning the She's All In with Casual, the Trapeze with Optionality, and the Springboard Mile with Make It Big.

“When you ride good horses, this is what happens. You get more chances to win races,” Ortiz said. “I appreciate all the opportunities I have been getting with big owners and big trainers supporting my career. That's what it's all about. You have to have the horse to win.”

Tom Gallo, managing partner of Dream Maker Racing, said he always had high hopes for Yo Cuz.

“When we first gave Bill the horse, we had this race in mind,” Gallo said. “When I mentioned it to Bill, he looked at me and laughed a little bit because he had just got her. But then she started to breeze at Saratoga and was training really well. We wanted to get one race in her before this and she ran fifth about four weeks ago. She broke bad, trailed the field but then weaved her way between horses and galloped out past the leader. When we spoke to Jose Ortiz after the race, he said that he really liked the horse. It's nice to have continuity because he knew her.”

Gallo said the $125,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale purchase made a good first impression.

“The thing that stood out for us was that she was one of the few in that sale who galloped and didn't breeze,” Gallo said. “We like when people take time with their horses. The fact that she was a good size and came out of a good consignment [Hidden Brook] was appealing.”

Morning Matcha completed the exacta by five lengths over Laochi with Shigeko, Bank On Anna, Laoban's Legacy, She's a Big Deal, Alicia's Way, Howdyoumakeurmoney, Mrs. Banks, and Half Birthday rounding out the order of finish.

Carmouche said the slow-starting Morning Matcha, who maintained a perfect in-the-money record of 7-2-3-2, will not be hustled.

“She breaks a little slow and gets herself together, but you can't rush her,” Carmouche said. “She's going to pick up the bit when she wants. Today, we were just second best.”

Bred in New York by Seidman Stables, Yo Cuz, out of the Tale of Ekati mare Steve's Philly, banked $275,000 in victory while improving her record to 2-1-0-0. She paid $8.00 for a $2.00 win ticket.

Live racing resumes Sunday at the Big A with a nine-race card featuring the $100,000 Gravesend in Race 7 and the $125,000 Queens County in Race 8. First post is 12:20 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.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Breaking from the middle of the field of 11, Geno settled in fourth behind Unique Unions, who took the lead out of the gate, with Kenner and Bustin Pietre content to sit behind the early leader. Through early fractions of :22.71 and :46.48, Unique Unions was a half-length in front of Kenner on the far turn, entering the stretch at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., poised to take the field gate to wire.

Geno went three-wide on the far turn to find running room in the Aqueduct straight, rallying on the outside of Unique Unions with jockey Trevor McCarthy driving Un Ojo to his outside. Geno passed Unique Unions inside the last sixteenth to take the lead and was able to hold off Un Ojo to win by a neck. Unique Unions held on for third with Hot Stepper fourth.

Jockey Trevor McCarthy lodged an objection after the race, as there was some contact between Geno and Un Ojo in the stretch. The stewards upheld the order of finish.

The final time for the seven furlongs was 1:25.88. Find this race's chart here.

Geno paid $18.80, $9.90, and $6.00. Un Ojo paid $15.20 and $7.90. Unique Unions paid $3.20.

“I love this horse. He's so classy. He does whatever you want him to do. Last time I rode him, I was sort of knocking my head because I didn't ride him that well. But everything paid off today,” jockey Jose Vargas said after the race.

“He came to me from Ocala and he just trained really well this summer. This horse has a lot of class, as much class as I've seen a horse have in a while. I debated first time out whether I should run him on dirt or turf. His mother [Weekend Hottie] won on grass and my success with Big Brown offspring have been on grass, so I ran him over it,” trainer David Donk told the NYRA Press Office after the Great White Way.

“I told Johnny [Velazquez] I liked the horse and he was good enough to win first out. He ran well in a stake [2nd in the Awad] next time. I don't think he got the greatest trip last time [6th in the Central Park]. He breezes really well on the dirt and I needed to try him somewhere on the dirt. This is as good a spot as I could have found. Jorge [Vargas, Jr.] gave him a great ride.

Bred in New York by Pete Martine, Geno is by Big Brown out of the Sun King mare Weekend Hottie. He is owned by Mendham Racing Stable. With his win in the NYSSS Great White Way, the 2-year-old colt has two wins in four starts for career earnings of

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The first of two New York Stallion Stakes Series races on Saturday's nine-race card, the Great White Way division is slated as Race 6 with the Fifth Avenue division set for Race 8. With each division offering a purse of $500,000, the New York Stallion Stakes Series rewards owners and breeders for their efforts to breed mares to stallions in the Empire State.

“The New York Stallion Stakes Series works to directly benefit and promote stakeholders in the New York-bred program, especially New York stallion owners and everyone who invests in their progeny,” said Najja Thompson, Executive Director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. which administers the NYSSS. “We're thankful the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund and NYRA continue to partner in supporting this 10-race series totaling $2,300,000 in purses and the ability to earn 20 percent in addition to purse earnings with Open Owner's Awards for finishers first through third.

“The opportunity to breed or purchase a New York-sired New York-bred at auction and compete in the richest juvenile sire stakes races in the country with the $500,000 Great White Way for males and Fifth Avenue for fillies provides tremendous value for New York Sired progeny,” Thompson added. “It's a great example of the opportunities and incentives available by participating in the New York-bred program and NYSSS races.”

Unique Unions, trained and co-owned by Rick Schosberg with Clear Stars Stable and Mitre Box Stable enters the Great White Way off an impressive 4 ¼ length maiden special weight romp at Aqueduct on November 20.

Battling for the lead down the backstretch with two foes to his inside, the son of second-crop sire Union Jackson was asked by jockey Manny Franco to make his move rounding the turn and found a new gear, steadily widening his advantage and stopping the clock in a final time of 1:12.08.

“I was expecting him to run big,” said Schosberg. “Manny worked him for us to get a feel for him and he really liked him. We have had some really nice horses come through this barn and he sure acts the part.”

Unique Union's maiden score came on the heels of a troubled first start at Belmont Park on Sept. 25 when he briefly made a bid for the lead after the break but took an awkward step and was pulled up and vanned off rounding the turn. Schosberg said that the gelding sustained no injuries and was vanned as a precautionary measure.

“There was nothing wrong with him,” Schosberg said “He was bright and standing well. The jockey said he took some funny steps when he tried to switch leads and just wasn't in sync. It's fine he pulled him up. He thought the horse was having an issue and you err on the side of caution no matter what when it comes to the health and welfare of the horse.”

A $60,000 purchase by his owners at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale in May, Unique Unions caught the eye of his connections when he posted a 10.1 second furlong at the sale. Schosberg said that the colt has shown enough in the mornings and in his maiden score to warrant a start in stakes company.

“I don't think it's overstepping looking at the nominations,” he said. “I see no reason why we shouldn't be in there. He has not regressed one bit since he broke his maiden. He has moved forward and gained weight. His works have been what we want to see.”

Schosberg also spoke to the purse money offered by the New York Stallion Stakes Series, emphasizing the importance of awarding breeders for their dedication to the New York program.

“These stallion stakes are a huge plus for us,” said Schosberg. “It's fantastic that they can have a purse like this. It's a great opportunity to earn some big money with some horses that have connections that took the time and resources to get through the process. The idea is to keep good stallions here in New York, which is key to our breeding industry. We need mares to breed to New York sires as opposed to shipping elsewhere as it helps the economy here in New York. This is a great way to promote it.”

A win with Unique Unions would provide Schosberg with his second Great White Way victory after conditioning Rush Chairman Bill to take the 1992 edition.

Unique Unions will exit Post 1 with Franco in the irons again.

Trainer Genevieve Londono will ship in Stirdatpot off a second-place 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight effort at Churchill Downs on November 20.

Stalking the pace in third under Alex Achard, Stirdatpot had some trouble switching his leads in the stretch but held on gamely to secure place honors by a neck.

“Scott Kent broke him in Ocala and he has been growing and maturing ever since” said Londono. “He was a little green in his last race and was rambunctious in the post parade, but he's improving. His dam had a lot of heart too.”

A homebred son of Trinniberg for Londono and Charlie Hancock, Stirdatpot will look to become Londono's second stakes winner from 13 starters.

Stirdatpot breaks from Post 8 with Edgar Morales up.

Iron Lion in Zion also enters the Great White Way off a maiden special weight score last out for trainer Tom Morley in a state-bred seven-furlong contest at Belmont Park November 5.

Fifth on debut after bumping with his inside foe leaving the gate and weakening in the stretch, the son of Bellamy Road took a step forward in his next start, putting together a last-to-first effort to break his maiden.

Positioned at the rear of the field by Dylan Davis in the early stages, Iron Lion in Zion came under a ride at the three-eighths pole before taking command at the sixteenth pole and keeping to task with right-handed encouragement from Davis to win by 2 ¾ lengths.

On Friday, Iron Lion in Zion posted his final work for the Great White Way, breezing a half-mile in 50.85 seconds over Belmont's dirt training track.

A homebred for owner DutchessViews Farm, Iron Lion in Zion will exit Post 9 with Davis aboard.

Cypress Creek Equine's Un Ojo will look to improve off a game fourth-place effort last out in the Jean Lafitte at Delta Downs on November 20. A maiden special weight winner on November 5 at Delta, the gelded son of Laoban gave a stalking performance in the Jean Lafitte with Devin Magnon up.

Roused in the final turn and sent up the middle lane to split horses, Un Ojo weaved his way back down to the inside path to make a final drive to the finish in the stretch, finishing five lengths behind the top three to round out the superfecta.

Now in the barn of Anthony Dutrow after making his first three starts with Ricky Courville, the dark bay breezed five furlongs in 1:02.54 over the main track at Belmont on Sunday.

Trevor McCarthy will guide Un Ojo from Post 11.

The Bruce Levine-trained Bustin Pietre faced a tall order last time out when stepping up from a debut maiden claiming victory to face multiple stakes winner Senbei in the Notebook at Belmont on November 21.

Tracking in second behind Senbei throughout the six furlongs, the Bustin Stones gelding finished well to hold off a late bid from Daufuskie Island to secure second by a half-length at the wire.

Breezing five furlongs over Belmont Park's dirt training track on Friday, Bustin Pietre's time of 1:02.01 was the third-best of 14 works that day.

Kendrick Carmouche gets the call to ride from Post 2.

Completing the field for the Great White Way are stakes-placed Maseta [Post 3, Eric Cancel], maidens Safalow's Mission [Post 4, Jose Ortiz] and Hot Stepper [Post 5, Samuel Camacho, Jr.] Awad runner-up Geno [Post 6, Jorge Vargas, Jr.], Flying P Stable's Hoboken Jack [Post 7, Jose Lezcano], and Morris E. Kerman, Jr.'s and Jagger Inc.'s Kenner [Post 10, Ruben Silvera].

Named for Broadway in Manhattan's theater district, the Great White Way offers a 3:09 p.m. Eastern post. First post for the card is set for 12:20 p.m.

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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The seven-furlong test for eligible New York-sired juvenile fillies is one of two stakes races on Saturday afternoon for state-sired 2-year-olds, along with its counterpart race, the $500,000 NYSSS Great White Way.

“We're pleased to be offering these important races – the richest juvenile sire stakes races in the country – which demonstrate the strength of the New York-sired program and offer a great incentive to breed to New York stallions,” said NYRA racing secretary Keith Doleshel. “Our New York-sired and New York-bred programs are integral to NYRA racing and we look forward to continuing to support the New York breeding industry.”

Trained by Butch Reid, Jr., Morning Matcha will cut back a furlong after defeating winners by 6 ¼ lengths going a two-turn mile on Nov. 16 at Parx. She registered a field-best 81 Beyer Speed Figure last out, saving ground along the rail before angling several paths wide around the far turn and drawing off to a 6 ¼-length victory as the 1-9 favorite.

The daughter of leading New York stallion Central Banker, who stands at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds for a $7,500 stud fee, has never finished out of the money in six career starts.

The consistent bay earned a stakes-placing in the Finest City on Sept. 13 at Presque Isle Downs en route to a 6 ½ furlong Parx maiden score 12 days later.

Reid, Jr. kept a small division of horses at Saratoga this past summer, including Morning Matcha, and said he had been looking forward to more ground since watching her train at the Spa. Morning Matcha sprinted against restricted maiden company twice at Saratoga, finishing a respective third and second.

“No doubt the longer distances have helped,” said Reid, Jr. “We've been waiting to stretch her out in distance since we had her at Saratoga. A mile was perfect for her so this won't be out of reach either.”

Reid, Jr. will have five stalls at Gulfstream Park this winter. Following the NYSSS Fifth Avenue, Morning Matcha is scheduled to join his small South Florida division.

“After this, we'll stretch her back out. She'll head to Florida after this and train in some nicer weather,” Reid, Jr. said.

Kendrick Carmouche, the pilot in both victories, will return aboard Morning Matcha from post 6.

“It'll be up to the jock wherever she's most comfortable,” Reid, Jr. said. “Inside or outside, she appears to have no qualms with anything. Kendrick has done a great job with her.”

Bred in Pennsylvania by Crane Thoroughbred Services, Morning Matcha is out of the stakes-placed Iam the Iceman mare Home Ice and was bought for $18,000 out of the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Mid Atlantic Sale.

Trainer Michael Trombetta will send out Howdyoumakeurmoney, a dual-surface winner and the lone stakes-winner in the Fifth Avenue field.

The Commonwealth New Era Racing-owned Freud bay graduated at second asking on turf against fellow New York-breds on September 3 at Saratoga and one month later captured the 6 ½-furlong Presque Isle Downs Debutante, defeating next-out winner Battle Charge.

Howdyoumakeyourmoney, bred in New York by Davie Bloodstock and Peter Colon, arrives from a runner-up effort in the seven-furlong Glorious Song on Oct. 30 at Woodbine.

Mychel Sanchez will be aboard from post 7.

Joseph Bucci's Laoban's Legacy will seek her first stakes victory, coming off a runner-up effort against open company winners for trainer Jeremiah Englehart.

Bred in New York by Sequel Thoroughbreds, the daughter of the late Laoban was a dazzling 7 ¾-length winner in July over a sloppy and sealed Saratoga main track on debut en route to a distant third in the Seeking the Ante the following month at the Spa.

Breaking from post 3, Laoban's Legacy will be ridden by Manny Franco – a two-time winner of the NYSSS Fifth Avenue.

Trainer Christophe Clement will send out Barry Schwartz's Shigeko following a 6 ¾-length maiden win at second asking. Bred in New York by Schwartz's Stonewall Farm, the daughter of Japan found the winner's circle on Oct. 30 over a sloppy and sealed main track in an off-the-turf mile for state-breds at Belmont Park.

Dylan Davis will ride Shigeko from post 11.

Completing the field are She's a Big Deal [post 1, Raul Mena], Alicia's Way [post 2, Benjamin Hernandez], Laochi [post 4, Eric Cancel], Yo Cuz [post 5, Jose Ortiz], Half Birthday [post 8, Trevor McCarthy], Bank On Anna [post 9, Jose Lezcano], and Mrs. Banks [post 10, Mike Luzzi].

The NYSSS Fifth Avenue is carded as the penultimate event on Saturday's nine-race program. First post is 12:20 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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Londono, who left a career as a vet tech to pursue training, has a long history in the equine world – her father was a rider and her mother runs a breeding operation. After starting her training ventures as an assistant to Wayne Catalano, Mike Maker, Michael Trombetta, and a few others, Londono went out on her own five years ago.

“I never really wanted to be a trainer; it was never really my goal,” said Londono. “I actually had wanted to be a vet. But after working around the horses with my parents and then working as an assistant to other trainers, I asked, 'why can't I do it myself?'”

Londono, based at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., currently trains five horses and exercises them in the mornings, preferring to be hands on with each of her trainees. Starters for Londono have finished on the board at a 51 percent clip for a career record of 96-14-18-17 and nearly $600,000 in earnings.

Cash Logistics, a gelding by Unbridled Express, is the top performer from Londono's barn, awarding Londono the first stakes victory of her career when he won Indiana Grand's Sagamore Sired in 2020.

Stirdatpot, who finished second on debut at Churchill last time out sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs over a muddy track on November 14, will be the second stakes starter for Londono.

Bred in Florida by Londono and co-owner Charlie Hancock, Stirdatpot is a son of 2012 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Trinniberg, who stood in the Empire State for five seasons.

As a registered Florida-bred with a qualifying New York sire, Stirdatpot is eligible for a wide array of conditions in both Florida and New York, an opportunity Londono says she would not have in many jurisdictions.

“We chose to nominate to the Stallion Series to give us some options going forward,” Londono said. “The purse is great and we know the kind of competition we are getting into.”

Now with Stirdatpot awaiting a run at the biggest race of her career, Londono said she is eager to see how the colt stands up against fellow New York-sired competition.

“It's definitely nerve-wracking,” said Londono. “But I'm excited for it. This would be huge to win. He showed enough in his first start to make me think he'll do well here. I'm having the best year of my career so far and I hope we can continue that in this spot.”

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The 3-year-old son of Emcee earned the first stakes win of his career for trainer Gary Sciacca, who also saddled Lobsta's 4-year-old full brother Chowda for owner Eddie F's Racing. Both horses were bred in New York by John Jayko's Fedwell Farm.

Guided to victory by Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano from post 10, Lobsta broke sharply and dueled for the lead with Chowda, who was piloted by Eric Cancel. As the two brothers led the field of 11 through a half-mile in :46.85, 3-2 post-time favorite My Boy Tate was urged by jockey Manny Franco to make his move for the lead and found room between the pacesetters at the top of the stretch.

With Chowda tiring to his inside, My Boy Tate, trained by Michelle Nevin, poked his nose to the front as the field straightened for the drive to the wire. Lobsta responded to urging from Castellano and battled back on the outside, both horses refusing to relinquish the lead. A few strides before the wire, Lobsta was able to claw his way to victory by a half-length in a final time of 1:24.87 over the fast track.

The Nevin-conditioned Our Last Buck angled to the outside and found his best stride late to finish four lengths behind the top two finishers and six lengths the better of Chowda, who rounded out the superfecta. Captain Bombastic, Jemography, Hold the Salsa, Wild Banker, Market Alert, Devious Mo, and Rinaldi completed the order of finish. Straight Skinny was scratched.

Getting a leg up on Lobsta for the first time, Castellano said was determined to give his all to help the colt run his best race.

“You can't give up in this business,” said the veteran rider. “You have to keep pushing hard and I felt that the horse was going to get by. He [My Boy Tate] passed me already but I didn't give up. I let the horse get his stride and he finished really well.”

Castellano said he needed to be patient aboard Lobsta, who was making his first start since finishing third in the New York Derby in July at Finger Lakes Gaming and Racing in Farmington, N.Y.

“I was concerned about the layoff, that's the reason I didn't want to move too soon at the quarter pole,” he said. “I rode with a lot of patience. The other horse got the jump. He moved a little quick but I didn't get bothered, I let him get his momentum and get his stride and it paid off.”

Sciacca said he was surprised the two siblings vie for the early lead.

“I never thought that would happen,” said Sciacca. “I thought Lobsta would sit back a little bit and Chowda was going to go. He [Castellano] said he broke so good with Lobsta, he was just sitting on him. He [Cancel] had to hustle Chowda to stay up in there and the two brothers were battling.”

There was more surprise for Sciacca when My Boy Tate made his move to split horses at the top of the lane.

“Why did they let him through. I thought they'd at least block him a little bit,” Sciacca said, with a laugh. “When he got through, I thought that's tough. He showed some fight – Lobsta – to come back and get the horse.”

Sciacca said he gave Lobsta the layoff to allow the colt time to mature. “He's a big horse and just trying to get himself together,” Sciacca said. “He was training well up to this spot.”

Eddie Fazzone, managing partner of Eddie F's Racing, agreed with Sciacca that seeing the two siblings go together was not what he had in mind going into the race.

“When we talked in the paddock, we thought Chowda was going to go and Lobsta was going to sit,” said Fazzone. “But Javier said when he broke like that, they had to go. I was a little surprised to see them both fighting up there, but Lobsta is a nice horse and was training lights out.”

Chowda had provided Fazzone with a stakes victory in last year's Gander at Aqueduct. Now with both brothers having earned stakes wins, Fazzone said he is grateful for all his horses have given him.

“I was jumping up and down like crazy. Both of these horses have been such a joy and brought a lot of excitement for me as a small stable,” Fazzone said. “Now, they're both stakes winners. I'm overwhelmed right now. I'm really happy for Gary and John Jayko.”

Fazzone said he was also proud of Chowda's fourth-place effort.

“Chowda fought like that to win the Gander and Lobsta – he's a fighter, too,” Fazzone said.

Lobsta, who finished third in the Mike Lee at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., and second in the Gander at Aqueduct this year, banked $82,500 in victory to boost his career purse winnings to $221,400. Lobsta now boasts a record of 8-3-1-2. A $2 win ticket returned $58.

My Mary Stables' Salty Heir [by Micromanage], a 2-year-old half-brother to Lobsta and Chowda, also raced on Sunday's card for Sciacca, finishing sixth in Race 7 – a 6 1/2-furlong state-bred maiden special weight.

Live racing resumes Thursday with an eight-race card to kick off the winter meet at the Big A. First post is 12:50 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.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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After needing seven starts to break his maiden, trainer Rudy Rodriguez has seen his charge now win two in a row, building on an 8 3/4-length score in a maiden contest going six furlongs in a $25,000 maiden claimer on March 13 at the Big A. That effort netted the Laoban colt a then personal-best 79 Beyer Speed Figure. He set a new high by garnering an 84 for his forwardly placed effort going 6 1/2 furlongs on Saturday, with Rodriguez saying on Sunday morning that he came out of it in good order.

“He looked good and comfortable this morning,” Rodriguez said.

Claimed for $40,000 out of a fourth-place effort in November at the Big A, Devious Mo has already made four starts at Aqueduct for Rodriguez to start his 3-year-old campaign. After his maiden-breaking effort, Rodriguez, with Repole's urging, decided to face him against more challenging competition, and he responded under a strong ride by Manny Franco to top a seven-horse field.

“We were just taking a chance since he was eligible for the race and it looked like it may have been a bit of a softer spot,” said Rodriguez. “We knew it was a big jump up to ask him to run in a stakes after being in for $25,000, and we were a little concerned breaking out of the one hole. But he did it the right way. Manny rode him great.”

Devious Mo, bred in New York by McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds, gave Rodriguez his second stakes win of 2021, adding to Pete's Play Call in the $100,000 Gravesend on January 2.

Rodriguez could be aiming for greater stakes glory during the upcoming Belmont Park spring/summer meet, with E.V. Racing Stable's Water White a possibility for the Grade 2, $200,000 Ruffian for older fillies and mares going one mile on Big Sandy Sunday, May 2.

Water White, who capped her 3-year-old campaign with a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Acorn on Belmont Stakes Day June 20, returned from a nearly 10-month layoff to best a five-horse optional claiming field by four lengths going a one-turn mile on a sloppy and sealed track on April 1 at Aqueduct.

Rodriguez said Water White could build off a successful sophomore effort, which saw her run second in the Busanda before winning the $250,000 Busher Invitational. In the Acorn, she earned in a black type in a race won by Gamine, the eventual Eclipse Award Champion Female Sprinter last year.

In January, Water White returned to the work tab for the first time in six months and took the next step with her victory earlier this month, earning a 72 Beyer. While Rodriguez doesn't have a definitive next spot picked out for the Conveyance filly, the Ruffian could mark her third career start at Belmont, with both previous efforts coming at the one-turn mile, including a runner-up effort in her second career start in October 2019.

“She looks good. She came back real nice,” Rodriguez said. “We worked her a half-mile the other morning. We'll nominate to the Ruffian but we'll keep our options open.”

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The Laoban bay finished fourth last out to undefeated Kentucky Oaks-contender Search Results in the open Busher Invitational traveling a one-turn mile on March 6 at Aqueduct.

Laobanonaprayer worked a bullet half-mile handily in 46.62 Saturday on the Parx main track in preparation for the turnback in distance.

“It was an amazing work. This is the best I've ever seen her,” said Velazquez. “She's coming in really ready. These horses grow with you as they progress. She's a big filly and I'm hoping she's going to get faster and really come around.”

Bred in New York by Christina Deronda, the Laobanonaprayer was purchased for $15,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. The filly graduated at third asking in October 2020 in the Maid of the Mist, a one-turn mile for state-bred juveniles at Belmont Park, providing Velazquez his first stakes win.

Laobanonaprayer followed with an eight-length score in the seven-furlong NYSSS Fifth Avenue in December at Aqueduct ahead of a runner-up effort in the Franklin Square in her sophomore debut traveling 6 1/2-furlongs on a muddy Big A strip on January 16.

“She's had a nice, steady progression into the Busher where we ran fourth. She's missed no training after that race and it's been smooth sailing,” said Velazquez.

Velazquez said he will let jockey Kendrick Carmouche determine the best trip for the talented filly, who will exit the inside post.

“I'll let Kendrick take care of that, but I'd envision her close to the pace and making one big run, but she's versatile,” said Velazquez. “He knows her and he's won on her. He won me my first stakes race ever. We're really happy to have him on her.”

Roddy Valente and Darlene Bilinski's Shaker Shack enters from a pair of runner-up efforts in optional-claiming sprints for trainer Patrick Reynolds. The dark bay daughter of Bustin Stones, bred in New York by Valente and Dr. Jerry Bilinski, is a full sister to multiple stakes winner Bustin Out and a half-sibling to multiple stakes winner Oak Bluffs.

Shaker Shack graduated at second asking in a maiden claiming sprint on January 30 at the Big A in her first start for Reynolds before catching a muddy track in her last two starts.

Jose Ortiz will guide Shaker Shack from post 5.

Double B Racing Stables' Bustin Bay was claimed for $25,000 last out from a 16-length score in a seven-furlong maiden claiming tilt for New York-bred fillies on March 26 at the Big A. Bred in the Empire State by Robert Rosenthal, Martin Greenberg, and Peter Rosenthal, the Bustin Stones filly, now trained by Antonio Arriaga, will be guided by returning pilot Trevor McCarthy from post 3.

Laura's Bellamy, a C. Robert Valeri homebred trained by Todd Pletcher, earned a 61 Beyer Speed Figure in her half-length debut win sprinting six furlongs on a sloppy Big A main track on February 27.

The Bellamy Road bay made every post a winning one under Manny Franco, who retains the mount for the filly's second start from post 4.

America's Pastime Stables' Jill's a Hot Mess graduated at ninth asking last out in a maiden claiming sprint on March 12 at the Big A. Trained by John Kimmel, the Laoban bay completed the exacta behind Laobanonaprayer in the Fifth Avenue.

Off as the post-time favorite in her last four starts, Jill's a Hot Mess, bred in the Empire State by Michael J. Galvin, will be guided from post 2 by Junior Alvarado.

Shesadirtydancer, a maiden winner at fifth asking in January at the Big A, exits the same pair of optional-claiming sprints as Shaker Shack. Trained and co-owned by Rudy Rodriguez with Michael Imperio, the War Dancer bay, bred in New York by Bill Frothinger, will be guided by Irad Ortiz, Jr. from post 6.

The NYSSS Park Avenue is slated as Race 7 on Sunday's nine-race card, which closes out the 11-day Aqueduct spring meet. First post is 1:20 p.m. Eastern.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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