Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Fewer live days during March
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The New York Racing Association has tinkered with its schedule for the month of March the last several winters trying to deal with what it says is a “brutal” month when it comes to field size.
This year, NYRA has scheduled just three days of racing per week at Aqueduct for the balance of March. The threeday schedule was supposed to start next week, but it actually began this week when high winds forced the cancellation of Thursday’s card.
Average field size at Aqueduct has dipped below seven horses per race in March in two of the last three years – it was 6.89 in 2016. In 2015, average field size was 7.92 in March, but there had been 13 full-card cancellations in January and February.
“It’s too early to bring in 2-year-olds, and no one’s come back from Florida,” said Martin Panza, NYRA’s senior vice president of racing operations. “Everybody’s worn out. We’ve been running the same horses for the last four months. We have the stats; the last 10 years, the month of March iEs brutal.”
In 2014, when there was racing five days a week in March, average field size was 6.84. In 2015, racing was conducted four days a week in March, but there was a nine-day break scheduled. Three days were added to the schedule, and average field size was 7.92 following the 13 cancellations in the two previous months. In 2016, again with a four-day schedule, there was an average of 6.89 starters per race.
Panza said that NYRA would add more days if entries warranted. But the racing office has struggled to fill eight races per card many times this winter.
Rick Violette, president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, said he understands the need for a shortened schedule.
“It’s a tough pill for horsemen to swallow because fewer days mean fewer races mean fewer opportunities,” Violette said, “even though we fully understand five-horse fields are not the best thing for the industry.”
Racing continues on the inner track through March 26. The main track opens on March 31 for a 17-day meet through April 23 that includes two fiveday race weeks. Racing moves to Belmont Park on April 28.
Diversify part of strong Stymie
The $125,000 Stymie Stakes at Aqueduct next Sunday won’t have any superstars, but it’s shaping up as a solid race that includes a trio of New Yorkbreds – Royal Posse, Diversify, and Send It In – who have combined to win 14 of their last 16 starts.
Diversify, undefeated in four starts; Send It In, who has won six of his last seven; and Royal Posse, a winner of four of his last five, are all targeting the Stymie, scheduled for 1 1/8 miles over the inner track.
Send It In likely will be favored off victories in the Alex M. Robb and Haynesfield stakes. Diversify will be making his stakes debut after winning his first four starts for trainer Rick Violette.
“It’s a solid race without any superstars,” Violette said. “It’s time to step up. I would love to run a good race because then I might take a shot and go to Charles Town for a million dollars.”
Violette was referring to the $1.25 million Charles Town Classic on April 22.
Others pointing to the Stymie include Sunny Ridge, the winner of the Jazil Stakes; Turco Bravo, who has won the last two editions of the Stymie; Mr Palmer, a winner of three straight races; and Do you know something. Splashtastic is possible.
DeCarlo eyes mid-March return
When Chris DeCarlo was unseated by his mount, Enchanteresse in the sixth race at Aqueduct last Nov. 19, the jockey thought he was going to be out a few days. An initial misdiagnosis of his injury turned a few days into a few months. On Feb. 25, DeCarlo began getting back on horses in the morning, and now he’s eyeing a mid-March return to the saddle in the afternoon.
DeCarlo said Friday that he is targeting March 14 for his return, though if that is the date, he likely would have to ride at Parx since that is a dark day at Aqueduct.
DeCarlo broke his left leg in that spill but didn’t learn of the break until about a month after the injury.
“My leg was bothering me a month out, so I asked my doctor to do an MRI, and it revealed a break,” DeCarlo said. “I was walking around on a broken leg.”
Later, DeCarlo learned he also had a compression fracture in his back. That also has healed.
“It’s always frustrating when you get hurt. There’s never a right time to get hurt,” DeCarlo said. “I ride mostly grass horses anyway, so the turf season is right around the corner.”
DeCarlo will be returning at about the same time as Junior Alvarado, who underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in December.