Doc Sullivan draws outside for cutback

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – A cutback in distance, the likelihood of a contested pace, and an outside post draw should all play in Doc Sullivan’s favor in Sunday’s $200,000 Times Square division of the New York Stallion Stakes at Aqueduct.

The Times Square, for 3-year-old males, and the Park Avenue, for 3-year-old fillies, are restricted to progeny of New York-based stallions and are run at 6 1/2 furlongs. They run as races 5 and 8, respectively, on Sunday’s nine-race card that also includes the $150,000 Top Flight Stakes for older females.

Doc Sullivan, a son of Solomini trained by Mike Miceli, won his maiden going six furlongs Dec. 29 in his second career start. Stretched out to a mile three weeks later, Doc Sullivan was a seven-length winner of a first-level allowance on Jan. 19. In his stakes debut, also at a mile, Doc Sullivan finished second to Pandagate in the Gander Stakes here Feb. 25.

Pandagate came back to run a respectable third in the $1 million U.A.E. Derby on March 30.

Miceli seems to prefer Doc Sullivan at a little longer distance, but said this spot, with its lucrative purse, is too good to pass up.

“I’m a little more comfortable with six and a half than six, though he did break his maiden sprinting so it’s not totally out of his realm,” Miceli said. “He’s probably meant to be a distance horse but because of the purse you have to take a chance. I like the post. I think he can eyeball the way things are unfolding, who’s going to show speed. Hopefully, he gets a nice comfortable spot and kicks in the last part.”

Dylan Davis has the call. Trainer Rudy Rodriguez has the uncoupled entry of Antonio of Venice and Heavyweight Champs. Antonio of Venice won the $500,000 Great White Way division of the NYSS in December. After finishing second in the Rego Park Stakes on Jan. 27, Antonio of Venice was a dominant 9 1/4-length winner against three opponents in the Damon Runyon for New Yorkbreds.

“His last two races, Antonio’s performances it looks like he’s getting better and better,” Rodriguez said.

Going into the Damon Runyon, Rodriguez was talking as if Heavyweight Champs was the better of the pair. Heavyweight Champs had to scratch from the Damon Runyon due to a quarter crack. Rodriguez said noted blacksmith Ian McKinlay patched the quarter crack and Heavyweight Champs has trained well leading to this, his first start since a maiden win on Feb. 25.

Heavyweight Champs appears to be the faster of the two early, but Antonio of Venice did go gate to wire in the Damon Runyon.

Asked if he feared his two horses could duel each other up front, Rodriguez said, “it’s up to the jockeys. Hopefully, [those] guys don’t kill each other.”

Freedsdale, a debut winner April 4, wheels back 10 days later for trainer Linda Rice. Cable Ready, a stakes winner at Finger Lakes last November, Black Almighty, and the firsttime starter Grand Opening complete the field.

Park Avenue

My Shea D Lady got a break after her victory in the $500,000 Fifth Avenue division of the New York Stallion Stakes on Dec. 16. She returns from a four-month layoff seeking more stakes glory in the $200,000 Park Avenue division of the NYSS.

My Shea D Lady, who went 2 for 5 at age 2, got some time off in Ocala, Fla., before joining trainer Carlos David’s string in South Florida.

My Shea D Lady has six works for her return, including a solid move from the gate at Palm Meadows on March 31 and a quick half-mile in 47.40 seconds over the Belmont Park training track last week. Jockey Javier Castellano was aboard for that last work and rides her for a second straight race Sunday.

“The track was fast that day, but she did it pretty easily,” David said of the April 8 work. “I know a lot of times you give them some time off they need a race, but she’s been really consistent in her workouts so hopefully this won’t be too much of a challenge for her.”

My Shea D Lady breaks from post 7 in the eight-horse field.

Sunday Girl, drawn in post 8, was a 7 1/4-length debut winner on Feb. 10 at Aqueduct. Trainer David Duggan felt the allowance race Sunday Girl was eligible for came back too quick, so he waited for this spot. Duggan admits that Sunday Girl lacks seasoning in a field in which all of the others have had at least three starts.

“Is she seasoned enough to take on those fillies? You never know ’til you try, but I think she’s up to it,” Duggan said. “The [outside] draw is good, we’re not committed. She’s not one dimensional by any means”

Katie Davis, aboard for the maiden win, is back Sunday.

Sohana, second to next-out winner Sweet Brown Sugar, and Fast and Frisky look to be win contenders in this spot.