First turf stakes of 2024 on Saturday at Aqueduct

By NY Hot List staff | Thursday, April 18, 2024

The $150,000 Danger’s Hour on Saturday highlights the springtime return of turf racing at Aqueduct. Eight veteran turf specialists were entered to race the one-mile distance along with one that will race only on the main track.

Leading turf trainer Chad Brown has three entered led by Spirit of St Louis who is a full-brother to Grade 1-winner Bar of Gold, who upset the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at 66-1.

Tidal Forces ships up to New York from Florida where he won twice and then just missed in the Appleton on the grass at Gulfstream for trainer Fernando Abreu.

“A mile and a sixteenth seems like his best distance, but just after that Appleton – going one mile in 1:33 and change – he made it [the decision] for me,” said Abreu. 

The $150,000 Danger’s Hour at Aqueduct, Saturday, Race 8, 5:07 pm EDT.

(3) Spirit of St Louis will make his 2024 debut after so much success racing against NY-breds. He won 4 out of his last 5 starts including a pair of state-bred stakes on the grass for Chad Brown. (1) Masen is a graded stakes winner in the Poker (G3) and in November was third in the Artie Schiller at Aqueduct. He started once in January in Florida also for Brown. (2) Tidal Forces won twice on the Tapeta track at Gulfstream this winter and then stepped up to run in the Appleton on the Turf where he had the lead in the stretch and then ended up third in a blanket finish. (6) Pioneering Spirit will make his first start of the year with plenty of turf victories showing in his past performances including the Bernard Baruch at Saratoga.

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