Sprinters are featured in the Gravesend on Saturday at Aqueduct

By NY Hot List staff | December 29, 2023

A first or second-place finish in the $150,000 Gravesend at Aqueduct on Saturday will push the earnings of the 9-year-old Greeley and Ben over the coveted $1 million mark. The Horacio DePaz trainee, that has 25 victories from 42 races, will be making the final start of his career on the NYRA circuit because 10-year-olds are not allowed to run in New York.

“He’s thriving. He’s in a good movement right now,” De Paz said. “When we ran him the first time, we had to train him and breeze him a few times to get him ready for the race. He’s a big, compact horse and carries good flesh, so he had to work some of that off. 

“Now, it’s just a matter of maintaining his fitness without overdoing it,” continued De Paz. “If you go back and look at his past performances, he’s a horse that always ran back-to-back races. He’s been doing that awhile, so I think when he’s in a good moment you have to not take it away from him. Younger horses might need more time, but he seems to thrive off it.”

The $150,000 Gravesend at Aqueduct, Saturday, Race 3, 1:18 pm EST.

(4) Bold Journey won his last two starts and both of them were at Aqueduct. Last time he rallied from fifth and last to win the Fall Highweight (G3) after having to go eight-wide while making up eight lengths. (5) Durante won 5 out of his last 7 starts and was second in the other two races. He does his best running when he is setting the pace. Last time he was second in the Fall Highweight after winning the Bold Ruler (G3). This year he won at four different tracks from California to New York. (2) Rotknee was third in the Fall Highweight after a victory in the Henry Hudson where he beat a strong field of veteran NY-breds. He has 8 wins from 15 career starts with three coming at the Big A. (3) Greeley and Ben came back from a year layoff in November with wins in his last pair of races which were in the Dave’s Friend at Laurel Park just a week ago and an allowance at the Maryland track also.

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