OZONE PARK, NY – Trainer Rob Atras said Beach Haven Thoroughbreds, Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds and Barry Fowler’s Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks winner Maracuja is training well at Oaklawn Park.
However, the 4-year-old Honor Code filly, who was pointing towards a seasonal debut in the Grade 2 Azeri on March 12 at Oaklawn will now look towards the Grade 1 Apple Blossom, a 1 1/16-mile test for older fillies and mares on April 23 at the Hot Springs, Arkansas oval.
“She’s doing really well but we had setbacks with how the weather has gone and we’re not anticipating making the Azeri,” Atras said. “We’ve played it safe down there with her. Usually by early February the weather starts to level out but they had a couple storms come through that hindered our progress.”
Atras said it is possible that Maracuja, who worked a half-mile in 49.20 February 28 at Oaklawn, could make one start before the Apple Blossom.
“If we can get a race in and it works that’s definitely a possibility. Right now, we’re just focused on getting her ready,” Atras said.
Twin Creeks Racing Stables’ state-bred maiden winner Impressionist, a 3-year-old Mission Impazible gelding, breezed a half-mile in 48.63 Tuesday over the Belmont dirt training track.
Out of the Seeking the Gold mare Stirring, Impressionist graduated at second asking by 8 1/2-lengths in a six-furlong state-bred maiden special weight contested over a sloppy and sealed main track on January 1 at the Big A.
Atras had initially pointed Impressionist to the $100,000 Gander on February 12 at Aqueduct and subsequently scratched out of an allowance race.
Atras said Impressionist will now try the $100,000 Damon Runyon, a seven-furlong sprint for state-bred sophomores on March 13 at Aqueduct.
“He came up with an abscess so we missed a bit of time with him,” Atras said regarding the scratch. “He’s worked twice since then and he’s pretty much ready to run. We have him nominated for the Runyon, so we’re considering that race.”
Stud El Aguila homebred Eagle in Love overcame a troubled start to graduate on debut by 4 3/4-lengths in a one-turn mile maiden special weight for sophomores on February 3 at the Big A.
Eagle in Love breezed a half-mile in 50.80 February 27 over the Belmont dirt training track with an eye towards Saturday’s Grade 3 Gotham at the Big A, but Atras said he will instead nominate to the Private Terms, a 1 1/16-mile test on March 19 at Laurel Park.
“I breezed him like we were going to run in the race, but I feel it might be a bit much to ask right now. We might look out of town before we run back here,” said Atras, who noted a Laurel Park allowance tilt is also under consideration.
By Dialed In, the bay gelding is out of the 11-time winning Jed Forest mare Mariisima, who was named 2004 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly in her native Panama.
M and A Racing’s Trash Talker earned a career-best 90 Beyer, opening up a two-length lead down the backstretch en route to a 6 1/2-length allowance romp sprinting 6 1/2-furlongs on February 20 at the Big A.
The winning effort came on the heels of a pacesetting second to American Gentleman in a six-furlong allowance on January 8 at Aqueduct.
“He got a little more settled on the front end than the time before,” Atras said. “The distance was a question but with that kind of lead he was able to relax and finish up a little stronger. We were pretty pleased with his effort.”
Atras claimed back the 5-year-old Competitive Edge gelding for $40,000 out of a winning effort in October at Belmont when racing in blinkers for the first time in the care of trainer Linda Rice.
“He seemed to show a little more speed with them and ran a big race that day,” Atras said.
Atras, who is currently second in the Big A winter meet trainer standings with 15 wins, said Trash Talker will return in allowance company.
Aqueduct Racetrack Notes/NYRA Press Office
Photo: Maracuja beats Malathaat to the wire by a head in the Coaching Club American Oaks July 24, 2021 at Saratoga. (Janet Garaguso)
