Atras Trainees Formidable in Gravesend, Queen's County

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Atras Trainees Formidable in Gravesend, Queen's County
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand
Chateau wins the Tom Fool Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack

After leading for in last month's Fall Highweight (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack before fading to third, Michael Dubb's Chateau  has an opportunity to make amends when he races in the $100,000 Gravesend Stakes there Dec. 19.

The six-furlong Gravesend is co-featured Sunday with the $125,000 Queen's County over 1 1/8 miles. Both races are on dirt.

A 6-1 shot on the morning line, Chateau should drop from that price by post time. Wondrwherecraigis , the 4-5 favorite, will scratch from the Gravesend due to an infection in a foot, Daily Racing Form's David Grening reported.

Chateau is winless in five starts since taking the Tom Fool Handicap (G3) in March at Aqueduct for trainer Rob Atras, though he was competitive in the Fall Highweight, beaten 3 1/2 lengths by victorious Hopeful Treasure .

“He ran a good race last time,” Atras said. “I’m hoping to move forward off that. He likes Aqueduct and he likes those tighter turns, he gets over the surface really well. All of his top races have been at Aqueduct it seems, so we’re hoping that he can do the same as he did last year.”

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Chateau has won five of his 11 races at the Big A, including his lone graded stakes victory in the Tom Fool. Kentucky Carmouche retains the mount from post 6.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen will send out West Point Thoroughbreds and Marvin Delfiner’s Jaxon Traveler  to try and earn the fourth stakes victory of his career. A five-time winner and on the board in all of his 11 starts, Jaxon Traveler was last seen crossing the wire fourth but elevated to third in the Steel Valley Sprint Nov.  22 at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course.

He, like Chateau, prefers to run on or near the lead. He breaks from the fence under Jose Lezcano.

Other entrants in the short field include comebacking Majestic Dunhill , Wendell Fong , and Drafted .

Atras also has two entries in the Queens County in 9-2 shot You're to Blame  and 15-1 Olliemyboy . Both enter the race with recent allowance optional claiming form, with You’re to Blame having the slightly better form, having rallied for third at Churchill Downs last month. Winner of the Greenwood Cup at Parx Racing in 2018, he now races for Michael Dubb and Karen Murphy after claimed for $00,000 at Belmont Park in October.

“I think he likes the mile and an eighth going two turns,” Atras said. “It hits him right between the eyes. Hopefully he runs a good race for us.”

You’re to Blame will break from post 1 with Dylan Davis up.

Olliemyboy, a son of Union Rags   who races for Dennis Narlinger, also comes off a race at Churchill, where he ran fifth Nov. 21 after taking a midstretch lead. He is a three-time winner from 11 starts. He has twice been off the board since joining the Atras stable.

“He had a couple of issues so it took us a while to get started with him,” said Atras. “He lost a shoe in his first race back. In his last race, he was a little too keen and close to the front. He took the lead and only got beat a few lengths.”

Manny Franco will ride from post 4.

Other key entrants include Bourbonic , Empty Tomb , and morning-line favorite Mystic Knight.


Entries: Gravesend S.

Aqueduct Racetrack, Sunday, December 19, 2021, Race 7

  • STK
  • 6f
  • Dirt
  • $100,000
  • 3 yo's & up
  • 3:09 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Jaxon Traveler (MD)Keeneland Sales Graduate Jose Lezcano 122 Steven M. Asmussen 7/2
2 2Majestic Dunhill (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Manuel Franco 120 George Weaver 5/1
3 3Wendell Fong (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Trevor McCarthy 124 Chad Summers 10/1
4 4Drafted (FL) Dylan Davis 120 David P. Duggan 10/1
5 5Wondrwherecraigis (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Luis Saez 126 Brittany T. Russell 4/5
6 6Chateau (KY) Kendrick Carmouche 126 Rob Atras 6/1


Entries: Queens County S.

Aqueduct Racetrack, Sunday, December 19, 2021, Race 8

  • STK
  • 1 1/8m
  • Dirt
  • $125,000
  • 3 yo's & up
  • 3:37 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1You're to Blame (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Dylan Davis 124 Rob Atras 9/2
2 2Backsideofthemoon (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Jose Lezcano 122 Patrick L. Reynolds 6/1
3 3Bourbonic (KY) Kendrick Carmouche 123 Todd A. Pletcher 9/2
4 4Olliemyboy (ON)Keeneland Sales Graduate Manuel Franco 122 Rob Atras 15/1
5 5Shooger Ray Too (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Luis Saez 122 J. Tyler Servis 12/1
6 6Empty Tomb (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Eric Cancel 122 Robert N. Falcone, Jr. 7/2
7 7Bal Harbour (KY) Javier Castellano 122 Gregory D. Sacco 10/1
8 8Mystic Night (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Jose L. Ortiz 122 Chad C. Brown 5/2
9 9Forewarned (OH)Keeneland Sales Graduate Dexter Haddock 124 Uriah St. Lewis 30/1