Ostrolenka, Good Luck Gus Rematch in NY Derby

Ostrolenka, two-length winner of the Mike Lee Stakes against fellow state-breds May 25 at Belmont Park, heads a group of seven New York-bred 3-year-olds entered for the $150,000 New York Derby at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack.

The top three finishers from the Mike Lee will meet again in the 1 1/16-mile New York Derby, which shares a card with the $75,000 New York Oaks for 3-year-old New York-bred fillies.

By Musket Man  , 5-2 morning-line favorite Ostrolenka will have the services of Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who heads up to the Farmington, N.Y., track to ride for trainer Todd Pletcher from post 5. He shares highweight assignment of 124 pounds with Chester and Mary Broman's Damage Control.

Ostrolenka, racing for breeder Eric Fein and co-owner Christopher McKenna, was a solid 4 1/2-length allowance winner May 2 at the 1 1/16-mile New York Derby distance before taking the Mike Lee over returning rivals Good Luck Gus and Battle of Evermore. In graded stakes attempts, he finished last of 13 in the Remsen Stakes (gr. II) last November and fifth in an eight-horse field for the Jan. 3 Jerome Stakes (gr. III).

Good Luck Gus, trained by Rudy Rodriguez for Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables, and the Elkstone Group, won the six-furlong New York Breeders' Futurity last October at Finger Lakes by 5 1/4 lengths. The son of Lookin At Lucky   was closing in the seven-furlong Mike Lee but ran out of ground after getting fanned six-wide on the far turn.

A $97,000 purchase for Dubb by bloodstock agent Kim Valerio from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga preferred New York-bred yearling sale, Good Luck Gus also won the Dec. 14 Damon Runyon Stakes at one mile and 70 yards on the inner track at Aqueduct Racetrack to close out his 2-year-old season. Well-rested, he returns for his second start off the layup at 3-1 on the morning line with Ruben Silvera in the irons from the inside as part of a 116-pound assignment.

Battle of Evermore was making his stakes debut in his ninth start for Chad Brown and Doubledown Stables in the Mike Lee, and closed with a good kick to finish third after getting pinched at the break. Jaime Rodriguez rides the Scat Daddy colt from post 4.

Battle of Evermore was a $285,000 purchase by Martin Anthony from the Hartley/De Renzo Thoroughbreds consignment at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co. 2014 selected sale of 2-year-olds in training after selling to Hartley/De Renzo for $165,000 from Dapple Stud at the 2013 OBS August yearling sale.

Damage Control, who won a one-mile allowance event June 4 at Belmont by 2 1/4 lengths on the front end, completes the field along with allowance winner Breakin the Fever and maiden winners Force and Intelligence.

In the New York Oaks, Lady Sheila Stable's Hot City Girl wheels back off a fifth-place finish in the June 27 Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) to take on seven rivals including stakes winner Temper Mint Patty and local allowance winner Shangala.