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New York-bred Senbei looks to double up on stakes scores in Listed Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship

by Keith McCalmont

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Darlene Bilinski’s talented New York-bred Senbei will look to build upon his impressive graded win here last out in Saturday’s Listed $150,000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship, a six-furlong outer turf test for 3-years-old and up, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Christophe Clement, the 5-year-old Candy Ride gelding made the grade with a rallying 1 1/4-length score in the local Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint over course and distance. There, Senbei traveled in fifth position and three lengths off the pace under returning rider Manny Franco as Determined Kingdom zipped through splits of 22.10 seconds and 44.37 over the firm footing under pressure from Nothing Better. Senbei advanced six wide in upper stretch to overtake his rivals, including returning rival Alogon and stop the clock in a swift 1:07.74.

“He had a very good week leading up to his last race. He came from a little bit off the pace, and he showed great determination, especially the last sixteenth of a mile. It was a good effort. I just hope he can duplicate it,” said Clement’s Belmont Park-based assistant Christophe Lorieul.

Senbei [post 9, Manny Franco, 126 pounds] won multiple stakes on dirt early in his career, including state-bred scores as a juvenile in the 2021 Funny Cide presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, New York Breeders’ Futurity and the Notebook. He added the Listed Gold Fever to his ledger in his sophomore debut in May 2022 at Belmont Park. He was transferred to turf after four off-the-board efforts and has shown revitalized form this year with three consecutive Beyer Speed Figures in the 90s led by a career-best 98 last out.

Senbei, bred by Dr. Jerry Bilinski, is out of the winning Western Cat mare Sweet Aloha, making him a half-brother to multiple stakes-winners Filibustin and Indy’s Lady.

Roger Cimbora Jr.’s New York homebred Twenty Six Black [post 3, Ricardo Santana, Jr., 122 pounds] is undefeated in four starts traveling six furlongs on turf, including a perfect 3-for-3 at the Big A.

Trained by Horacio De Paz, the 4-year-old War Dancer gelding’s Aqueduct turf sprint conquests include a second-out graduation last April and an optional-claiming win in May versus fellow state-breds to go along with a rallying open-company score against winners here last out on September 21 that registered a career-best 93 Beyer Speed Figure.

Twenty Six Black, out of the First Dude mare Brazo de Oro, has banked $333,560 through a 10-5-3-1 record.

Colts Neck Stables’ Kentucky homebred Grooms All Bizness [post 8, Dylan Davis, 124 pounds] has won 6-of-15 starts, but has yet to score beyond 5 1/2-furlongs in four attempts.

Trained by Jorge Duarte, Jr., the 5-year-old Fed Biz gelding has posted a trio of five-furlong stakes scores that includes the 2023-24 Get Serious at Monmouth Park as well as the Listed Jim McKay Turf Sprint in May over soft going at Pimlico Race Course.

He was last seen finishing a wide-closing third in the Listed Parx Dash on August 24 won by returning rival Alogon.

Grooms All Bizness is out of the winning Candy Ride mare Bride to Be, a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winner In Lingerie. His third dam is Grade 2 winner Cat Chat.

R.A. Hill Stable and SGV Thoroughbreds’ graded stakes-placed Outlaw Kid [post 5, Flavien Prat, 124 pounds] would appreciate pace to chase.

Trained by George Weaver, the 5-year-old Ontario-bred Violence gelding has demonstrated an affinity for course and distance with a pair of scores against winners that includes a neck victory over multiple graded stakes-winner Big Invasion on July 4 in a course record time of 1:06.73; as well as a third-place effort in the 2022 Carle Place.

The well-traveled dark bay has won the last two runnings of the restricted Vice Regent sprinting five furlongs over the Woodbine turf and was most recently a close fourth there in the Grade 2 Nearctic on October 5 traveling six furlongs over good going.

A half-brother to stakes-winner Babbo, Outlaw Kid is out of the multiple stakes-winning City Zip mare Calling Rhy Rhy, who is a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Bickersons.

A robust overflow field includes multiple graded stakes-placed New York-bred Thin White Duke [post 2, Jose Lezcano, 120 pounds] for trainer David Donk; graded stakes-placed Alogon [post 6, Irad Ortiz, Jr., 124 pounds] for trainer Ned Allard; stakes-placed Shefflin [post 10, Jose Ortiz, 122 pounds], who returns from an eight-month layoff for conditioner William Morey; stakes-placed Jean Valjean [post 4, Julio Hernandez, 124 pounds] for trainer Elizabeth Merryman; stakes-placed Implementation [post 7, Frankie Dettori, 120 pounds] for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr.; and the Tom Morley-trained three-time winner Son of a Birch [post 1, John Velazquez, 122 pounds].

New York-bred stakes-winner Works for Me [post AE11, Irad Ortiz, Jr., 118 pounds] is looking to draw in for trainer Joe Lee; while Sheriff Bianco was entered for the main-track only.

The Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship is slated as Race 8 on Saturday’s 10-race card which also features the Grade 2, $300,000 Red Smith in Race 9 and the Grade 3, $200,000 Hill Prince in Race 5. First post is 11:40 a.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

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