Liston Returns at Big A

On August 15, 2009 at Saratoga Race Course, Darley Stable’s Liston, a 2-year-old son of Storm Cat, went wire-to-wire to break his maiden at first asking in impressive fashion.

Three weeks later, the Kiaran McLaughlin trainee tried his luck in the Grade 1 Hopeful, but tired to finish eighth after showing brief early speed.

In Wednesday’s eighth race at Aqueduct Racetrack, a six-furlong allowance optional claimer for 3-year-olds, Liston will make his first start of 2010 – his first since an allowance race at Keeneland in October in which he finished first but was later disqualified for a medication violation.

A win could land Liston on the Kentucky Derby Trail.

“If he runs well, we’d love to stretch him out,” McLaughlin said from Florida.  “We nominated to the Triple Crown because he is very well bred and we do want to give him a try going long.”

New York’s leading rider Ramon Dominguez will ride Liston, the 5-2 morning line favorite, from post position No. 4 in the seven horse field.

“He got sick on us after the Keeneland race, he ran a fever,” said McLaughlin, who has won with ten of his 29 starters during Aqueduct’s inner track meet.  “He’s been training very well leading up to this race.”

James Scatuorchio’s Citizen’s Arrest, trained by Todd Pletcher, earned a field-high 87 Beyer Speed Figure in breaking his maiden two races back at Aqueduct, but went on to finish a disappointing fourth last out in the Jimmy Winkfield Stakes at odds of 3-5. 

David Cohen, Aqueduct’s second leading rider, will be aboard the son of More Than Ready as the pair break from post position No. 5.

Black Swan Stable’s Magnification will break from the rail and enters the race of back-to-back victories at six furlongs. 

The Forest Wildcat colt will be making his first start over the inner track after taking a first-level allowance at Penn National last out for trainer David Duggan.

Completing the field are Half Hollow Racing’s Mia’s Angel, James C. Donnan’s Magic Tiger, Pinebloom Stable’s Morning Run, and M and I Cowan Stables LLLP’s Always Mine.

The field for Wednesday’s 8^th race: