BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Arindel’s homebred millionaire Octane makes his first start since October Thursday when the 6-year-old Florida-bred takes on five rivals in an upper level, $100,000 optional claiming during the Belmont at Big A meet at Aqueduct. The Amelia Green trainee is the 2-1 morning line favorite in the seven-furlong contest for 4-year-olds and older competing for the winner’s share of a $92,000 purse.
Octane pushed his career earnings past the seven-figure mark in February of last year with a three-quarters of a length score in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park, carry the co-highweight of 118 pounds including jockey Julien Leparoux. He tracked longshot Promise Keeper throughout the mile-and-a-sixteenth before going to the front at the top of the stretch and holding of favored Magic Tap in second with Notary third.
In May at Gulfstream Park, he also notched a six-and-a-quarter-length tally in the $100,000 Big Drama Handicap while carrying the top assignment of 124 pounds while conceding between four and six pounds to his adversaries.
He finished last year with a disappointing sixth in the $150,000 Gil Campbell Memorial against Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park on Oct. 19, a race in which it was determined later that he bled.
Octane has won nine of 22 career starts with four seconds and a third for earnings of $1,104,155. He is by Arindel’s stallion Brethren out of Star Recruit, by Aldebaran.
The bay gelding will be ridden from post four by Flavien Prat.
The 5-2 second morning line choice is Twenty Four Mamba, who was claimed out of his last two starts.
Trainer Thomas Morley and owner Flying P Stable tagged the 6-year-old gelded son of Classic Empire out of his last race, a head victory in a second level, $62,500 optional claiming going seven furlongs at Aqueduct on April 5. He was also claimed for $62,500 after finishing second to Just Beat the Odds under the same conditions but at six-and-a-half furlongs at Aqueduct on March 9.
Twenty Four Mamba has seven wins, nine seconds and three thirds in 36 starts while earning $541,326.
He will be guided by Ricardo Santana Jr. from post one.
Rounding out the field are Ridgewood Runner and jockey Christopher Elliot, Dylan Davis rides Rotknee, Nelson Avenue has Irad Ortiz Jr. taking the riding assignment and Junior Alvarado will be aboard Nova Rags.
Return to the May 6 issue of Wire to Wire
