BY BROCK SHERIDAN
One Sharp Cookie, who was unsuccessful in making his stakes debut in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob at Parx Racing in his last race, will try racing on turf for the first time Friday in the $135,000 Carle Place for 3-year-olds going six furlongs at Aqueduct.
Prior to finishing seventh in the Gallant Bob on Sept. 21, One Sharp Cookie had amassed a consistent record of three wins, three seconds and two thirds in nine starts, all on the main track at Gulfstream Park.
He had shown sharp recent form as three of his wins had come in his four races just prior to the Gallant Bob. After winning a maiden special weight against older horses in May, he finished third in his first start against winners in a July 16 allowance race. He bounced back against older horses to win his next two, both sprinting on off tracks in first condition optional claiming races in July and September.
One Sharp Cookie is owned by Daniel Alonso and has earned $143,460. Alonso purchased One Sharp Cookie for $40,000 out of the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale where he was consigned by Top Line Sales. He is a three-time graduate of OBS having sold for $130,000 to Mathis Stable at the 2022 October Yearling Sales where he was consigned by Sweet River Bloodstock. In January of 2022, One Sharp Cooke sold to C – G Stables for $16,000 out of the Stuart Morris consignment.
Jose Lezcano will ride One Sharp Cookie from post three.
Smokey Smokey tries for his second stakes victory on the Aqueduct turf this year after winning the $150,000 Paradise Creek going six furlongs in May.
In two starts since, the Michael Maker-trained son of Mendelssohn was fifth in the Grade 3 Quick Call won by Star of Mystery sprinting on the Saratoga Race Course turf and eighth behind winner Howard Wolowitz in the Grade 1 Aristocrat Franklin-Simpson over the unique turf at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 7.
Smokey Smokey is owned by Pura Vida Investments LLC and looks to improve on his record of two wins, two seconds and a third in 10 starts with earnings of $224,270.
Luis Rivera Jr. will ride Smokey Smokey from the outside post nine.
Another making his first start on grass in the Carle Place is Little Ni for trainer Mark Casse.
Little Ni won his first three career starts then finished second, a nose shy of Book ‘em Danno, in the $110,000 Jersey Shore going six furlongs at Monmouth Park on July 19. He was then off the board in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens won by Domestic Product going seven furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 24.
Little Ni is owned by Boardwalk Racing, KEM Stables, Joseph F. Romano, William J. Belford and David Fishbein and has banked $112,800 from his three wins in five starts with one second.
The son of Mohaymen will be ridden by Dylan Davis and will start from post one.
Rounding out the field are Works for Me and jockey Flavien Prat, John Velazquez will ride Run Carson, Twisted Filigree will have Eric Cancel in the saddle, Ramon Vazquez has the call on Barksdale, Typhoon Fury with Ruben Silvera up and Manny Franco will guide Live High Live Low.
