Francesca Le Donne Photo

Gift Box makes return in G3 Discovery

by Najja Thompson

Set to make his first start since a fourth place running in the Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga Race Course this summer, Gift Box will headline a competitive field of 11 in the Grade 3, $150,000 Discovery for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Looking to pick up his first graded stakes win for owner Bill Farish and trainer Chad Brown, the gray or roan son of Twirling Candy made his debut in August 2015 at Saratoga to finish third, before going on to break his maiden over an off track at Belmont in October.

Subsequently making his first graded stakes try in the Grade 2 Remsen, he finished third before returning to start his 3-year-old campaign on May 28 at Belmont, impressively winning an optional-claiming race by 4 ½ lengths. Next out, he finished second in the Curlin before entering the Travers.

Reunited with Javier Castellano, who has been aboard for five out of six starts, the pair will leave from post position 3.

Graded stakes winner Sunny Ridge will look to get back on track for owner Dennis Drazin and trainer Jason Servis. The son of Holy Bull has faced a gauntlet of graded stakes competition since breaking his maiden at Monmouth Park in June of last year.

Beginning his 3-year-old campaign winning the Grade Withers Stakes on January 30 at Aqueduct, he finished fourth in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes before returning to run third this summer in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational on July 31 at Monmouth and last out 11th in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby.

Drawing post 11, Sunny Ridge will be ridden by Manny Franco.

Trainer Christophe Clement will saddle Governor Malibu for owners Jump Sucker Stables' and Oak Bluff Stables. Making his first start against open company since running fifth in the Travers, the son of Malibu Moon went on to pick up a 7 ½ length win in the slop against fellow New York-breds, and most recently ran second facing 3-year-olds and up on October 22 at Belmont Park in the Empire Classic for New York-breds.

With Joe Bravo aboard for the first time, the pair will leave from post 5.

Looking to improve off a third-place running in the G2 Penn Derby, Wild About Deb, for owner Marisa Lizza and trainer Ramon Preciado, earned a career best 96 Beyer Speed Figure in his last start. Wild About Deb will leave from post 9 with Jose Ortiz aboard.

Rounding out the field are Vulcan's Forge for owners Corinne and William Heiligbrodt, and Team Valor and Starlight Racing's Neolithic, both trained by Todd Pletcher; Hot Seat, for Gary and Mary West and trainer Jason Servis who is undefeated in two starts; Stickstatelydude, for trainer Greg Burchell; Hunter O'Riley, for trainer Jimmy Toner and Centennial Farms' Adulator, for trainer Jimmy Jerkens.