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Tabeguache looks to double up on stakes scores in $150K Discovery

by Ryan Martin

Jeff Drown’s Tabeguache will vie for a second straight stakes score when taking on five other sophomores in Friday’s 79th running of the listed $150,000 Discovery going nine furlongs at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Tabeguache enters Friday’s engagement from a tactical score in the St. Louis Derby on August 26 at FanDuel Sports Book and Horse Racing. The Into Mischief bay stalked a close third down the backstretch before collaring his stakes-winning stablemate Slip Mahoney in the stretch drive to win by a head, registering an 89 Beyer Speed Figure. That win came following a pair of two-turn victories at Horseshoe Indianapolis, where he graduated at third asking going one mile and 70 yards before defeating winners at one mile.

Tabeguache has acclimated to his surroundings at trainer Brad Cox’s Belmont Park division, breezing twice over the training track under the watchful eye of Cox’s assistant Dustin Dugas. On Friday, Tabeguache went a half-mile in 49 seconds flat one week after covering the same distance in 50.24.

“He’s been doing well. He’s big horse with nice strides,” Dugas said. “He’s had two nice solid breezes here, nothing overly flashy. He’s done all we’ve asked of him.”

Bred in Kentucky by Kindred Stables, Tabeguache is out of the More Than Ready mare More Mojo, who is a half-sister to stakes winners Praetereo and Simply Spiteful.

Jose Lezcano will pilot Tabeguache from post 6.

Trainer Christophe Clement could send out Robert Evans’ New York homebred Drake’s Passage [post 4, Trevor McCarthy], who is cross entered in Sunday’s $250,000 Empire Classic at Belmont at the Big A.

Clement said he will consult with the owner on whether Drake’s Passage will go in the Empire Classic or the Discovery.

“He’s doing well at the moment, I will speak with Mr. Evans tonight and come up with a decision,” Clement said.

The Tonalist bay was in top form after arising from an eight-moth layoff when he defeated state-bred elders in his 3-year-old debut with an allowance victory on July 3 at Belmont Park. He exited that win to capture the state-bred Albany for sophomores going nine furlongs on August 27 at Saratoga Race Course and was last seen finishing a close third against open allowance company on October 6 at Belmont at the Big A.

Peter Brant’s Army Times [post 1, Fergal Lynch] will try to get back to the win column following a distant sixth in the Grade 3 Smarty Jones on August 22 at Parx Racing for trainer Chad Brown. The Into Mischief bay was a gate-to-wire 6 1/4-length winner of a first level allowance optional claimer in July at Monmouth Park one month after breaking his maiden at second asking over the same track.

Army Times is out of the graded stakes winning Candy Ride mare Paid Up Subscriber, who was purchased for $1.1 million at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton November Sale.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will send out Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Crupi [post 2, Kendrick Carmouche] in attempt of his first stakes triumph.

The son of Curlin graduated at eighth asking on July 7 going two turns at Monmouth Park after finishing behind the likes of eventual graded stakes winners Disarm and Instant Coffee through the maiden ranks. He then defeated winners in an off-the-turf first-level allowance race on August 18 at Saratoga before finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on September 23 at Parx.

Crupi is out of the Malibu Moon mare Don’tforgetaboutme – a half-sister to graded stakes winners Red Ruby and Mo Tom as well as multiple Grade 1-placed Beautician.

DAT Racing Stable’s Dats Mr. Mo [post 5, Xavier Perez] rides a three-race win streak into the Discovery for Mid-Atlantic conditioner John Robb. The son of Uncle Mo was a two time-winner going seven furlongs at Laurel Park this summer before stretching out to two turns at Timonium to dead heat for victory with It’s Sizzling Time in an allowance optional claimer.

Completing the field is Calumet Farm’s Winters Lion [post 3, Vincent Cheminaud], who defeated Drake’s Passage in an open company first level allowance event for trainer Joe Sharp. The Accelerate gray is the most seasoned horse in the field with a 2-2-3 record through 11 lifetime starts, including a third in his 2023 debut in the Texas Turf Mile in January at Sam Houston Race Park.

The Discovery honors Alfred G. Vanderbilt II’s 1935 Horse of the Year, who captured both the Whitney and the Brooklyn for three straight years from 1934-36. Known for carrying as much as 139 pounds, Discovery was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 1969 and is regarded as one of the all-time greatest North American thoroughbreds.

The Discovery is slated as Race 9 on Saturday’s 10-race program, which also features the $150,000 Turnback the Alarm. First post is 12:15 p.m. Eastern.

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

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