Twin Creeks Racing Stables' Kentucky homebred Law Professor drops down from graded company for the April 1 Excelsior Stakes, a $125,000 contest at 1 1/8 miles for older horses at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by Rob Atras, the 5-year-old Constitution gelding captured the off-the-turf 2021 Santa Anita Mathis Mile Stakes (G2) while in the care of Michael McCarthy, who conditioned the horse through his first 10 starts. Since then, he has added two other stakes victories, placed in the Woodward Stakes (G1) last fall behind Life Is Good , and was most recently third in the Feb. 18 Razorback Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park behind subsequent graded winners Last Samurai and West Will Power.
Video: Razorback H. (G3)
Atras said training locally and racing out of his own stall will benefit the sometimes temperamental Law Professor, who he expects will enjoy a prominent trip under jockey Manny Franco.
"He's pretty handy. He can be close to the pace or sit just off of it," Atras said. "I'd like him to get a clean break and let Manny get him into a rhythm. Manny knows the horse well."
Franco, leading rider at the recently concluded Aqueduct winter meet, has the call from post 2.
Other prominent entries include Peter Brant and Robert LaPenta's grade 1-placed and minor stakes winner Miles D, Uriah St. Lewis' graded-placed Ohio-bred Forewarned, and Calumet Farm's 2021 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) winner Bourbonic.
Entries: Excelsior S.
Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, April 1, 2023, Race 8
- STK
- 1 1/8m
- Dirt
- $125,000
- 4 yo's & up
- 5:09 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1Curlin's Wisdom (NY) | Gherson (Jason) Huayas | 118 | Linda Rice | 10/1 |
| 2 | 2Law Professor (KY) | Manuel Franco | 122 | Rob Atras | 7/5 |
| 3 | 3Bourbonic (KY) | Kendrick Carmouche | 118 | Todd A. Pletcher | 4/1 |
| 4 | 4Miles D (KY) | Eric Cancel | 118 | Chad C. Brown | 5/2 |
| 5 | 5Keystone Field (KY) | Jose Lezcano | 118 | Michael J. Maker | 6/1 |
| 6 | 6Forewarned (OH) | Dexter Haddock | 122 | Uriah St. Lewis | 12/1 |
| 7 | 7Portos (KY) | Trevor McCarthy | 118 | Thomas Morley | 20/1 |
