More Hundred Acre Takes a Shot in Birdstone
After three straight one-mile races at Parx, More Hundred Acre will navigate an additional six furlongs in Thursday's $100,000 Birdstone for 3-year-olds and up on the main track.
Longest shot on the morning line at 20-1, the 4-year-old Pulpit gelding will break from the far outside post in a field of six headlined by multiple graded stakes-winner and 4-5 program favorite Micromanage.
Also entered in the 1 ¾-mile Birdstone are Slim Shadey (8-1), Irsaal (4-1), Seton Hall (15-1) and Don Dulce (7-2).
"He's doing awesome," said trainer Jena Antonucci of More Hundred Acre, owned by NLG Racing Stable. "We know on paper it's [an] obscure [distance], but since we've taken him off the turf and put him on the dirt, he's a grinder. He just loves to kind of keep on going. It's a good opportunity to try it, so why not? We'll take a shot and see what he's all about."
More Hundred Acre was fourth, beaten 13 ¾ lengths, in his most recent start on a wet-fast track at Parx on July 26. That effort followed a win, two seconds and a third dating back to early March on Aqueduct's inner track.
"It was a funky track," said Antonucci. "It was actually a drying-out track down at Parx and the rider hadn't ridden him before. It was just kind of the whole scenario, so, for us, it ended up being more of a public workout and something we can end up using to prep him more for this spot."
Antonucci hopes to bring multiple graded stakes-placed mare Five Star Momma to Saratoga before the meet ends on September 1. The 5-year-old daughter of Five Star Day, most recently sixth in the Grade 3 Bed o' Roses on June 21 at Belmont, is the 3-1 second choice of 10 horses in a six-furlong optional claiming allowance on Thursday at Gulfstream Park.
"We're working on getting her happy, and her next spot will be up north," said Antonucci. "We're hoping [for Saratoga]. I have something in mind. She's an awesome mare. We just sent her down there for a little confidence boost. We were trying to find her an overnight spot, but she deserved to have an easier spot after campaigning so hard through the winter. We just want to keep her mentally happy and fresh."