Sciacca searching stakes menu for Chowda
Eddie F's Racing's Chowda, last-out winner of the Gande on February 16 at the Big A, has posted four strong breezes at Saratoga this summer, including a six-furlong effort in 1:14.15 on the dirt training track on August 10.
Trainer Gary Sciacca said the 3-year-old Emcee colt, bred in New York by Fedwell Farm, is training well toward his return to action.
"He had a little flake in the knee and we took it out and he's doing well now. He worked well the other day," said Sciacca. "We'll see how he breezes next time before we make a decision on his next start."
A maiden winner at third asking in November at Aqueduct, Chowda entered his Gander score from a neck victory in a restricted optional-claiming mile on January 17 at the Ozone Park oval. The NYSSS Times Square, a 6 ½-furlong main track sprint slated for August 27, is a possible return spot for the dark bay.
Sciacca has a pair of promising New York-bred 2-year-olds in the barn working towards their debut in Crock of Gold and Forty Two Ace.
Crock of Gold, a chestnut son of Mission Impazible, was purchased for $55,000 at the Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Preferred New York Bred Yearling Sale.
Sciacca said Crock of Gold, who has four works at the Spa under his belt, including a quick half-mile in 47.88 on August 9, is nearly ready to race.
Forty Two Ace, a bay son of Goldencents purchased for $50,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale, is targeting a debut at the beginning of September. Out of the Speightstown mare Cinderella's Wish, Forty Two Ace worked five-eighths from the gate in 1:02.12 Friday morning on the main track.
Owned by Hall of Fame football coach Bill Parcells, a two-time Super Bowl-winner with the New York Giants, Sciacca said Forty Two Ace's name came straight out of the coach's playbook.
"They had a play called 'H Forty Two Ace' which was the halfback draw for the Giants. We just dropped the 'H'," said Sciacca. "He's pretty quick. He broke a little slow out of the gate today but we've got time to work on it before he starts."