Atras send You’re to Blame, Olliemyboy to Queens County

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OZONE PARK, NY – Coach Rob Atras will have two chances to win Queens County on Sunday when he saddles You’re to Blame and Olliemyboy in the $ 125,000 for kids ages 3 and up going to 1 1 / 8 miles above the main track at the Aqueduct Racecourse.

Son of Distorted Humor, 7, who has traveled extensively, You’re to Blame joined the barn of Atras two years ago when he was claimed with a winning effort of $ 80,000 by Michael Dubb and Karen Murphy. Starting his career with Chad Brown, You’re to Blame busted his young daughter in October of his 2-year-old season and won his first ranked bets at 3 when he finished third in the Grade 3 Bay Shore at Aqueduct.

Moving into Todd Pletcher’s barn in late 2017, You’re to Blame scored his only win in the ranked stakes when he won the Greenwood Cup Grade 3 at Parx in a three-game winning campaign in 2018. An allocation victory in April of his 5-year-old season will prove to be his last until his optional win claims two starts back, earning three more spots and a second in the Pimlico Special 2019 Grade. 3 between the two.

Third in her last 1 1/6 mile start at Churchill Downs, the bay was only beaten by two lengths after being delayed by jockey Joel Rosario. Asked by Rosario to take the lead at the top of the stretch, You’re to Blame encountered traffic problems and was knocked down by the Major Fed runner-up on the inside, causing him to lose momentum. Despite the troubles, You’re to Blame stayed on task and finished well to retain the show’s honors.

After splashing around in the marathon division from a start in the Flat Out in Belmont last June, You’re to Blame seemed to like to go back in time this fall.

“I think he likes the mile and an eighth in two turns,” Atras said. “It hits him right between the eyes. I hope he will have a good race for us.

You’re to Blame will break away from post 1 with Dylan Davis in irons.

Olliemyboy, a son of Union Rags raised in Ontario, will make his second start for Atras after joining his barn in August. The 4-year-old’s first departure for his conditioner came after a five-month layoff, finishing fourth in an optional contender on August 30 at Delaware Park where he finished third but failed to threaten and got tired in the stretch.

Fifth in his last start at Churchill Downs on Nov. 21, Dark Bay passed to four in the first turn and in the back stretch while being held back by Ricardo Santana, Jr. Briefly taking the lead at the three-quarter scorer, Olliemyboy a times passed out again in the stretch and was beaten by four lengths.

“He had a few issues so it took us a while to get started with him,” Atras said. “He lost a shoe on his first return run. In his last race he was a little too sharp and close to the front. He took the lead and was only beaten by a few lengths.

A win in Queens County would give Olliemyboy his first stakes win after finishing the table in the Queens Plate at Woodbine last year and in the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic at Fair Grounds this year.

Manny Franco will start from post 4.

Charles Hallas’ Backsideofthemoon will look for another victory in Queens County after winning last year’s edition by six lengths. Trained by Rudy Rodriguez in his win last year, the 9-year-old gelding is now in the care of Patrick Reynolds, who received the gelding in August after finishing sixth in Westchester Grade 3 for conditioner Robert Klesaris.

Backsideofthemoon’s best effort for Reynolds came when he was defeated by You’re to Blame by a header in an optional suitor on October 2 at Belmont. Seated at the back of the field by Tyler Gaffalione, Backsideofthemoon finished fifth as Letmeno led the field for a half mile in 46.77 seconds.

Spurred on by Gaffalione on the turn, Backsideofthemoon took command in the stretch and dug vigorously as You’re to Blame made his final offer to his outside. Finishing three quarters ahead of third-placed First Constitution, Backsideofthemoon lost their advantage in the shadow of the wire and had to settle for second.

With a third and fourth in his last two starts, Backsideofthemoon will be in contention for the No. 9 career victory in Queens County.

Jose Lezcano receives the call to drive from station 2.

Bourbonic, coached by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, is chasing his first win since he upset this year’s Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino in April with a last-to-first win by a head on Dynamic One, giving Pletcher the exacta in this race.

Earning enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby with his Wood Memorial score, Bernardini’s son made the trip to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May and was 13th of 19.

Fifth in grade 1 Belmont next time around, Calumet Farm’s best local breed result this year came when he finished third beaten at just 2 length with another effort out of beat in the grade 3 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer in August. The 3-year-old returned to company grade 1 on his next start and finished fifth in the Pennsylvania Derby.

Fourth in the Discovery last time, Bourbonic covered a half mile in 50.48 on the Belmont dirt practice track on December 12.

Bourbonic will run with the blinders off and the breaks from post 3 with Kendrick Carmouche in place.

Trin-Brook Stables’ Forewarned beat a lot of Ohio breeds when he beat the Mahoning Valley Best of Ohio Endurance two starts back by a comfortable 3 ½ lengths. Coached by Uriah St. Lewis, the son of Flat Out broke second to last in the 12 field and made steady progress under Sonny Leon.

Tucked into the rail on the stretch for the first time, Forewarned began to take down enemies after three quarters in 1: 12.62, crossing the inner path under a strong push from Leon. With the top five runners clustered around the middle of the track at the top of the stretch, Forewarned continued to find room to run along the rail and was flawless at the eighth pole, pulling away sharply to finish the 1¼ miles in 2: 06.73.

Fourth in the Richard W. Small at Laurel last time around, Forewarned made two Big A starts with a fourth in the Bernardini and a fifth in the Cigar Mile in 2019.

Dexter Haddock will start from the outermost station 9.

Shooger Ray Too completes the land for Queens County [Post 5, Luis Saez], Empty tomb [Post 6, Eric Cancel], Bal Harbor [Post 7, Javier Castellano], and Mystical Night [Post 8, Jose Ortiz].

Queens County, named after the political subdivision of Aqueduct Racecourse, is patented Race 8 with a shift time at 3:37 p.m. EST. The first message for Sunday’s nine-race card is 12:20 p.m.

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

NYRA press release

Photo by NYRA

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