Race Details
- Venue Location: Aqueduct Racetrack, 110-00 Rockaway Blvd, South Ozone Park, Queens, New York 11420.
Post Time is scheduled for 4:13 p.m. ET (First post at 12:40 p.m. ET; races spaced approximately 30-35 minutes apart).
- Race Conditions: $135,000 purse, 7 furlongs on dirt, restricted to 4-year-olds and upward foaled in New York State and approved by the New York State-Bred Registry. Lasix not allowed within 48 hours of post time. Weights: 123 lbs, with allowances for non-winners of a sweepstakes in 2025-26 (2 lbs) or three races other than maiden/claiming/starter (4 lbs). Closed with 19 nominations; a trophy to the winning owner.
- Expected Weather Conditions: Partly cloudy with a high of 39°F and low of 28°F. Winds SW at 6-9 mph, 50% chance of light precipitation (possible rain or flurries), humidity around 50%, pressure 30 inHg. Sunrise at 6:50 a.m., sunset at 5:29 p.m. Mild winter conditions, but any precip could affect the track.
- Track Conditions: Dirt track expected to be Fast if dry, but could turn Good or Sloppy with precipitation. Aqueduct’s winter dirt favors early speed (60% wire-to-wire winners in similar stakes), though contested paces benefit stalkers and closers in 7-furlong events.
The Say Florida Sandy Stakes honors the legendary New York-bred horse Say Florida Sandy (1994-2018), a multiple graded stakes winner with 33 victories from 98 starts and over $2 million in earnings. This $135,000 sprint for older NY-breds features a competitive field of seven, with a projected fast pace set by speedsters like Acoustic Ave and Quick to Accuse, potentially setting up for closers such as The Wine Steward. As the featured event on a card including the East View and Damon Runyon, it serves as a key prep for open-company sprints or graded stakes.
Field Analysis
Below is a detailed breakdown of each horse, including starting position (post), jockey, trainer, recent finishes (last three starts with positions, dates, and Beyer speed figures where available), pedigree notes, and performance analysis.
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Est. ML Odds | Recent Finishes (Position/Date/Beyer Fig) | Analysis |
| 1 | General Banker (NY) | Ruben Silvera | James W. Ferraro | 10-1 | 4th (Jan 23, 2026, AQU Claiming/85), 3rd (Dec 27, 2025, AQU Allowance/90), 1st (Mar 8, 2025, AQU Allowance/92) | Veteran closer with inside speed bias; Silvera (15% wins) rides for Ferraro (local specialist). Pedigree (Central Banker – Elusive Jozi by Johannesburg) suits dirt sprints; consistent board hitter (stakes-placed as 3YO). Rail post aids stalking; upset chance if pace collapses. Owners: Seacoast Thoroughbreds of N.E. Breeder: Seacoast Thoroughbreds of New England. |
| 2 | Acoustic Ave (NY) | Jose Lezcano | Linda Rice | 3-1 | 1st (Jan 23, 2026, AQU Optional Claiming/97), 2nd (Oct 2025, AQU Optional Claiming/100), 1st (Jul 2025, SAR Allowance/95) | Speed demon in peak form; Lezcano (18% wins) for Rice (22% at AQU). Pedigree (Maclean’s Music – Rock Ave. Road by Street Boss) favors front-running; career-high figs recently. Post 2 allows early lead; tough if uncontested. Owners: A. Bianco Holding Limited. Breeder: Chester & Mary Broman. |
| 3 | National Identity (NY) | Kendrick Carmouche | Danny Gargan | 5-1 | 1st (Jan 4, 2026, AQU Allowance/81), 1st (Oct 27, 2025, AQU Sleepy Hollow S./90 est.), 2nd (Oct 2025, BAQ Bongard S./85) | Rising star with stakes experience; Carmouche (20% wins) for Gargan (stakes success). Pedigree (Solomini – Cheyenne Autumn by Indian Charlie) adds class; recent wins show maturity. Mid-pack style; value in exotics. Owners: Reeves Thoroughbred Racing. Breeder: Hunter Valley Farm. |
| 4 | El Grande O (NY) | Sahin Civaci | Linda Rice | 4-1 | 2nd (Dec 28, 2025, AQU Alex M. Robb S./95 est.), 1st (Oct 2025, AQU Optional Claiming/100), 3rd (Dec 6, 2025, AQU Elite Power S./92) | Versatile veteran; Civaci (hot form) for Rice again. Pedigree (Take Charge Indy – Rainbow’s Song by Unbridled’s Song) suits distance; scratched Jan 23 but sharp in prior. Tactical speed; strong contender. Owners: Barry K. Schwartz. Breeder: Stonewall Farm. |
| 5 | Quick to Accuse (NY) | Jaime Rodriguez | Panagiotis A. Synnefias | 8-1 | 2nd (Dec 26, 2025, AQU Allowance/85), 1st (Aug 23, 2025, DEL Allowance/90), 1st (Jun 2025, DEL Stakes/88 est.) | Front-runner with upside; Rodriguez (aggressive) for Synnefias (underrated). Pedigree (Accelerate – Speightful Affair by Speightstown) favors sprints; consistent winner. Post 5 for clear trip; longshot appeal. Owners: PlayingTheField Racing et al. Breeder: Chester & Mary Broman. |
| 6 | Dr. Kraft (NY) | Manuel Franco | Ilkay Kantarmaci | 6-1 | 4th (Jan 11, 2026, AQU Claiming/93), 1st (Nov 2025, BAQ Allowance/95 est.), 1st (Oct 2025, AQU Stakes/92) | Steady performer; Franco (22% wins) for Kantarmaci (stakes hits). Pedigree (The Lieutenant – Princess Consort by Dixieland Band) adds stamina; recent figs competitive. Closer; benefits from pace. Owners: Kantarmaci et al. Breeder: Sequel Stallions NY. equibase.com +2 |
| 7 | The Wine Steward (NY) | Ricardo Santana Jr. | Michael J. Maker | 2-1 | 1st (Nov 27, 2025, BAQ Allowance/95), 1st (Oct 2025, BAQ Stakes/100 est.), 2nd (Jul 31, 2025, SAR John Morrissey S./98) | Class dropper with top figs; Santana Jr. (16% wins) for Maker (stakes expert). Pedigree (Vino Rosso – Call to Service by To Honor and Serve) from strong family; G1-placed as 3YO. Outside post for rally; morning-line favorite. |
Series History
- All-Time: The Say Florida Sandy Stakes, in its 9th running, honors the durable NY-bred who won 33 races, including multiple graded stakes. Past winners include upsets like Sheriff Bianco (2025 at 14-1).
- Recent Trends: Favorites win 50% (4 of last 8), but longshots hit the board often (average exacta $60). Speed holds in 55% of 7-furlong NY-bred stakes at AQU, with closers thriving in contested paces (65% exotics).
