By Allan Gray

Will Naughty New Yorker pick up the pieces?

Stuyvesant Handicap (G3) – Aqueduct, New York, Saturday, Nov. 17

Equibase has given this race their “Race of the Week” title and it showcases some old familiar names including Naughty New Yorker. Naughty New Yorker, trained by Pat Kelly, was on the Kentucky Derby trail two years ago with the likes of Barbaro and Bellamy Road .

Naughty New Yorker comes into the Stuyvesant off a rough trip in the Empire Classic Handicap at Belmont where he finished fourth. However, prior to that he won two stakes in a row at Belmont and Saratoga , the Macarthur Handicap and the Saratoga Sunrise Stakes.

His stalking style could come in handy with all of the apparent speed in the race with Awfully Smart, Utopia, and Barcola all running their best races from the front.

Awfully Smart looks to be the speed of the speed. He set his sight on the Stuyvesant with an easy victory in the Stymie Stakes at Delaware Park . He has won five of eight so far this year and finished fourth to Diamond Strips in the grade two Meadowland Cup, a major prep for this year’s Breeders Cup.

Utopia , a recent import from Japan , won his first time out in the US , the grade three Westchester Handicap, beating another former Kentucky Derby campaigner Sun King. Utopia then finished sixth in the Meadowland Cup, but bobbled at the start and did not get a perfect trip.

Barcola is four of nine this year with three stakes wins including a victory in the Kelso Stakes at Delaware Park in his last out. The last time he stepped into graded stakes company he finished a disappointing eighth in the grade three Iselin Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Monmouth Park .

Canada represented in All American Stakes

All American Stakes (G3) – Golden Gate, Saturday, Nov. 17

Amazin Blue and Sir Gallovic fly the maple leaf as they go south from Hastings Park in British Columbia for this stake.

Amazin Blue, winner of the this year’s Alberta Derby at Stampede Park, goes into the All American off a disappointing effort in the British Columbia Breeders’ Cup Derby at Hastings Park. Amazin Blue was a winner at Golden Gate back in April, however, he will have his hands full with this field.

The other Canadian, Sir Gallovic, finished third in the British Columbia Derby then went on to win the grade three Premier Handicap also had Hastings. Trained by Troy Taylor, Sir Gallovic has won four of his last five starts including a win at Belmont Park at the $60K claiming ranks. A good stalking trip might give him a piece of this one.

Buzzard’s Bay finished second in the grade two Californian at Hollywood Park in June and most recently won against allowance company at Santa Anita. Buzzard’s Bay, trained by Ronald Ellis, has put up some huge speed numbers this year and should be the one to catch in this one.

Emerald Downs a hot bed of 2-year-old talent?

Real Quiet Stakes – Hollywood Park, Sunday, Nov. 18

Gallon, from Emerald Downs, ventures south to the California circuit to prove himself. Gallon, trained by Jim Penny, finished second to Smarty Deb (5 th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies) in the Gottstein Futurity at Emerald.

Finishing first or second in all of his five starts, Gallon, a 2-year-old son of Victory Gallop, won his first start away from Emerald Downs at Bay Meadows with optional allowance company on the turf.

Colonel John , trained by Eoin Harty, has not finished worst that second in his two starts at Del Mar and Santa Anita. In his win at Santa Anita in his last out, he looked like he will only get better the longer he runs. He has already beaten Overextended, another contender in this race.

Overextended is looking to regroup after a disappointing seventh place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Monmouth. Having hit a very sloppy track for the first time, he could show a lot more here.