Count Fleet Stakes set for Saturday

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Ozone Park, NY (Sports Network) - Seven possible Kentucky Derby contenders have been entered in Saturday's $150,000 Count Fleet Stakes at Aqueduct. The mile and 70 yard race is the first of New York's preps leading to the Wood Memorial in April.

Alpha, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, will carry the Godolphin Racing banner in the Count Fleet. The three-year-old colt will start from post five with Ramon Dominguez getting the mount.

Second to Union Rags in the Champagne, Alpha was 11th in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile won by Hansen with Union Rags second. With one win in three starts Alpha has banked $90,000.

The front running Il Villano will break from the rail with Jose Flores riding. The colt is trained by Susan Crowell for Chuck Russo.

Il Villano won the Lord Henribee Stakes at Aqueduct in November and the following month captured the Southampton Stakes at Parx Racing. He has three wins in four starts for $125,300.

Here is the full field for the Count Fleet in post position order: Il Villano, Jose Flores; How Do I Win, Cornelio Velasquez; Whistleblower, Ariel Smith; Stephanoatsee, Junior Alvarado; Alpha, Ramon Dominguez; Speightscity, David Cohen and Shkspeare Shaliyah, Jose Valdivia Jr.

Post-time on Saturday will be 3:37 p.m. (et).