Gander Drills at Aqueduct for Clark Handicap

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Gatsas Stable's Gander, one of the leading New York-breds in training, breezed five furlongs over Belmont's main track in 1:00 3/5 on Friday.

Gander, who won his second Empire Classic three weeks ago, is to make his next start in Churchill Downs' Clark Handicap (gr. II) Nov. 29. Gander, a Cormorant gelding, finished fifth in the 2001 Clark Handicap.

"He didn't have the best of trips last year," trainer John Terranova said. "He runs his best when he's put into the race early. He's got a good cruising speed and he just grinds it out. He broke bad in the Clark last year and (jockey Jorge) Chavez made a split decision and decided to take back. He can win from off the pace, but he's not as good. Despite all the trouble and the wide trip, we got beat two lengths in there.

"He's pretty confident and has been real focused," Terranova said. "He's also fresher than he's been at this point in other years. He'll get his break after the Clark. Then we'll point to another campaign sometime in the spring."

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