Rift Wins-Arch Traveler 2nd & Simba’s Story 3rd In First Career Starts
It has been a while since I did a First-Time Starter Alert, but here it is.
Race 5 at Aqueduct (2:20ET) on December 11, 2025 is a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds going 6 furlongs on Aqueduct’s inner track.
Simba’s Story will debut for trainer Todd Pletcher (20% first-time starter win %). Johnny Velasquez gets the call to ride. Simba’s Story is a homebred son of the super sire Elusive Quality. His dam is Feline Story—Tale of the Cat. This will be her second runner. Her first and only runner to date was Feline Delite, who only raced once. Simba’s Story has been working sharply over at Belmont, and on Belmont’s training track. He has 12 works in all listed since August 24. He does have a gap between September 20-October 24. He has since returned from that break and has had a string of sharp 5 furlong drills, including his last on December 5 was a smoking 5 furlong handily in 1:00 flat over Belmont Park’s training track. It was the fastest work of the day recorded at the distance. Simba’s Story looks ready to come out of the gate running in his first crack at it. He will look to score in his debut.
Arch Traveler debuts for trainer James Jerkens (15% first-time starter %). He is a son of Sky Mesa. His dam is Mettle—Silver Deputy. This will be her 4th runner. She has another one that has yet to race. Her other 3 runners have all won. He is a full brother to a horse named Brady Blue Eyes (7-2-2-0 $96,260). Arch Traveler was a $260,000 purchase in the Keeneland09 September sale. Arch Traveler is trained by James Jerkens and will be ridden by Jose Lezcano. Arch Traveler has shown ability in the mornings. He sports solid back-to-back works on Novemer 19 & November 27. The one on the 19th was a sharp 5 furlong handily in 1:00. The one on the 27th was an impressive 4 furlong handily in a sharp :47 from the gate. It was the fastest recorded work out of 76 that day at the distance. In all, Arch Traveler has 12 listed workouts. He does have a mini gap in works from September 1-September 29. However his recent works indicate he is a horse that is ready to run a good one at first asking.
He’s In the Bag ships up from Maryland for trainer Michael Trombetta (25% first-time starter %) to make his debut. Jockey Julian Pimentel also will make the trip. He’s in the Bag is a gray/roan homebred son of the great Holy Bull. His dam is Bag Lady Jane—Devil’s Bag. This will be only her second runner. Champagne Dream (12-2-2-4 $104,254). She has dropped 6 foals. The four others never made it to the track. He’s in the Bag has been drilling nicely in the mornngs at Laurel. His last was quick 3 furlong gate breeze in :36. Before that he has had three 5 furlong breezes in the 1:01-1:02 range. One was from the gate. He will break from the outside. Michael Trombetta is to be respected when shipping a horse up from Maryland. The board could offer hints. He also has 12 listed workouts. All three of these particular first-timers are trained by guys who have had success first out with their horses. (Pressed Pace, Fell Back To Finish 7th In Debut)
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There is another firster in here for Nick Zito. Nick Zito actually has two firsters. The gelding Rum Row, and Whowonit. Rum Row’s sire is Broken Vow. Rum Row’s dam is Pretty Sweet—Fusaichi Pegasus. This will be her 2nd runner. Her other runner was Chairman Tucker, who had a successful, but short career (9-4-3-0 $111,710). Rum Row has a sharp 4 furlong breeze in :47 on December 3. And his four works before that were all 4 furlong breezes in the :48 range. The rail is not always the best place for a firster to break, but this guy has shown some pop in the mornings. Whowonit’s sire is Whywhywhy. He has been working ok in the mornings, but does not stand out as much as some of the other firsters in here. Nick Zito has not been as successful in scoring first out as the above trainers mentioned, but is capable with a good one (6% first-time starter %).
*Watch for possible scratches here as well.
Of the horses who have raced, Rift & Five Sigma Event look to be the horses to beat, along with Kelly Breen’s entry of Galaxy Kat & Golden Temple. Rift will be the possible post time favorite. Rift has plenty of speed, and should get right out. Rift will be making his 3rd career start after finishing 2nd in his two other starts. He comes in with two sharp drills. Five Sigma Event should be close to him. Five Sigma Day ran a superb race first out. He was 4th to a hot firster Lauburu. Two sharp breezes since that. Juddmonte’s Heat Shield ran a respectable closing 5th. He was only one length behind Five Sigma Day in that race. He ripped a strong work on November 30. He is eligible to improve. The firsters will have to show some ability at first asking to beat Rift & Five Sigma Day.
(Golden Temple & Rum Row Scratched)
*Sad news. Ed Fountaine reported in Monday’s New York Post (Through The Binocs) that first time starter Rum Row dumped his rider and ran off onto the outer main track at Aqueduct, where he slipped and fell down, suffering a fatal fracture to his upper right leg.
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