American Aviator could find his place among 4YOs

Outgunned by rival Anthony Nunes’ PHENOMENAL POWER last Saturday after a stinging three-timer on New Year’s Day, four-time champion trainer Jason DaCosta’s resumes his assault on the 2026 season with AMERICAN AVIATOR seeking a second career win in Saturday’s ninth event, his first start as a four-year-old.

After debuting as a three-year-old winner at five and a half furlongs last February, United States-bred AMERICAN AVIATOR struggled in back-to-back races, April and May, before going off on a four-month break, resurfacing twice in September as second fiddle to stablemate MISS MONEY PENNY.

Stretched out at middle distances in four subsequent races, AMERICAN AVIATOR either led or disputed, as he did against vastly improved local-bred DON KWESI at seven furlongs on December 6, a run franked by the winner, who returned December 27 to blow away FRED THE MASTER at seven and a half furlongs.

Though seemingly quitting in the lane, AMERICAN AVIATOR gets a pass on the quality of horses, who have beaten him in his last four races, twice losing to MARK MY IDENTITY, who, along with DON KWESI, are strong candidates for Most Improved Local Bred of last season.

AMERICAN AVIATOR had also led and finished fourth behind stablemate, fellow American H TWO O, at seven furlongs in October, a race won in a fast 1:25.3, DON KWESI caught close home after tracking and taking over in a five-furlong split of 59.1.

With stablemates PRINCE ROY and STAR QUEST thrown into the seven-horse field to ensure the racing secretary keeps his hands off the ‘abandoned’ button, AMERICAN AVIATOR should pace the field to death under Tevin Foster at seven furlongs, a furlong shy of a sprint.

Having developed a tardy gate habit, local-bred LOCKDOWN can’t match AMERICAN AVIATOR on the lead, leaving American RALPH’S TREASURE with no faltering speed to close on from off the pace.