John Mb Oconnor News Today

Astronaut, a graded-stakes winner in his only two previous tries at the distance, looks to make it three in a row

The stars aligned for John M. B. O’Connor’s Astronaut to wire a talented field of 12 under expert handling from Kendrick Carmouche in Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Red Smith, a 1 3/8-mile inner turf marathon for 3-year-olds and up, at Aqueduct Racetrack.