The Big A stewards might want to post a traffic cop at the clubhouse turn for today’s Grade 3, $100,000 Stuyvesant Handicap, which drew a field of eight older horses going a mile-and-an-eighth over what figures to be muddy track.

That’s because six of the eight starters are speedy sorts who do their running on or near the early lead, and they figure to be tightly bunched heading into that first bend. Whichever horse can secure the best position to save ground and dictate the pace owns an advantage.

Classic Endeavor fits the bill. The 6-year-old veteran, who was running for a $35,000 claiming tag early last summer before being claimed for $50,000 by Aqueduct’s leading trainer, Rick Dutrow Jr., on Aug. 1, has won three straight. He breaks from post 1 under Edgar Prado, should own the rail around the first turn and runs well over off-tracks.

“We claimed this horse because he has back class, and he likes Aqueduct,” Dutrow said. In fact, Classic Endeavor defeated the top-class Balto Star here in the 2003 Excelsior Handicap.

“He’s coming into this race in very good shape,” Dutrow added. “I’m more confident for this race than I was for his first race with us [a front-running 11/2-length score Sept. 29 at Belmont], and I was pretty confident then.”

Colita, trained by Todd Pletcher, is the likely favorite for the Stuyvesant, and all eyes will be on his rider, Rafael Bejarano. The nation’s leading rider with 418 victories, Bejarano has left his Kentucky headquarters to ride in New York this winter and the remainder of next year.