When the horses approached the gate for the fifth race at Aqueduct yesterday, Ocalans Niall and Stephanie Brennan's Indian Soldier had just passed the century mark on the tote board. The reason was obvious - the 3-year-old New York-bred Street Boss gelding had raced twice, at Belmont Park and Aqueduct, and had finished 10th and eighth, beaten a total of 34 lengths.

    Indian Soldier left from the No. 10 post with Gabriel Saez in a 12-horse field racing six furlongs for a purse of $55,000. The break didn't help the gelding's chances; by the way, he went off finally at 104-1.

    Indian Soldier bobbled as the gate opened, was bumped around from both sides, and Saez found himself 10th, 10 1/4 lengths behind, as the field reached the quarter. Indian Soldier was still 8  1/4 lengths behind at the half, and Saez took him six wide on the turn to try to get into contention, and the steed responded. He put it in overdrive down the lane and, although still two lengths behind winner Unstoppable at the wire, he nosed out Saratoga Charlie for the place.

    Here are the vital statistics: Indian Soldier paid $76.50 to place and $29.20 to show. The $2  exacta paid $1,149; the $2 trifecta $10,052; and the $2 superfecta $65,031. No word yet on whether Niall and Stephanie shared any of that bonanza, but we'll find out. They did pick up $11,000 for second having collected all of $538 for Indian Soldier's first two efforts. And, the New York breeder's award - 7.5 % of the purse - came to $4,125. Comedian Yakov Smirnov would have put it proper perspective: "What a country!"       

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