Aqueduct
Aqueduct: Closer Looks for April 11, 2014
Race 1
| Lasso |
| Not sure what got into him last time, but he has been known to step up with a sharp performance from time-to-time, and this looks like a favorable spot for his first turf start since the end of November; however, this is a high win percentage outfit that really hasn't been getting the job done with recent turf starters, and note the low percentage with horses going dirt-to-turf. |
| Mister Woolman |
| Sire wins with approximately 11% of his turf starters and this is the first foal from an unraced dam; he was last seen earning a career best Beyer Speed Figure, but he has to prove that he can do it over turf, and it isn't like his pedigree is crying out for grass. |
| Kiss of Thunder |
| This barn has gotten off to a fast start at this meeting and this gelding is making his first start for them after being claimed for 20k from his latest race; runner up from latest won next out here on 2/8 going 1m 70y vs. 25k claimers with a 74 Beyer. |
| Papa Freud |
| Don't like to see that he has just a single win next to his name after 21 starts, but he has some solid turf form on his card to look at and he's run well over this turf course in the past; at the very least, he's worthy of consideration underneath in the exotics. |
| Where's Danny (IRE) |
| Both of his wins have been earned racing over dirt and he's winless from 10 turf attempts; he might be able to get himself forwardly placed through the opening stages, but this might prove to be a tough spot for him to get back over turf. |
| Media Kid |
| This colt has a quality turf pedigree and like the idea of him getting back over turf for the first time since his third career start; he's been in good form lately and going to look for him to give a good account of himself against these. |
| Seeking Harmony |
| He was on top of his game when last seen and like to see that his connections gave him the winter off; based on his two most recent races, he has a good feel for this turf course, and as long as Lasso comes back to earth, he'll have a legitimate chance at the top spot. |
| More Hundred Acre |
| There's some legitimate dirt form in this race and this will likely prove to be a tough spot for this gelding to go after his second career win if this race gets taken off the turf; prefer to look toward others. |
| Hoppy Do |
| If he can reproduce one of his better performances he can get himself into the mix against these, but it would have been nice to have seen him show more in his first start after a claim in his latest outing; not willing to count him out of it, but others entice more. - Brian Pochman |
Race 2
| Bambisfrostyracer |
| Must be given legit look on the drop alone; 2 for 11 dam earned nearly $50K; this is her first to race; he was bothered at the break in last and with a clean start it could be a whole new ballgame. |
| You You |
| Far from disgraced in the debut on this surface last year; place and show horses in last both took MSW events next out with 66 and 84 Beyers respectively; Group 3 winning 4 for 12 dam earned less than a grand a start; both siblings won; top kin Oodles of Fun took 6 of 32, banked over $50K; he can be his own worst enemy since he has limited speed; things have to break just right. |
| Spango |
| He had to fight tooth and nail in a solid debut when 4 clear; 2 for 7 dam banked 30 grand; family is solid; all 6 siblings won including 7 for 32 near $180K earner Spanish Luck; D Marleigh Stable was named as owner for the debut and Jacobson went into his own pocket to secure this runner; interesting. |
| Horatio |
| He's brought back a lot of checks, just has not shown that killer instinct; the 3/13 winner repeated here in a $25K N2L spot; racer did hook a freak in last and Castro got a chance to figure out what's under the hood; major player right back and he's due. |
| Ten Year Warranty |
| The drop is logical after a pair of dull efforts; 8 for 32 dam earned over $200K; this is her first to race; in light, decent move last Saturday; would still think long and hard before taking too short a number. |
| Sir Maurice |
| Well beaten the 3 times in for a tag; connections would love to see him start acting like top sibling Breathaway, who banked over $100K; considering the cut back, he could be left with a ton of work to do turning for home. - Brian Mulligan |
Race 4
| Jeter |
| The race 2 back is an illusion because in reality he ran much better than the horses who narrowly defeated him; ignore the last try when he was out of his league while facing very strong open company; returns to the statebred ranks and, if reserved within a few lengths behind battling leaders, should prove a major force in the last yards. |
| Stealth Steed |
| Certainly loves the inner dirt surface but the Big A main track is a new ball game; has fair stalking ability and winning connections, but believe this race does not shape up in his favor; wheels back quickly and may be an underlay at post time. |
| Stopthefever |
| A fine try at huge odds last month; the trouble today is that the early fractions will likely be far more intense and that will likely prove his undoing; cannot vote as an exacta player with so many rivals shooting for the lead this afternoon. |
| Sportswriter |
| Although he has been shut out during the last 2 seasons, he is a fairly reliable rallier and should be a late factor today; changed running styles in the last go when left with an unchallenged lead; worth some exotic wagering inclusion unless an off-track is the case at post time. |
| Lucci the Lion |
| Clearly beaten by some of these same rivals recently and his overall Beyers come up short in comparison; last appearance over the Big A main was a respectable third but against far softer company; does not seem ideally positioned here. |
| Southbeachsandy |
| Makes his first start for the new connections but his blank exacta record over this main track is hard to overlook; did have legit excuse in the last showing at a mile but a winning turnback against the likes of these may prove too much of a challenge; pass until further notice. |
| Won Great Classic |
| Veteran gelding is one of the better New York breds at this level and has ultra-consistent rallying gear; must tote 123 pounds for the first known time but if he receives the same type of set-up as was the case just over a month ago, he will prove tough; today's pace figures to be quite different, however. |
| Dr Disco |
| At one time, he was regarded as one of the quicker statebred sprinters but he has been in a profound losing streak; did flash a bit of his old self in the last pacesetting try and he is a curious longshot play if one of the other front-running types happens to scratch today; do not overlook if that is the case. |
| Say Mr. Sandman |
| Finished well but belatedly in the last effort nearly 2 months ago; continues the theme of this race, however, as a runner who definitely prefers the inner dirt surface over the main; will be hard-pressed to avoid another extra-wide trip and may have to settle for minor spoils. - Jim Kachulis |
Race 6
| Fizzy Pink (GB) |
| Sire wins with approximately 16% of his turf starters and dam was winless from two starts racing overseas; it looks like she ran well against nine rivals in her career debut over a synthetic surface, and now she's making her turf debut in her first start in America for one of the sharpest turf outfits around. |
| Giantess |
| Sire wins with approximately 15% of his turf starters and this is the first foal from a dam who won 2 of 11 starts for 59k, including 0-for-6 over turf; she hasn't shown much in her first two starts but maybe the move to turf can prove to be a key for this daughter of Giant's Causeway. |
| Pitched |
| Sire wins with approximately 13% of his turf starters and dam was unraced; turf is a question but like to see the improved performance in her first route attempt in her latest outing, and her most recent workout looks improved. |
| Means Well |
| Based on the wagering support she attracted in her career debut, she didn't show us her best, and she's out of a multiple graded stakes winning dam who won 7 of 20 starts for 425k, including 0-for-1 over turf; this filly is a full to No Splits (2-14, 78k, including 2 of 8 turf starts for 59k); winner from latest won next out at Lrl on 10/25 going 1m over turf vs. 40k OPC's with a 62 Beyer. |
| Angel Choir |
| Limited available data on unraced sire with regard to his turf starters and G3 stakes placed dam won 5 of 22 starts for 152k, including 4 of 15 turf starts for 134k; this miss is a 1/2 to G2 stakes placed Quail Hill (4-31, 173k, including 3 of 17 turf starts for 94k); Ortiz is two-for-two riding for this barn in 2014. |
| Ka Buki Rose |
| Sire wins with approximately 15% of his turf starters and dam won 3 of 14 starts for 109k, including 0-for-1 over turf; this filly is a 1/2 to Sunset Time (3-15, 106k, including 2 of 8 turf starts for 65k); obviously she's going to need to show up with a much improved performance in her turf debut in order to contend. |
| Truly Mizzed |
| She ran well in her first two career starts over turf and she has to be respected as a top contender against these based on the strength of those two performances; runner up from latest won next out here on 2/28 going 1m 70y vs. MSW rivals with a 67 Beyer. |
| Hope Rules |
| Half-sister to Rollingwiththetide (1-3, 57k over turf) showed a little something in her career debut over turf and this looks like a decent spot to give her another turf try; after a quiet 2013 this barn is off to a strong start this year. |
| Caterwaul |
| She has a strong pedigree for turf and note the success this barn has been having with horses making their first start with Lasix; she's out of a G3 winning dam who won 5 of 13 starts for 253k, including 2 of 5 turf starts for 109k; third-place finisher from latest won next out here on 2/8 going 1m vs. MSW rivals with a 61 Beyer. |
| Julie Napp |
| Sire wins with approximately 12% of his turf starters and this is the first foal form a G3 winning dam who won 2 of 10 starts for 149k, and she didn't make a turf start; perhaps the move to turf can help this miss. |
| Predicate |
| It's fair to question most of the dirt form that is lined up in this race and this filly might be a tough one to keep out of the mix if this race has to be taken off the turf; third-place finisher from latest won next out at GP on 3/15 going 6 1/2f vs. MSW rivals with an 80 Beyer. |
| Make It Anywhere |
| This filly has a bit of quality to her pedigree, and if she runs the way she did over dirt at second asking, she'll likely leave this field behind to battle it out over the place prize; obvious threat if she gets to go in this spot. |
| Costela |
| Darley-homebred is out of a multiple G1 winning dam who won 13 of 28 starts for $1.5 million, but she's clearly going to have to find a way to produce a much improved performance in order to have a say in the outcome. - Steve Grabowski |
Race 7
| Haldane |
| First part of the coupling gets back in with statebreds while cutting back off a troubled run in her return to the local main track; mare ran well over the inner this winter, earning numbers that play out quite well in this spot; there's not a lot of lick signed and her lack of early interest doesn't help, but she does figure to offer a solid kick in the lane; contender. |
| Little Miss Lupe |
| Strong bias aided her front running upset score earlier in the month and now she'll take the next step up the class ladder; there's not a lot of speed in here so she figures to be firing from this inside starting slot, but let's see her prove it over a track that's been playing much more fairly since her last; have to side against the repeat. |
| Spinit to Winit |
| She's another stepping up while making her return to the main track; her positional foot can help, but the fresh score came back light on the figure scale compared to what some of these regularly run; have to look at others on the win end. |
| Pennymine |
| Maybe moving out into the track a bit will help this gal secure a clean run after traffic issues plagued her last couple of starts; she ran big over the local main track in the fall so the switch to it could also help her move forward today; she'll need to turn the tables on several of these, but the price will be right to give her a good look in this spot; consider. |
| Run a Dubb Dubb |
| Enters this off 3 straight upset scores over the inner including her last 2 at this level; she owns a score over the local main track so the move to this strip shouldn't impact her much and her current form is too sharp to look past; they'll again have her to beat. |
| Bird House |
| Had some trouble early from the rail draw but just missed getting to the winner in her return from 3 months on the shelf; expect she'll be better with that one behind her and she likes the local main track; she'll pick up some weight, but a clean run looks to make her a big threat to turn the tables on the gal drawn to her immediate inside here. |
| Irish Whisper |
| Just missed getting to a couple of these after making 2 moves in her inner track finale last month; she's quick enough to secure a good spot from the bell and has only run a handful of times so a move forward is far from out of the question; worth a good look. |
| Irish Sweepstakes |
| Sophomore tries older for the first time after getting her neck down to score in her return from half a year on the shelf; filly has had plenty of time to get over the effort and though she tackles a better bunch than she's used to facing, she's another lightly raced lass who could well move forward in a big way. |
| Guyana Princess |
| Other half of the entry steps back in with statebreds for her first off the claim by an outfit that's been all around the money at the stand; she's earned 4 straight minor awards as well, but she's consistently run several lengths slower than the bigger gals in here of late and doesn't look to be a huge threat on the win end. - Art Gropper |
Race 9
| Madison V. |
| The usual strong combination of factors, the drop to the lowest level and third start back angle, may prove insufficient in this case; she has yet to earn an exacta finish although she did face a good group in her sole appearance over the Big A main. |
| Patriot's Jewel |
| Has suffered through some difficult trips in recent starts yet she has improved steadily on the Beyer scale; draws a comfortable post and could sneak into the lower portions of your exotic wagering approach at a square price. |
| Eva Lil |
| Outside of that decent showing 3 starts back, the mare has not done any serious running; cannot see her as a true exacta candidate regardless of how the pace unfolds or the condition of the track at post time. |
| Sugeily |
| Shows a poor record thus far regardless of the distance involved; gets in very light but that will not likely affect the outcome; cannot recommend until some real racing enthusiasm is displayed. |
| You Take the Cake |
| Finished well under Maragh last month and he has extensive experience aboard this one-run filly; one of her better races was in early December, her last attempt over this main oval; will have to find a clear rallying seam in a large field. |
| Not a Word |
| Game in defeat first time out and she is in the hands of a red-hot trainer; excellent half-mile breeze 4 days ago is just another plus; her sire won the G1 Suburban and 976K; the dam won 1 of 2 and 23K; winning sibs include 118K earner Candleabra. |
| Lady C Note |
| Raced evenly in the last pair of routes and those efforts could provide ideal foundation for this turnback; in the last try, the filly middle moved into surprisingly strong fractions for the class involved; playable. |
| Backyard Birdie |
| Scheduled to get rid of the blinkers after never firing in her last appearance; got away with soft fractions 2 back at Laurel yet still was not good enough; on the plus side is a vastly improved training track breeze turned in only 6 days ago. |
| Chichita |
| Offspring of Eddington, who won a G1 and 1.21 million, have scored in 11 percent of their debuts; the dam involved was zero for 12; this is her only foal to make it to the starting gate; training track regimen is ordinary. |
| Gold Potion |
| Beaten favorite rallied fairly well off pedestrian fractions in her last assignment; faces the same type, if not a weaker, field for today's assignment and should be able to stalk effectively; will be unappealing odds once again, however. |
| Taylornator |
| Woke up in her Big A main track debut when re-rallying late to capture the show; faces several professional maidens today and has to be respected in light of the latest upgrade; outermost post not the major concern. - Jim Kachulis |