Aqueduct: Closer Looks for April 9, 2014

Race 1

Goldstandardlady

Even on the drop last time, the fans didn't bite to the tune of 28-1 and they were dead right; sire was purely a sprinter; dam took 3 stakes, won long, earned over $120K; 2 of 3 siblings won; both won routing including near $150K earner Cardiac Rehab; 4th new pilot takes call; must hustle.

Unafraid

Wide in both races and she may have hated the off going in last; dam was 0 for 9; this is her first to race; back to the original pilot here; could see her at least muddling the pace.

Miss Charlize

Not thrilled with the beat vs. softer and lack of speed a valid concern; stakes placed 3 for 20 dam banked over $150K; 5 of 6 siblings won; several won routing and top kin Rosa Salvaje took a stakes, banked over $200K; 4th new rider takes reins; needs a turn around.

Shewreckstheplace

After 25 attempts, it's just hard to find any upside; mare at least has the 3 races to draw from now; she at least has the 3 races to draw from now; not my kind of play.

Very Precious

She at least appears to prefer going long; the siblings that won were sprint only; 3 clear in last and she got a boost when Keen on Green graduated; race over the surface can't hurt; don't ignore.

Confederate Bay

Three clear in last, she can give you a :45 and change half if in the mood; at least there is route success in the family; style no secret, look for Gomez to send hard again and try to steal it.-Brian Mulligan

Race 3

Very Accomplished

She's in for the optional tag while trying winners for the first time off a much improved second out effort in new shades resulting in the maiden score; while she did show some decent tracking foot in that one and will get some added ground today, don't know that she'll be able to keep up with the early foot in this spot; prefer to limit her use to underneath in this cozy gathering.

Happy Recap

Beaten last out chalk earned a solid number while settling for second money first time over the local main track; filly returns quickly once again as she makes her seventh start of the year and she'll tackle some added real estate here, but she draws inside what looks to be her main pace foe and looms the one to run down.

Bridget Moloney

Returns in less than a week to get back in with statebreds in her first off the barn's claim; she showed solid early foot when shades were added for the turn back in her return to the main track over which she broke her maiden and maybe the draw outside her pace foe helps put her in a tracking spot from which she's scored in the past; contender.

Jazzminegem

Lost her best shot at the break first time out and subsequently proved little threat to one of these but she returned with a better start second out which resulted in a powerful score; filly defeated older in that one and she'll get back in with her peers while tackling winners for the initial time today; with speed signed on and another half panel in front of her it looks like they'll again have her to hold off; one to beat.

Charming Eyes

Took her 7 cracks to break through the maiden ranks and though she earned a career best Beyer in the score, it still came back slower than the rivals she'll catch in here; she does take a decent step up the class ladder after defeating cheap maidens and will need to improve quite a bit to pose any type of repeat threat.-Steve Grabowski

Race 4

Bourbon Therapy

He was a pretty handy winner in his latest and was haltered by Englehart who the past five years has a 21 percent strike rate with claimed horses coming back between 31-60 days; horse he beat two back won a $40K starter race with a 73 Beyer in his next start; anything close to his last two wins this; he's versatile so Ortiz should be able to work out a trip; the obvious pick.

Pacemakestherace

Romped over $10K maidens in Jan. but came back with a couple of dull efforts following a two-month break; easy to forgive him for his latest due to the sloppy conditions but if you toss his win it as been double-digit losses in the rest of his races; looking elsewhere.

Trisha's Trove

No match for the top pick but it was a decent effort in his first start on this circuit and it was also his first start of the year. can see him moving forward with a race under his belt plus his new trainer is off to a solid start at the meet; horse that won his last race at Tampa finished second with a 73 Beyer in the $53K Pasco B stakes; consider for the exotics.

King Kongrats

Lone win came going long but he earned his top Beyer Speed Figure sprinting so he might be okay here; only time he ran for a price he won so he'll appreciate the drop after not making much of an impact in his first try with winners; goes for a new barn and since 2011 his trainer is 1/11 with new shooters; others look more attractive.

Forged

Cuts his price in half after getting waxed in his latest and maybe the sloppy track had something to do with his poor performance; horse that easily handled him Mar. 10 was coming off a second behind the top pick; this guy will need to pick things up to make an impact here.

Pete's Fleet

Looks like the one with the most speed and can see him taking them a long way if he breaks on top; willing to toss his latest as he broke a couple of steps slow and then was stuck behind horses; gets a nice post today and if the top pick gets stuck on the rail he looks like the one with the best chance of pulling off the upset.-Randy Goulding

Race 5

Bear's Spirit

The race he exits is superior with Schoolyard Dreams coming back to Beyer a 94 against 16K starter allowance company; this grey used to have a solid first gear but could not keep pace in his last run; should be on or near the point today and gets weight from the entire field; must break alertly from a tricky post.

Straight Fax

Deceptively good effort in only his second start since last June; he made up 5 lengths in the final furlong when defeated by veteran William Thomas who has 15 career victories; has run well in the past via the third start off the bench angle and his sole try at seven-eighths was against better stock in Florida.

Seeker

The selection based on his perfect record over this main oval and his apparent dislike of the inner dirt surface; both tries at seven furlongs where sharp; he is G2 stakes-placed and some of that class can resurface under the care of this expert trainer.

Chasing Moonlight

Decent even effort last month when claimed but the main drawback is this runner's inability to handle the distance up to now; on the plus side: he could be situated in ideal third position if a duel develops between rivals to his inside; certainly the betting value will be there.

Reserved Quality

Although a mile is not his optimum distance, he made a good bid a week ago before fading in the final yards; needs the middle move to be timed to perfection here in order to have a realistic chance; still in search of his first exacta finish, however, over the Big A main.

I Want You to Know

Tries a sprint setting for only the second time this year; he is a multiple winner at today's distance but both of those victories were against modest stock at Woodbine; must overcome a negative weight shift but his uncoupled mate, Bear's Spirit, may help set the table.

Buckeye Heart

Has chased Chasing Moonlight a couple of times without success; makes his first start for these connections but, like others in the field, has yet to do much serious running over the Aqueduct main oval; downplay chances further if there is an off-track at post time.-Jim Kachulis

Race 6

Shipwrecked

Limited available data on sire with regard to his turf starters and he was two-for-two for 79k during his career, and both of his starts were over turf; dam won once from two starts for 5k, and she didn't make a turf start; he's an unofficial winner and like the early speed has has to employ after breaking out of post one.

Eastcoast Lights

Sire wins with approximately 10% of his turf starters and multiple stakes placed dam won 2 of 5 starts for 87k, and she didn't make a turf start; this gelding is a 1/2 to One Note Samba (5-7, 126k over turf).

Royal Posse

Sire wins with approximately 12% of his turf starters and dam was unraced; it remains to be seen if he can do it over turf, but his form has been strong enough to help give him a competitive look in his grass racing debut.

Gotham Rising

Sire is 0-for-8 with his turf starters, and 0-for-7 with his starters trying turf for the first time, and dam was winless from two starts, including a turf start; turf and distance are concerns, but of the horses in the main body of this race, he sports the best last race Beyer Speed Figure; winner from latest won next out here on 3/21 going 6f vs. 25k N2L claimers with a 70 Beyer.

Tom's Vision

Sire wins with approximately 6% of his turf starters and this is the first foal from a dam who was winless from two starts, and she didn't make a turf start; runner up from latest won next out here on 4/4 going 1m vs. 16k MCL's with a 55 Beyer.

Winnitude

Sire wins with approximately 10% of his turf starters and he's 3-for-63 (5%) with his starters trying turf for the first time, and dam was unraced; he hasn't finished better than eighth from five starts and not sure that the move to turf is going to prove to be a key.

Vagarious

Sire wins with approximately 9% of his turf starters and dam was one-for-one for 9k, and that one start was over turf; this colt is a 1/2 to Grind (3-32, 74k, including 2 of 13 turf starts for 43k); runner up from latest won next out at Aqu on 3/15 going 1 1/16m vs. MSW rivals with a 73 Beyer.

Sugar Gold

His best finish to date is sixth and he's basically been outrun at every point of call in his first six starts; note that he's been beaten by a few of today's rivals in his recent starts.

Born in Brooklyn

Sire wins with approximately 11% of his turf starters and dam was unraced; this gelding is a 1/2 to stakes placed Dreaming of Cara (3-33, 227k, including 1 of 18 turf starts for 84k); he's another who must show more with a move to turf in order to contend.

My Uncle Frank

Sire wins with approximately 11% of his turf starters and dam was winless from five starts, and she didn't make a turf start; this gelding is a 1/2 to Bishop of Nola (7-38, 182k, including 4 of 26 turf starts for 151k); connections will hope for better with a move to turf.

Mineral Water

Sire wins with approximately 19% of his turf starters and dam was winless from five starts, and all of her starts were over turf; she showed a little something in her first two starts and she does have a turf leaning pedigree; Maragh has won with 4 of 11 (36%) mounts for this barn in 2014.

Ride of Your Life

Sire wins with approximately 13% of his turf starters and G3 winning dam won 6 of 15 starts for 272k, including 0-for-1 over turf; the outside post isn't ideal, but he's an interesting option to consider in this spot while going out for a very capable turf barn.

Dreamin of Betty

Half-brother to G1 winner Unbridled Command (6-10, 498k over turf) will boast the best last race Beyer Speed Figure in here if he draws in, and this will have to be considered a favorable spot for this NY-bred to make his first start against statebred competition.

Woke Up Tired

Sire wins with approximately 7% of his turf starters and he's 5-for-137 (4%) with his starters trying turf for the first time, and stakes winning dam won 3 of 9 starts for 209k, including 1 of 3 turf starts for 50k; this colt is a 1/2 to Kettle River (2-10, 58k, including 1-for-1 over turf for 22k).-Brian Pochman

Race 8

Indy Tune

He wasn't much of a threat in his latest but he had a wide trip and the second and third place finishers came right back to win; he was claimed by Nevin who is 7/32 (32%) with newly claimed horses; this guy has had a couple of decent works since he switched barns and his last win came in a one turn mile; interesting.

Mighty One

He was close to 100-1 when he came back from a long layoff in a much tougher spot and he never really got involved; winner of his last start at Suffock won his next race with an 80 Beyer Speed Figure; this guy has been a pretty handy horse there but hasn't hit the board in four starts on this circuit; prefer others.

Papa Tom

His last win was just over a year ago in a $14K optional race on the inner track and he's been a pretty dull horse in all three of his starts this year; latest came just six days ago and the past five years the barn is just 1/20 with horses returning in a week or less; first half of the entry will need to turn things around in a hurry to contend here.

Go Get the Basil

He got off to a terrible start in his latest on the inner track and he won't mind the move back to the main course where he posted an 88 Beyer Speed Figure in a similar race in his final start as a 3-year-old; Violette has solid stats when he brings them back in this time period and with three decent works showing he could be ready for a big effort; if he brings his best stuff he should be right there; the pick.

Giant Finish

He was good enough to finish third in the Grade 3 Spiral but then took the rest of the year off after getting waxed in the Derby and Belmont and he really didn't show much in either of his first two starts this year; easy to forgive his first one back due to the length of the vacation but it would have been nice to see more in his latest; bullet fired April 3 so it is possible he is coming up to a better performance; consider for the exotics.

Joe Mooch

Nice win two back and the third-place finisher came back to win a first-level allowance race for NY-breds with a 74 Beyer Speed Figure; he was in a good spot early when he moved up to this level in his latest but the lone speed ran away and hid and he dropped back; he would need to improve to contend for the top spot here.

Call for the Clock

Comes out of the same race as Joe Mooch and he was sitting just off the winner during the early stages before understandably tiring late in his first start since June 30; the past five years Henning is 9 percent with horses coming back for their second following a layoff but note the solid recent stats (43%) with ones making their second start following a layoff of 180 days or more; nice work April 3 so we're expecting an improved performance; contender.

Warrior Up

All of his wins have come in routes so he won't mind the added distance after finishing last in his latest sprint in a $20K claiming race; just three wins from 39 starts is a concern, though, and his last score came over a year ago in an easier spot, plus he had a lot better form going into the race; looking elsewhere.-Randy Goulding

Race 9

In Speight Ofitall

Has not raced on a fast track in a maiden claimer yet while he figures to save ground behind a hot pace then make one run; field-best Beyer speed figure was accomplished on turf; he is one that is happy to see grass racing starting back up in New York this week; hopes to graduate on dirt today noting he exits a best-last-race Beyer on wet footing; was also entered Thursday in a tougher 40K-maiden claimer at today's-6F distance.

Lightning Ron

Ranked a notch below these off latest loss vs. In Speight Ofitall; the comment line is sluggish and clearly it was his worst performance in 3 races since acquired from the Pletcher barn; his best Beyer was traveling a lot longer on a wet-main track.

Gabriel's Flame

Gets the Prince Raja rematch; is 1-1 vs. that one in last pair; in latest he chased him all the way around the race track but could not get by; his only race on AQU Main represents the 2nd-lowest Beyer of his career; the winner from last repeated with a 69 speed figure.

Prince Raja

Figures to gun from the gate with Political Farce then hopes to hang on late; the winner from last repeated in an AQU-25K claimer with a 69 Beyer; good sign that he owns a career-improving speed figure pattern while 1st Lasix hopes to help him carry his gate speed for as long as he can.

Niki and Dylan

The trainer began the AQU Meet sizzling; was off slowly from the gate in the educational unveiling when overmatched vs. the runner-up finisher who Beyered 74 in a next-out PRX-MSW win; steady worktab off the long absence and obviously would need to be much sharper start from the gate to make any impact here.

Billy the King

Sire is 10-for-89 with 1st-time starters; is out of a 4-for-28 dam (77K) who did not break maiden until start 10; she produced 2-full winners from 2 other foals to race including 65K-earner M P Ruckus (2-for-18, 65K) who did not win until start 12; gives away racing experience to each rival; will be taking a wait and see approach.

Mister Popsicle

Tampa invader with upside for this; did not show much in the debut when outrun throughout but the new trainer is sharp with 1st-time acquistions (4-for-11 since 2013); seeks the right level and goes into a maiden claimer from the MSW level considered to be the biggest class drop in racing; bringing I Ortiz to ride is a good sign winning 25% for the trainer since 2013.

Einstein Affair

Was also entered Thursday in a tougher 40K-maiden claimer at today's-6F distance with coupled entrymate In Speight Ofitall; is the speed half of the entry but has Prince Raja and Political Farce to contend with from the gate for this; view as a pace presence for part

Political Farce

Raced on the lead 3-back and figures as the one to catch here breaking widest; hopes to shake free early from Prince Raja then hold off the closers; good sign that he was bet hard in the 1st start for a new barn then raced well in defeat; his December race over the track was a good one when chasing the winner who repeated in an AQU-20K-claimer with a 74 Beyer.-Art Gropper