Aqueduct
Aqueduct: Closer Looks for December 27, 2013
Race 1
| Starkers |
| Solid-2nd-time out Beyer speed figure improvement; her debut near-miss finish looks better since the show runner took a PRX-MSW event next out with a 45 Beyer; moves all the way inside after 2 outside draws; some inexperienced runners have a tricky time breaking from the rail. |
| Di Lissa |
| Sire is 105-for-727 with 1st-time starters; is out of 3-for-22 dam (28K) who produced 6 winners from 8 other foals to race including 326K-earner Malibu Artiste (13-for-32); latest-workout was her best ever; 34%-winning maiden-claiming trainer adds to the appeal that she will fire strongly at 1st asking. |
| Skinny Margarita |
| Great sign that her 1st race off the claim is a career-best Beyer; was last at the 1st call after bumped at the start but rallied nicely at longer; her gate issues are the main concern cutting back in distance; hopes to stalk Miss Livona rather than be too far back early. |
| Miss Livona |
| Projects to own the best-gate speed in this event but stamina has been a question mark; not easy to get exicted off latest dueled-into-defeat at longer running line; lone show finish was sprinting so the cutback in distance adds to the appeal; has something to prove on dirt but deserves a 2nd chance on a fast oval. |
| I'm Smokin Hot |
| Mild rally off the 71-day layoff; her field-best Beyer on grass 2-back; she hasn't been on dirt since the bet last-place finish on a wet-main track vs. the winner who repeated with a 70 Beyer in a PEN alw.; deserves a chance on fast footing; the show runner from last Beyered 59 in her next-out AQU-35K-maiden claiming win. |
| Iratinelexburance |
| Late runner cuts back to 6F after rallying at 8.5F; was overmatched 2 back vs. the winner and runner-up finishers next-out 81-77 Beyer winners scoring in AQU-MSW and OPC wins; her Feb. dirt loss was vs. the winner who repeated with an 81 Beyer taking an AQU-OPC. - Art Gropper |
Race 2
| Expression |
| Respect this true horse for the course; don't be too harsh about last as she may have just hated the sealed muddy strip; 10/17 winner repeated in a $100K stakes with a 95 Beyer and the place horse in last cashed next out in a $16K optional with a 90 Beyer; trainer had had good success at this meet in the past; don't ignore. |
| D'princess |
| These are her friends; love fact she has speed but she can sit just off the pace and prevail too; 9/26 winner repeated in a $95K stakes, then won a $150K Penn National stakes with an 83 Beyer on 11/27; repeat well within the realm. |
| Nicole's Miss El |
| A distant second in the best try on this surface but it was a stakes; Mom s Law exited the FL finale to win and run a distant third in allowance company; been a long time between drinks; looking elsewhere for a key top horse. |
| Trail Walker |
| Can ' fault those that are a bit gun shy as she has failed the last 3 times she went chalk; must respect her consistency and toss the CD races and the form brightens a bit; miss was over 3 clear last time; pushed along in last, may be best settling and making the one run; must be left in the hopper. |
| Petit Trianon |
| Proven sprinting, proven fresh and she exits the best race; 5/17 winner took the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks next out; first time for sale, you would figure it to be an all out go; considering she is fresh, would expect her to be fairly keen to run early; toss anything from a 24% barn at own risk. - Brian Mulligan |
Race 3
| Merry Meadow |
| Got her neck down at odds on over the main track last time and now she'll try restricted stakes foes in her return to the inner; filly has the early foot to mix it up from the bell from this inside draw and she's run fast enough since exiting the maiden ranks this summer to win this; looks like they'll have her to beat. |
| Vicki's Dancer |
| New York bred tries open company while cutting back a panel after getting up to beat fellow statebreds in the main track stake; she advanced through her conditions over the inner earlier in the year so the return to this strip should help, but while she's run well at this 6 panel trip, the speed may be able to get away from her in this heat. |
| Conkate |
| New face ships in from California to make her first start off this outfit's claim; she handled dirt just fine out West, but this 4 year old doesn't have much early foot and though her better numbers are certainly good enough, she may find herself with some work to do late on the cut back today; consider. |
| Madre Ditutticapi |
| Just missed getting up after breaking slowly from the fence when in against cheaper on the main track; maybe the move to the middle of the track helps her get back on track early but she just doesn't look to be good enough to go with the bigger gals in here; have to pass on her. |
| Galloping Giraffe |
| She knows one way to run and that's dropping to the back of the pack before unleashing her late kick; outfit does nice work with its turn backs, but even with some speed signed on for this 6 panels may prove too short for this gal's best; barn has had a nice stand, but it wouldn't be a surprise if this gal didn't get into her best rhythm by the time the wire approaches. |
| Laguna Girl |
| Speedy filly draws outside after failing to last at a shorter trip as the chalk when in against cheaper on the main track; she's yet to win outside the maiden ranks and she has shown a little bit of a rating gear, but think she'll be limited to contending for a minor share with these. - Steve Grabowski |
Race 5
| Off My Cloud |
| Five clear in last when the cut back move nearly worked to perfection; stakes placed in May, she is best when she has a target to run at and there doesn't appear to be a ton of speed in this race; Ortiz got a chance to figure her out, miss handles any kind of going and the blowout on the 19th should have her on her toes; don't ignore. |
| My Bella Beauty |
| Love fact she broke her maiden on this surface; shorter trip could work to her advantage and miss has the three races now to bulk up her stamina; trainer has spotted them just fine this season; can't fault those that project a big effort. |
| Kilnockagain |
| Ambitiously placed in the stakes when only a brief threat but she has trained steadily for this; 4th finisher in last took a $14K optional next out and the winner repeated in a $122K stakes; fact she won the debut gives her a right to be on the muscle; last angle to think about: this rider is 7 for 22 for this barn in the last year or so. |
| Garmentos Girl |
| Proven for this price and she was hung wide in last; she could be a bit fragile as the races have been spaced; apparently not much of a work horse; 4th finisher in last took a $12.5K NL seller next out and the 5th finisher beat $16K N2L GP claimers on 12/19; cut out to be a nice horse as a $250K purchase; look for her late if at all. |
| Bit Bustin |
| Homebred must prove she can win outside of Empire land; considering the cut back, she could be left with some work to do turning for the wire; a bit more energy in the drill 6 days ago; needs very best. |
| Morethanvictorious |
| Patience paid off as she graduated off the extended layoff; protected in next on the stretch out, miss was right there at the top of the lane in last but could not close the deal; note wraps there 2 back, try to get a good look at her on the track. |
| Ecstatic Miss |
| What happened to the speed she flashed at first asking?; bothered early in last and she may have been intimidated by the rail to boot; never been in this cheap but will be dependent on how things shake out up front; needs very best. |
| Heiressofthecrown |
| At least she got a feel of the strip and considering the winner was clear, the race was not all that bad; she was over 3 clear and show horse was nearly 6 clear; she has had tons of chances to get that second win and she was just overmatched first off the claim; another slice? |
| So Blessed |
| Miss has the two races to draw from now but would like to see her find that killer instinct; 9/22 place horse won next out in a $50K optional, won a $12.5K claimer after that with a 76 Beyer; wrong distance in the November return and miss could be closer early on today; would not be shocked if she will improve here. - Brian Mulligan |
Race 6
| Metropolitan Storm |
| Has not raced past 6F yet; sire won his only race at 1 Mile on turf; dam went 1-for-6 in dirt routes graduating at today's distance on AQU Inner Dirt in 2008; the 2-back winner repeated with a 74 Beyer speed figure taking an AQU-optional claimer; the 3-back winner is now 3-for-3 Beyering 95-78 in 2 next-out wins including a 100K-stakes win. |
| Vagarious |
| Rough-gate break in the educational unveiling; new rider yields 22%-AQU winners for the trainer and a cleaner start likely produces a better finish; the added distance is a plus and deserves a chance to show his form on a fast-main track. |
| Harbor King |
| Improving-Beyer pattern on turf; none of the dirt workouts inspire confidence for his 0-for-34 MSW trainer; closest finish was in a sprint 3-back vs. the show runner who Beyered 61 in his next-out BEL-MSW win; will be taking a wait and see approach 1st time on the main track. |
| Uncle Sigh |
| Exits a field-best Beyer speed figure; has not raced past 6F yet; sire won the Santa Anita Derby; dam went unraced but is by a Preakness winner; was nipped at the wire in last and getting the added distance is the lone issue; figures to sit just off Giant Jo from the gate then should get 1st run on the closers. |
| Casa Cavallo |
| Given no chance by the bettors in his career debut then beat 1 runner home; wish we were more inspired by the dirt workouts both pre and post-race; the 1-for-48 turf-to-dirt trainer since 2012 suggests we seek the winner elsewhere. |
| Giant Jo |
| Projects to own the best-gate speed but will likley have Uncle Sigh breahting down his neck from the outset; the show runner 2-back Beyered 69 in a next-out AQU-MSW victory; posted some strong dirt workouts off the freshening; can take these a long way up top. |
| Royal Posse |
| Stalked the speed but had zero answers in deep stretch hoping the 5-pound reduction will help him carry his speed longer but will be adding yardage from last onto this; managed to show a good 2nd-time out Beyer improvement but has plenty to prove off the double-digit length defeats. |
| Pax in Terra |
| 47 days away for a high-percentage fresh and 2nd-start hot-AQU Inner Dirt trainer; got going too late 1st-time out on turf; his dirt workouts suggest he will love this surface; added distance is a plus and if he breaks a little bit better then watch out. - Art Gropper |
Race 8
| Micromanage |
| While this guy has been a bit of a disappontment he is a stakes winning router and he's consistently earned the best numbers of this bunch this year; maybe the inside draw helps him secure a decent spot early on the stretch out to 2 turns and he rarely fails to employ his kick in the lane; looks like they'll have him to beat. |
| Pappa Portmore |
| Late running invader steps back up to the stakes ranks after running down older allowance runners at one turn in Maryland; he won at 2 turns at Parx this summer so the stretchout should hurt, but he'd probably appreciate some of these mixing it up early to give him something to run at; prefer to side against the repeat. |
| Beat 4 rivals home at odds on in the off the turfer on the main track last month and now he'll give the inner a shot; he did win at 2 turns at Monmouth this summer but nore that both of those last 2 solid figure tries came at one turn; he is bred to get better the longer he's sent, but this outfit always takes more than its share of tote support; consider. |
| Vegas No Show |
| Upset an overnight stakes field in a roughly run heat at Belmont in the fall but didn't prove a threat behind today's rail runner in his 2 subsequent spins; colt is tactically inclined and should be able to find a spot close to the front runners in here and maybe the stretch out helps at another solid price. |
| Snake Pit |
| Beaten Parx chalk moves in with a stakes field of his peers in his return to this circuit; he's been ok going long against older allowance runners since leaving here in the spring, but he was no match for the guy next door here 2 starts back in the mud; prefer others. |
| Edge of Reality |
| Took a step back in the Indiana Dwons mud after taking the G3 Smarty Jones at Park with a triple digit Beyer and his subsequent sprint spin at Laurel wasn't all that much; maybe the stretch back out to 2 turns helps and he did work well for this last week; worth a look. |
| West Hills Giant |
| Wasn't good enough to get to the winner when in against older in the statebred sprint stake on the main track last month; he'll try 2 turns again here and the last time he stepped on the inner he was an excellent second at the trip in the G3 Gotham, earning a then career best number he finally eclipsed last time; giving him the nod to keep moving forward and beat these home. - Steve Grabowski |
Race 9
| Giulio Cesari |
| After a game first run in October, he was victimized by a wide trip in his Big A debut; his sire won the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and 1.26 million; the dam won 4 of 12 and 80K; among the winning siblings is 61K earner Sea Current. |
| Six Drivers |
| Upgraded in that latest showing and now draws an inner post for a change; did not have the smoothest of journeys in his first two attempts and seems poised to earn a share against this soft line-up. |
| Keyaly |
| Five-year-old woke up for his doldrums in that last showing when rallying with interest; has finished in the money often enough in his inner dirt campaigns to warrant some trifecta play; still cannot vote for the top spot on the ticket. |
| Magical Salute |
| Not much to highlight thus far but he has an important race over the track to his credit when clearly beaten by Bob and Jim; has to find a way to get into the race sooner; huge odds are assured. |
| Bob and Jim |
| Displayed much more early zip than usual in the last assignment with the return to blinkers and to this tricky inner dirt surface; earned his best lifetime Beyer over the IDT and warrants some backing if speed has done well on this card. |
| Mr. Masterpiece |
| Rested since failing to stay within range in that last attempt over the lawn; finished far back in both assignments over this course and, although there was improvement to the latest half-mile breeze, seems out of the question today. |
| It Matters |
| Among the missing first time out with no known excuse; his sire was a G1 winner who banked 816K while the dam went zero for 2 lifetime; winning siblings include 299K earner Southern Fiction. |
| Harsh |
| Freefalls down the claiming ladder today and on pace cross-reference, may have a chance to be in the first flight without much difficulty; switches to apprentice Franco who has done well with a limited number of mounts for these connections; consider. |
| Bird Hunter |
| He has better gate speed than most of this crew and should take full advantage; his sire won the G1 King's Bishop and 591K while the dam won 6 of 20 and 197K; this is her sole foal to compete; should fare much better this afternoon. |
| Ask About Me |
| Comeback race 20 days ago did not show much firepower but the blinker change can help the cause; best lifetime effort was at this oval when chasing a repeat winner; may upgrade suddenly if able to catch a fast track. |
| Acigarisjustacigar |
| Game in defeat earlier this month but was aided by an exceptionally soft second quarter-mile fraction that day; will be forced to lose significant ground now and may have a tough time improving upon the latest placing. - Jim Kachulis |