Aqueduct
Aqueduct: Closer Looks for December 6, 2013
Race 2
| Samurai's Honor |
| Legitimate excuse when outfinished by Wickedly Sweet last month and perhaps can turn the tables with inside advantage; most recent maintenance breeze could have been much sharper but she still warrants respect in a field that comes up light for the price tag involved. |
| Ready to Rule |
| The value play based on the trainer's excellent record with second-time starters; the filly's sire won the G1 King's Bishop and 1.02 million; the dam went 2 for 8 earning 57K; winning siblings include 249K earner Grace and Power. |
| Wickedly Sweet |
| Held well in her Big A debut when controlling the issue until the last stages; excellent drill at five-eighths thereafter can enable her to be the main speed once again; obvious true contender but another short price is certain. |
| Gallant Lady |
| Broke slowest in her maiden voyage but recovered nicely to turn in a respectable fourth; her sire won a G2 stakes and 282K while the dam involved was unraced; among the winning sibs is 94K earner Lady Contender who was primarily a dirt sprinter. |
| Brown Mellisa |
| Slow into stride in both appearances thus far, she has yet to finish in the money; her sire won the Derby and 3.61 million while the dam was without a victory in 5 attempts; sib to 174K bankroller Rosencrans; needs a more accelerated pace today. |
| Gem City Gal |
| Hit the board in most of her races but has disappointed at short odds several times; steady work regimen since the last defeat is a definite plus and the trainer involved has a good record in most of the relevant categories; remains a puzzling item. |
| Flaring |
| Offspring of Two Step Salsa, a G2 winner who notched 1.1 million, have scored in 4 of 18 initial starts; the dam won 2 of 16 and 50K; winning siblings include 28K earner; has improved in recent workout activity, including a drill at today's distance.By Jim Kachulis |
Race 4
| Hunter Grey |
| Moves to dirt off a weak debut spin against open claimers on the local lawn a few weeks back; maybe the hood helps but there's not much to go on from a pedigree standpoint to suggest he'll be any better on dirt and his recent drills for this low percentage barn are slow. |
| My Teddy Bear |
| Gray has had plenty of chances without success but he has run better since moving to a barn that doesn't win too often; his recent improvement has come over the green, however; maybe for a minor share, but prefer to look at others on the win end. |
| Onecats Chance |
| Gelding has only met the starter 4 times thus far so he could take a step forward off the troubled trip from the fence draw; his effort 2 back at the trip across town earned a number that does fit with these and maybe getting off the rail allows him a smoother run; consider. |
| Jesses Giant Dunk |
| The hood removal resulted in the field's highest last out Beyer effort when third on the cut back in his first crack over the local main track; sophomore could find himself in a better spot early in a field without a whole lot of early foot and the barn is profitable with its runners stretching back out; one to fear in the lane. |
| Shot to Win |
| They'll remove the hood for the stretchout after he again failed to offer much of anything in the lane; gelding did show a little bit of early interest after a rough break last time and his dam was a 10 time winner and 275K earner so maybe there's a little more ability in him than he's shown, but it's tough to make a serious case for him right now. |
| Cat Man Fu |
| He's lost 38 times and the barn is winless on the year; pilot named has been blanked here but this gelding has earned some numbers that would put him in the mix as he moves back in to face fellow statebreds; tough to get excited about his chances of winning this, but on his best he can have a say in the outcome. |
| Saltine Warrior |
| Offered speed through slow splits in his return to the lawn here early last month but didn't have enough left late; gelding has run ok on dirt in the past and maybe today's hood removal allows him to setlle and make a run; contender. |
| Sunnysider |
| Goes from father to son for his return to dirt after grabbing a minor award on the local sod last month; 4 year old has the positional foot to sit a good tracking spot from out here and he did run into a handful of next out winners in the dirt efforts earlier in his career; one of his 2 sibs to race is multiple SW main track router and 392K earner Go Unbridled; giving him the nod to beat these home. By Steve Grabowski |
Race 5
| Marcy |
| Last was pretty ugly and it came at this level, too; that being said, it came on turf (she was already 0 for 8 with just 2 3rds on turf, so that's not her game) and she was 104-1 so not much was expected anyway; back to a much better game and there's no panicky drop, though that still means facing some tough fellow state-bred gals and her overall form the past year or so doesn't exactly get the pulse racing, does it? |
| Hot Splash |
| Not only showed some guts winning for $20K at this trip at BEL Oct. 25, but Servis saw fit to claim her and he's a superb 29% off a claim; it's also a great sign he brings her back WITHOUT a tag attached, so he can't lose her via another claim; wasn't disgraced when 3rd at this level at SAR in August and this is her favorite game (3 1sts, 1 2nd in 4 starts). |
| Typhoon Teri |
| Looks back on track; after she beat maidens at SAR July 29 she was gone nearly 2 months and her first 3 starts vs. winners weren't too inspiring; however, she's perked up since coming here, running 2nd at 83-1 Nov. 1 and then winning nicely Nov. 29; Galluscio wheels her back in a hurry, though this hasn't been one of his power moves (0 for last 14 coming back in 7 days or less) and she's facing tougher today, too. |
| Great Gracie Dane |
| Off a smashing 9 1/4-length romp on the inner her Jan. 9 she wasn't seen again for 5 months, which is worrisome as you don't usually take a horse who seemingly was on top of her game and put her away that long without good reason, particularly when you just claimed her, too; at least when she came back June 1 she did so in a stakes, but she gave way badly and, again, hasn't been seen since; returns for the same price tag as that big Jan. 9 win; you know she has the oomph but just 2 races this year with 2 big layoffs as well give cause for pause. |
| Stock Fund |
| Was knocking on the door for some time but it looks as though she's finally got things figured out as she comes here eyeing a 3rd straight win after beating maidens at BEL Oct. 19 and beating NY-bred N1X foes here Nov. 3; that being said, those 2 wins and the bulk of her work came on turf - she's 0 for 8 (2 2nds) on dirt; still, she has improved and maybe she can carry that up in class while moving to dirt...maybe. |
| Victoryat Last |
| A decent 4th in a race like this her Nov. 21, though note today's foe Royal Suspicion beat her fairly comfortably while finishing in a DH for 2nd; still, at least that shows this gal is not a fish out of water at this level, though she's now finished off the board in all 4 starts on the big track making you wonder if this just isn't her favorite ground, and that she'll be tougher come the inner-track portion meet. |
| Royal Suspicion |
| Been knocking on the door and may be ready to bust through; after a win at PRX July 28 came a 3rd and 2nd there, a 2nd at MTH and then a nice 2nd (in a DH) in a race like this here Nov. 21; has some tactical speed and verstility and she's done much of her best work for Montanez, who comes in to keep the mount. By Michael Hammersly |
Race 6
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Race 7
| Let Me Entertain U |
| The trip back to allowance land can only help; she was boosted a bit when the winner of last repeated in the Grade 3 Comely with a 98 Beyer; miss has the two races to draw from now and it's a positive she was keen to run early in last; love the series of drills coming to this race for barn good with cut back moves; interesting. |
| Expression |
| Nothing wrong with hitting the exacta in 9 of 19; never out of the money here, the drill last Saturday suggests she is feeling pretty good about herself; miss will need help up front but there seems to be plenty of zip to help the cause; don't sell too short. |
| Roman Invader |
| Mare exits the best race and must be respected off that fact alone; a solid second the last time in this league, Cohen has had good success for this barn and would expect him to take a little hold, try to get miss to settle, hope there is a duel and make the one run; contention goes long. |
| P J's Superego |
| Homebred is consistent and note she got her last furlong in :12.36 in last; legit trouble on the wrong surface two back but she still kept to the task; love fact she has speed but the way she closed in the Meadowlands race suggests she can adapt; Jersey-bred must be left in the mix. |
| D'princess |
| Miss has penchant for finding the wire and these are her friends; the winner 9/26 clicked right back in a $95K stakes here, then won again in a $150K Penn National stakes 9 days ago; best when given her head and sent along but she can track from just off the pace and cash; repeat well within the scope. |
| Nicole's Miss El |
| Pushed into the stakes after the last win and she has not been able to get back to the charmed circle; Mom's Law exited the last race to win a $21.6K classified allowance at Finger Lakes; out of the money in the last couple of return efforts, but it looks like trainer has been trying to get some speed into her; needs very best. |
| My Place Anytime |
| Can never dismiss this kind of speed; she prove in Philly two back she could take the heat of a speed duel and live to tell about it; miss knows how to fight it out at crunch time and Lopez fits this miss; barn has spotted them just fine all year; another threat in a good betting race. |
| Lion D N A |
| Tons best of the rest in last but never thrilled to see them give up clear leads; she has proven that she can sit just off the pace and excel and that s a good thing because it s questionable whether she can make the top here; legit factor, but would not want to jump on chalk with both hands this time. |
| Heir to Dare |
| Miss whipped 5 for the score this year; bothered at the break in 3 of last 4 and that must be addressed as to what price one will accept; note she got away with moderate splits in October and that will likely not be the case today; another slice? |
| Love Contract |
| Allowed to set a :47 half in the last win and the splits here will be much quicker; only in the money twice since the last win and she was losing a little ground late in last; hard to adore on top. |
| Candy and Thunder |
| Miss has some back class off the stakes score at Pomona last year; she was in the good hands of O Neill out West and the winner 4/20 won in this league next out, was 2nd beaten a head in a Grade 2 at Del Mar on 9/2; if you figure she just needed last you can build a case for a move forward; respect everything from this barn. By Brian Mulligan |
Race 8
| Kelli Got Frosty |
| First part of the entry was beaten as the chalk in a stakes heat won by her uncoupled mate here a couple of weeks back; filly draws the fence again and inside posts have put her in tough spots in those last couple of spins, but she does get a little more ground to deal with here; though she faces a tougher bunch today, her best effort can get her in the mix for a share at a much better price. |
| Tahoe Tigress |
| Winner of 4 out of her last 5 got her neck down to beat open company allowance runners in her first start since Saratoga and now she'll cut back a half panel for her return to statebreds; filly does look to get an honest clip in front of her today and that should help, but these may be a bit much for her; minor award. |
| Harbor Mist |
| Speedy filly switches surfaces in her first start under this new outfit's care; she's certainly had her stamina issues and it has been over a year and a half since she's seen the winner's circle; she'll be involved from the bell but don't know that she'll be able to factor in the lane. |
| Miss Valentine |
| Mare was no match for the winner or last out runner up who returns in this spot as well; maybe the extra time off helps as the barn does do a nice job with its fresh runners and she did just miss at the trip 2 starts back at Belmont; local lover could offer some value and is one to consider. |
| Willet |
| Wasn't a threat to the money finishers going a bit longer over the track last week, but coming at the G2 level the effort was clearly no disgrace; mare earned a career best number sprinting 2 back while in against a graded stakes winner and was well clear of the rest; back in with restricted runners, they'll have her to beat. |
| La Verdad |
| Improving sophomore makes her stakes debut with a field best last out number in tow; she's had a full month to get over that huge front running effort in her return from half a year on the shelf and she has returned to breeze ok for an outfit that hits at a nice clip second time back; runner up in her last returned to score with a 78 Beyer; she's yet to go this far but speed is her game and she'll likely have things her own way from the bell today; spots them plenty of experience and this is by far her toughest task yet, but they'll have to run her down to win. |
| Erin Enchanted |
| Didn't threaten when in against open allowance runners in her return from the 4 month break; she ran ok here in the spring and maybe she's better with her last behind her but she'll have to prove she's capable of going with some of these before we could back her. |
| Frosty Bay |
| Sophomore went on a nice little run to take 3 of 4 turf heats this summer prior to the freshening; her last on the local sod wasn't much but she did prove she could at least stand up on dirt over the inner last winter and the barn boasts solid numbers on the surface switch; price will surely be right. |
| Mischief Maker |
| She's earned minor awards in each of her last 2 starts at this level but was no match for the top 2 who return here as well when third at the trip across town last time out; filly ran big on the inner last winter so maybe the return to this venue helps move her up, but she'll need to improve to step with the gals who beat her home in that last one. |
| What the Frost |
| Beat cheaper when stretched out off the freshening last time and now she'll cut back a half panel; she's the second runner in here for a barn that's having an excellent stand, but her recent numbers suggest she may be a little overmatched in her stakes debut. |
| Floating Alone |
| Ships back into this circuit after beating open company runners in her Finger Lakes debut; she'll return to the care of a barn that hasn't seen the winner's circle much this year and her recent spins aren't fast enough to put her in the mix here; have to pass on her today. By Steve Grabowski |
Race 9
| Flamingo Lane |
| Ran much closer to the lead in last than ever before then hanging tough in the lane; figures forwardly placed again; landed behind Tizallheart in last but defeated both the 6th and 7th-place finishers from last; they posted 57-36 Beyer speed figures in next-out PRX-10K and AQU-20K-maiden-claiming wins; cutting back a half furlong adds to the appeal. |
| Sundae School |
| Late runner has not fared well in recent races when too close to the pace; her best races were rallying from the back of the pack; the 2-back dirt runner-up Beyered 74 in her next-out LRL-MSW win; needed last start when bet hard 1st time in a maiden claimer; another new rider is her 6th in the last 6 starts which is not a good-win angle. |
| Coralita |
| Trainer is 0-for the last-10 with blinkers on as the hood comes on trying to turn the tables on Elissa Town; last-exacta finish at SAR at today's distance was a solid effort beating the show runner who Beyered 75 in her next-out SAR-35K-maiden-claiming victory. |
| Skinny Margarita |
| 8 weeks since just missing when claimed off a high-win percentage trainer; posted a bullet-dirt workout for the grass debut; sire is 14-for-97 with 1st-turf starters; 0-for-1 dam did not race on grass; both foals to race on North American green are winners including G2-Lismore Knight (4-for-18 turf 465K); he is the only runner in the field to never race on turf; bred for the green but has never been this far which is yet another issue. |
| Miss Livona |
| Trainer is 0-for the last-10 with blinkers on; beat one runner home in her turf-route fade; she gets her 4th different rider in as many starts which is not a good-win angle; clearly is a major-pace presence here; the debut runner-up Beyered 69 in a next-out LRL-MSW win; she seems best spinting. |
| Princessbellaoncal |
| Did not look like she wanted any parts of route racing the 2 times she went past 1 Mile; long odds in latest when setting the pace but then passed easily; is another filly who continues the rider carousel with her 6th different rider in as many races which is not a good-win angle. |
| Bebes Passion |
| The dirt-exacta finish did not come attached with an impressive Beyer; her best speed was posted on turf; despite the 9-0-0-0 grass mark she is headed back to the green for this; the 3-back runner-up finisher Beyered 40 in her next-out AQU-25K-maiden claiming win; have her ranked a notch below the top contenders. |
| Tizallheart |
| Will be trying to bounce back to her field-best Beyer 2 back at longer on AQU-firm turf; willing to give her a pass on the bounce in last when racing on wet footing; the 3-back winner repeated in a BEL-20K claimer with a 71 Beyer; gets the rematch with the ones who just beat her. |
| Today Not Tommorow |
| Best Beyer was without blinkers on and they will be removed for this; tough call off 3 zero Beyers and hasn't beaten one runner in last pair; the workout for this on dirt did nothing for the confidence level; is in need of a massive-form improvement to land a share. |
| Malibu Queen |
| Elissa Town rematch off the return to turf which saw her middle move before being outpunched for the exacta in deep stretch; her best Beyer was on dirt so would not mind moves to the main track; if she improves off latest would be in the exotics mix but needs a well-timed ride; a sharper break would help out of the gate out the last 9 in last. |
| Notional Girl |
| Best finish and Beyer at 1 Mile and while screaming out for more distance in the 3-back SAR effort she has shown none of the same spark in the 2 races off the 68-day layoff; the latest was her worst finish ever and owns her career-low Beyer on AQU turf; would be a shocker. |
| Elissa Town |
| Been sharp at longer and among the rest of the field she would seem to benefit the most from cutting back in distance; wide draw in the debut did not work out well when defeated by the runner-up finisher who Beyered 67 in a next-out BEL-16K-maiden-claiming win. By Art Gropper |