Aqueduct: Closer Looks for December 7, 2013

Race 1

E Z Passer

Draws the fence while stepping back up in her return from the freshening; mare's most recent score came sprinting and none of her other numbers of late look to fit so well in this spot; with a low percentage outfit at the helm we'll look elsewhere for the winner.

Dreaming of Cara

Statebred wasn't beaten much against similar when moved back to the main track at this trip last time; she hasn't won in a while and maybe right now she even prefers the green, but off that last one she appears capable of getting in the exotics mix here.

Viva Allegiance

First part of the coupling tries dirt for the initial time in her second crack off the barn's claim; this ia a better bunch than she's been facing but the barn does well on the surface switch and this gal is kin to a main track winner so maybe she handles the move to new footing; consider.

Rain Forest

Barn's other half offered little in her first dirt spin here last month; she did show some ability on the lawn prior to that and maybe she'd go better over dry footing, but her interim breezes look pretty slow.

Wildichi

Ships back into this circuit for his first start in over 8 months after getting her head down in the Penn National maiden breaker at 1-2; these are quite a bit better than she faced the last time she was here and the new outfit hasn't won a race from limited starters this year; looms a big price here.

Sheza Heartbreaker

Turfer switches surfaces for a barn that has seen the winner's circle just once this year; she has won twice on dirt but she's also settled for quite a few minor awards; prefer to again limit her use to underneath in exotics.

Dulcedumbre

Filly was gaining some as the wire approached while trying this level in her first start both at the trip and level; Laurel maiden breaker at the trip earned a number that fits in here and the pace in front of her should at least be honest; clean run makes her a threat.

Holiday's Jewel

Beat cheaper with a light number in the off the turfer last time and has returned to twice work sharply for this one; she's yet to finish out of the exacta in 4 cracks at the trip and maybe her last gave her the confidence builder she needs.

Flores Island

Money burner broke the string of four straight runner up finishes with an emphatic odds on score at the trip at Belmont last time; she'll tackle winners for the first time here, but the barn keeps them going once they get them good and this gal's early foot may allow her to control the heat's tempo; they'll have her to beat.-Steve Grabowski

Race 2

Pete's Fleet

He has not displayed much firepower, regardless of surface, since his maiden voyage at Saratoga; doubt that this turnback will work in his favor and even with the switch to apprentice handling, he is likely to arrive too late on the scene.

American Creed

Set a moderate pace when stretching out at Churchill; workout pattern since the trainer change is modest in nature but this field comes up pretty soft and perhaps he can be a pace factor on the cutback.

Uncle Sigh

Very fine drill from the gate stamps him as a legit contender; his sire won a G1 and 616K (offspring of Indian Charlie have won 101 out of 628 initial starts); the dam did not race; among the winning siblings is 422K earner Percussion.

Executive Office

A beaten favorite at Belmont, he could prove another wise claim for these connections; the gelding hails from Stanislavsky who won 1 of 6 and 75K; the dam won 1 of 14 and 50K; this is her only foal to compete.

Forged

Newcomer was sired by G2 type Posse who banked 662K and whose progeny have won 10 percent of their debuts; the mom won 7 of 15 and 107K; among the winning sibs is 675K bankroller Comedero.

Junger

Scheduled to race with blinkers for the first time and has a proven first gear; not much known pace opposition in attendance and that will brighten his prospects; might be able to getaway with a pedestrian pace and score.

Groupthink

Thrice beaten chalk tries the Big A surface for the first time and has a history of troubled breaks; with a clean getaway today, he can be positioned ideally to the outside flank of the presumed pacesetter and move forward; may finally atone but does not warrant odds-on.

Space Hero

Nothing on the turf thus far but had to deal with difficult posts both times; surface switch and equipment change can do wonders; his sire won multiple G3s and 1.39 million; the dam won 4 of 26 and 43K; this is her sole foal to compete.

Horse With No Name

Steady breeze pattern for this firster who was sired by G1 winner Giant's Causeway whose lifetime earnings were 3.07 million (his descendants have won 10 percent of their first races); the dam went 1 for 13 earning 62K; there are no winning sibs to report.-Jim Kachulis

Race 3

Beat the Drums

Smart Strike about 15% with firsters in a 790-runner sample; sire won 6 of 8, a Grade 1, over $330K; monster Grade 1 winning dam took 7 of 14, won debut at 2, banked over $1.9 million; one sibling was third in best result; the other took 1 route, banked over $50K; barn on patient side.

Rosemarie

Plenty of lick so far, very little stick; maybe she ll relax a bit with the blinks off; dam's lone win was a route; lone half sis to race was out of the money 8 times; figures to at least muddle the pace again.

Skinny Margarita

Nearly 5 clear for a tag; why not just find a nice spot, try to get her diploma and move on?; dam out of the money in only try; several winners in the family including juvenile debut winner, multiple G2 winner and over $450K earner Lismore Knight; she may need softer to shine.

Sylvia T

Miss can be her own worst enemy with limited speed; nice try in the September return when over 3 clear and note show horse that day graduated next out; backers can point to the fact there is juvenile success in the tree in the form of near $150K earner Garden District; the hotter the pace the better for his miss.

Eta Carinae

Bellamy Road about 11% with firsters in a 148-runner sample; sire took debut at 2, won the Wood on way to over $800K career; dam was unraced; this is her first to roll out; would have liked to have seen some local activity.

Hope Rules

Educated on the Delaware grass; dam was unraced; several multiple race winners in the family; one took debut at 2; top kin Funny Moon took a G1, banked nearly $550K; expect much better effort.

Wundahowigothere

The grass route may have helped the stamina; Grade 1 winning 3 for 14 dam earned over $450K, won twice at 2; the sibling to win cashed once in England; she did hook a freak in the opener; still has a right to wake up here.

Zuma Moon

Malibu Moon about 14% with firsters in a 722-runner sample; sire graduated in second start at 2 at 5 furlongs on dirt for only win in 2-race career; SP 2 for 11 dam won at 2, earned $85K; 3 of 5 siblings won; two won at 2 including debut winner, 19 for 60 racer and near $400K dancer Disco Lady; like the spacing of these drills.-Brian Mulligan

Race 6

Lulu Rocks

Earned minor spoils when dropping to the claiming ranks for the first time; his sire was undefeated, including victory in the G1 Carter while earning 480K; the dam was unraced; among the winning siblings is 349K earner Mystic City.

Woke Up Tired

Solid first run when rallying on a wide path; his sire won multiple G1s and 3.06 million overall; the dam won 3 of 9 and 209K; winning siblings include 58K earner Kettle River; draws comfortably and should be in the mix.

Effinex

Newcomer hails from multiple G1 victor Mineshaft who captured 2.28 million and whose progeny have won 19 out of 290 debuts; the dam won 4 of 15 and 161K; this is her only foal to make it to the races.

Royal Posse

Broke slowest in his first run and did not recover while huge odds; his sire won a G2 and 662K; the dam involved was unraced; among the winning siblings is 176K earner Ampart Ridge; pass until further notice.

Bluegrass Flash

Adds Lasix after solid sprint effort in his last try at Belmont; breezed steadily thereafter and should be within range today; certainly bred to handle the extension in distance and is an obvious true contender.

Deceived

Probably best last time out when barely missing at today's distance; there was a soft pace in that effort which helped his cause but he still warrants respect against this group; trainer has done well with 2-year-old stock.

Vagarious

Offspring of Noble Causeway, who won 3 of 18 and 360K, have scored in 5 out of 112 initial starts; the dam won her only race and 9K; among the winning siblings is 83K earner Forever Awesome; note improving breeze pattern.

Sideways Vision

Unlucky colt finally moves off the fence today and should pose a threat; lost plenty of energy prior to the last loss to Deceived and could secure a better attack position here in the early going; worth following-up.

Electric Currency

Closed with a rush in his first test to capture the place while claimed; his sire won at the G2 level while earning 479K; the dam won both career starts and 11K; sib to 180K earner Tazered; interesting item on the stretchout.

Born in Brooklyn

Best recent breeze was on 11/17; his sire won a G3 and 444K (descendants of Indygo Shiner have won 6 out of 97 debuts); the dam was unraced; among the winning siblings is 198K earner Dreaming of Cara.

Copper Core

His sire compiled 1.13 million in earnings; progeny of Master Command have won nearly 10 percent of their first races; the dam was unraced; winning siblings include 9K earner Gulf Time; note strong training track move on 11/16.

Hampden Fiveone

Showed improved early foot when trying the turf for the first time; the sire won multiple G1s and 4.91 million; the dam was unraced; winning siblings include 133K earner Marcello; trained has scored with longshot turf-to-dirt types.-Jim Kachulis

Race 7

Therapy

Huge question mark with many others that have not won on dirt with all of her best races on turf; last time on the main track was an exacta finish vs. MSW company flashing gate speed; lone victory was at today's distance on turf; wants the lead or race very close to it in a race packed with other early zip.

Eyes of Midas

Exits her 2nd-lowest Beyer speed figure of career when racing on fast dirt the surface of her maiden breaker November, 2012; the 2-back runner-up finisher Beyered 63 in a next-out AQU-optional-claiming win; 5-0-1-1 since the claim and facing winners; off latest is a tough call.

White Sangria

Winless on dirt with her best main-track Beyer competing around 2 turns; her field-best speed figure was posted on turf nearly 14 months ago; did not fire in August when sent today's distance on the grass; 0-for-32 route-to-sprint trainer since 2012 does not help the confidence level that she will end the dirt-winless drought here.

All Mine Tonight

Exits the 2nd-lowest Beyer of her career on grass which was a shocker because she had won her only other turf start; has never raced this short of a distance noting her best speed figure was rallying at longer 2-back; 23%-winning route-to-sprint trainer adds to the appeal but getting up in time to win it all is a concern.

Daisysgonnamakeit

Posted her lowest Beyer of 2013 in latest when middle moving vs. the runner-up finisher who Beyered 63 in a next-out AQU-optional claiming win; lone race at today's distance was a fade vs. MSW rivals; gets a better post position than in recent losses which may help the cause; view as a pace presence for part.

Sweet Hot Toddy

Best Beyer of the year was posted in the slop so she is doing a rain dance for this; have mixed reveiws off the September claim but seems better suited for FL than in the majors showing nothing at BEL in 2013; winless since June when winning on a fast track while she has raced well in defeat in some other 5.5F events.

Curlin N Twirlin

Claimed off a sharp-graduation win when bet hard 1st time ever in a maiden claimer then posted her best Beyer since August; the 2-back runner-up finisher Beyered 75 twice in next-out wins over BEL-MSW and AQU-alw. rivals; has something to prove not only vs. winners competing vs. them 1st time but also on a fast-main track where winless.

Dee Dee's Comet

Returned off an 8-month layoff to post back-to-back Beyer speed figure Tops over today's AQU-Main oval; defeated several of these 2-back as they chased the runner-up a 63 speed figure AQU-optional-claiming winner; has never raced this short of a distance so a well-timed ride is needed to see best result but figures to be rallying strongly into a hot pace; the pick.

Bileaps and Bounds

Graduated on the lead which was the 1st time she ever made the front during career; major wakeup in last 2 races her career-best Beyers were when blinkers were removed; major-class test facing winners with Therapy who beat her to the front on turf over the summer on grass.

Pegasus Diamond

Career-best Beyer and last win was posted on a wet-main track which is the type of surface she received in recent losses when finishing behind similar rivals; the 3-back winner captured her next pair at FL with 84-78 Beyers; races with her lowest-weight assignment since March, 2012, seeking a wakeup call.

Tina's Note

1-for-6 record off the June claim and that win was on a sloppy-main track at today's distance; adds more gate speed into an event top heavy with early burners; 3-0-0-0 since the win and her career-best Beyer was at SAR; held on a little better 2nd time off the bench but has not done her best work on AQU Main including racing over a wet track 2 back.-Art Gropper

Race 8

Delightful Quality

Tough race; filly was a good 3rd in this last year, as a 3yo, and she's bigger and badder this year as a 4yo; G3 SP at BEL this spring, and freshened since a sharp run at SAR Aug. 30 when 2nd; Beyers creeping north, too; couldn't handle Ullapool when they met at BEL in Sept. 2012 but whereas this gal is coming off a short layoff that girl is coming back from a long layoff so maybe that helps her cut into, negate or even overcome the gap that then existed between these 2.

My Wandy's Girl

A beast in Puerto Rico and she's come to the U.S. and more than held her own; heck, she was 3rd in a G1 here a year ago and this past winter/spring was 2nd in 2 G2s so her quality is confirmed; hasn't been seen since so there's a lengthy layoff to ponder (8 months) but she's run well before off shorter respites, has worked well and the drop helps for her return, too.

Crespano

No match for Cluster of Stars in a couple outings this year; that recently retired filly would have been very tough in here so this gal was chasing a tough cookie; in her defense, too, those 2 efforts sandwiched over 7 months on the bench; after her dull G2 Gallant Bloom run she dropped and perked up to be 3rd in a restricted stakes at BEL Oct. 24; that was an encouraging move forward, yes, but she'll need another, even bigger leap forward to be in the thick of it here.

Ullapool

Capable of big things when in the mood; toss that G1 Test try at SAR in Aug. 2012 and you're left with 5 big efforts, 4 of them smashing wins; you had to be worried when she won easily at BEL in Sept. 2012 and was then gone 13 months, but those fears were allayed when she came back to romp at BEL Oct. 17; there's another layoff, but it's a much shorter one, and it's great to see Kenneally now move her back into stakes ranks; awfully scary, but next to her Test outing this is the toughest spot she's tried.

Miss Mischief

Love, LOVE, the way she stormed home to win a restricted stakes here Nov. 20; that came after 2 months off and could be she's got things figured out and turned the corner; you also have to like Asmussen's optimism as throws her into this tougher stakes; of course, the operative word there is 'tougher'; as she's dealing with a few proven graded stakes gals; still, that last run was most encouraging and another leap forward could put her in the fray, and at a price, too, what with others sure to attract more attention at the windows.

Conkate

Scary new face; did plenty of good work in SoCal including being a SW; comes off a game win at SA and her new connections plunked down $40K to claim her, brought her East and toss her right into a tough spot like this, a most encouraging sign; that being said, it's a rocky spot particularly when it's your first time here and you had to ship across the country for the privilege.

Baby J

Good enough to earn a shot at the G1 Test at SAR this summer, and while she dueled and fizzled that day she bounced right back to win a stakes at BEL Oct. 2; hasn't run since and it's a little disconcerting that after that win she didn't post her next work until Nov. 22 but then she at least posted a bullet Nov. 29 and Reynolds feels good enough about her to put her in a tough spot like this; still, her career top Beyer (86) likely means she has to come back having improved a few lengths if she's to beat these.-Michael Hammersly

Race 9

It Was All Good

Sire gets 4% first out winners from his offspring and the dam was winless from 21 starts prior to dropping this guy; works aren't much for a barn that isn't known for firing first out and the inside draw isn't a bargain for a newcomer.

Acigarisjustacigar

Didn't have much to offer in his initial dirt spin at the level last time; maybe he goes better second time over this surface but he really hasn't done very much on any footing as of yet; have to look elsewhere for the winner.

Ask About Me

Ran ok while sandwiched by next out winners second out on the inner track last winter and makes his first start in more than 7 months here; colt's subsequent spins weren't much, but the drop can help and this barn does boast some recent luck with both its fresh runners and those going from turf to dirt.

Prime Time City

Showed some improved early foot when stretched out here last time but he didn't have much left late; maybe the addition of shades helps but he didn't offer anything in either of his first 2 sprint spins; just watching him today.

Harsh

Makes his first start for a barn that excels with this type and he'll get a weight break with the bug named; sophomore hasn't shown much in his 4 starts but his dam won twice going long and she dropped a couple of multiple winners including a 3 time sprint winner and SP turf sprinter Subtle who banked 188K while taking 4 sprints on that footing; doesn't face a tough bunch so maybe that warrants him a look.

Private Irving A

Gelding drops in price after getting used in pace in each of his 2 starts since returning from the break; there doesn't look to be a lot of lick signed on for this one so wouldn't be surprised to see him make the lead and last a lot longer today; one to catch and beat.

Keyaly

Gelding has had plenty of chances and now he'll move back in to face statebreds; he did catch a couple of next out winners in that last one, but his effort in that heat was pretty poor; can only watch him in this spot.

Perfect Disco

Newcomer lands in a pretty weak field and his outfit does a pretty solid job getting them ready; works aren't much but his sire gets a decent 9% winners with his first out runners and the SW dam won 7 sprints and banked 228Kprior to dropping a 3 time sprint winner.

Ballybrit

Wasn't beaten much when breaking from an outside slot against open company and now he's back in with statebreds; gelding was pretty good on the green earlier in the year and maybe that last one was a sign he's getting back on track; consider.

Wood On the Fire

His last out spin came out of nowhere as he hadn't been close in any of his 6 prior spins; colt showed sharp early lick in that one and he's returned to work ok so maybe he's got another one in him; contender in a weak field.

Missile Nick

Four year old has had his stamina issues and his local return wasn't much; he does drop back to claimers here and figures to be able to find a spot close to the front runners early, but he's got some moving forward to do to threaten, even in here.

Go Liberty Go

Barn isn't going very well at the stand, but they do nice work with newcomers and this is a great spot for a new face; sire is just 2 for 30 with his newcomers and the dam was a 2 time sprint winner; works are all breezes so don't know that he can run but he gets a solid apprentice pilot and wouldn't need to be too much to get involved.

Sand Paper

Wasn't close first out and was trailing when he dumped his pilot in his return on the Belmont lawn; limited sprint winning dam did drop 2 multiple winners including G3 SP, 255K earner Good Card who won 4 sprints, so maybe this guy shows up with a little more in his return to the main track.

Woburn

Outside drawn gelding wasn't a serious threat in any of his starts since returning from the spring freshening; barn is winless on the year and there's not much to suggest things get much better for this guy today; have to pass on him.

Bob and Jim

AE tired from his pace efforts when dropped in for a tag in his return to dirt last week and now he'll cut back to sprint; lone board finish came on the lawn and he really hasn't been a threat on dirt.-Steve Grabowski