Aqueduct: Closer Looks for February 1, 2014

Race 1

Fee and Sugar

Post 1 in sprints at the meet produced 16% winners heading into this week, and the rail was golden on the inner track last weekend; daughter of Northern Afleet is coming off a hard-fought score in a two-turn maiden special; she's questionable going this short a distance, but could have a say in the outcome.

Margaret Ownzit

Ran well for second first-time off the reclaim by Rodriguez, who's won at a 25% clip second-time off the claim during the past five years ($2.10 ROI); leading rider Irad Ortiz, who retains the mount, is 9 for 33 at the meet for Rudy; probably merits top billing.

Front Cover Dream

Got hung out quite wide entering the stretch en route to a distant fourth behind two of her current rivals when she competed on short rest Jan. 16; chestnut has yet to crack 40 on the Beyer scale, but could be along to pick up some of the pieces; Chen rode his second winner of the meet in the opener on Monday.

Sweet Abandon

Couldn't keep up after leading for a while when returning from a two-month break in a one-mile N1X at Parx a month ago; trainer has solid numbers with turnbacks, and he's lured second-leading rider Jose Ortiz for the mount; contender.

Kiss Cat

Was no match for Margaret Ownzit in an identical spot Jan. 16, but she managed to hold on for third in her first trip around these tight turns; trainer/rider combo is 0 for 5 at this stand; consider for the lower rungs of exotic wagers.

Zimbabwe Lady

Brings the highest recent Beyer to the table (58), which was earned when she toppled $16K maidens under a good ride from the then apprentice Franco Jan. 9; that was her first start for Barbara, who's been shut out with horses exiting a victory since the beginning of 2013--this daughter of Jazil has a realistic chance to end that drought. - Ron Gierkink

Race 3

Box Office

Heads north to Aqueduct after failing to keep pace in a starter that came off the grass at GP; prior efforts were respectable, and this one scored his nicest win on the Aqu inner track back during his Rick Dutrow days; starts for a winning owner/trainer combo and could get a share.

Buddy Red

Was nothing more than a 5K claimer at FL and not surprisingly has been badly outrun vs. better at Aqu this meet; is stretched out from a sprint to a route and is expected to show nothing more than brief speed for a half mile to six furlongs of this mile race.

Pontus

Was sharp over the first half of last year, and at least his last resulted in a runner-up finish, although his Beyer was moderate (73); needs to run one of his faster races to challenge for the top spot; North Ocean, the heavy favorite in here, was 5 1/2 lengths in front of him when they met two back.

North Ocean

Looms a deserving favorite after two consecutive runner-up finishes against similar; exits a key race, one in which victorious Zivo came back to win a stake for NY-breds; if one had to criticize this one, it would be that he hasn't raced for a month and a half and training in NY has been interrupted at times by poor weather over the past month or so; so perhaps not at his fittest; choice nevertheless in a weak field.

Lead Singer

Last race was dismal; he simply never got involved at any stage; Kimmel stretches him out in an effort to get him more in the game; this horse did manage some respectable races in October and November; still, the fact remains that he is winless in 3 starts on dirt, and only once has he been close in a dirt race.

Ithastobegeorge

Is just 1 for 11 but consistently puts in competitive efforts in allowances and looks like he ought to get a good stalking trp in here; in light of his history of 2nds and 3rds, he seems best used on the bottom of the exotics. - Byron King

Race 4

Worldly Charm

Although twice failing at odds-on, there are some legitimate excuses including a pair of tough post positions; her sire won 1 of 2 and 33K while the dam won 1 of 3 attempts and 36K; winning siblings include 169K earner Worship the Moon.

Image of Anna

Very playable today based on her latest swift half-mile breeze; her sire won a G2 and 310K while the dam was without victory in 32 tries; this is her only foal to make it to the starting gate; worth some follow-up.

Recoupe

Quit early in her only assignment in November but the subsequent workout pattern is strong; her sire won 616K including G1 success; the dam won 4 of 8 and 97K; there are no winning siblings to mention.

Ready to Rule

Cuts back from a mile where she middle moved to the lead only to tire in the final eighth; her previous sprint effort was fair but the race itself was on the slow side; must get into the race sooner on this turnback.

Red Minx

New face was sired by G1 victor Wildcat Heir who banked 424K and whose progeny have won 52 out of 305 debuts; the dam won 1 of 5 and 27K; among the winning siblings is 38K earner Golden Allure.

Latin Tudor

Fair showing last month in her inner dirt debut but the prior effort at Gulfstream is of greater interest since she was part of a sharp early pace that day; may finally atone especially if a catching a fast surface this afternoon.

Costela

Sired by G1 type Any Given Saturday who netted 1.08 million and whose descendants have won 11 percent of their initial starts; the dam, a multiple G1 type, won 13 of 28 and 1.55 million; winning siblings include 62K earner Fire Lockout.

Night Time Slipper

After failing to fire over off-tracks in her first 2 starts, she improved several levels over a dry surface last month; must deal with the outside slot (inside paths have been great of late) in this tight field though and may be denied the early advantage. - Jim Kachulis

Race 6

Sensational Slam

Amazing recovery this one has made after losing by 23 lengths in a 14K claimer in May; he has moved forward with each race, and just ran a close second to Don Tito in a two other-than/optional claimer; those compliments aside, he is now facing stakes horses and would seem a surprise at this level.

Don Tito

Is obviously loaded with back class, and hinted that he is perhaps ready to return to his best with a win last time out; this is a horse that raced within a few lengths of victory in some stakes races earlier in his career; contender for a winning barn.

Non Stop

Has developed into quite a good starter performer; he was third to Bet the Power off a layoff two back and then won for fun last time out; is quite a versatile horse, one that can run as well on dirt as he can on turf.

Bet the Power

Won first off the claim for these connections in a starter; he ran yet another strong race and this one has some back class, too; he crossed the wire first in a stakes race in July of 2012, only to be disqualified for interference; has rated more in recent starts than he did earlier in his career; mild threat.

Strapping Groom

Looms a short priced standout after a 2013 season in which he won 4 of 9 races, including the Grade 1 Forego in the slop; won for fun on the inner track Dec. 21, even after trouble at the start; faces seemingly an easier field this time around, though this one is a G3; coupled with Praetereo.

Dads Caps

Was edged by Candyman E last time out but previously beat Bet the Power; this horse is a super-honest competitor, one that has never been worse than fourth in six starts; shows a bullet for Rudy Rod coming into this; fastest race puts him in the fight.

Candyman E

Is the one Jacobson runner in here that is not coupled; 9-time winner has made 460K and just won a stake for NY-breds; he also ran second to Trapping Groom in a stake at Saratoga; comes off a year in which he raced much more often than usual in a layoff-slowed campaign for the early part of his career.

Praetereo

Definitely the lesser half of the entry with Strapping Groom, though this horse is capable of a good race; he is a strong finisher that is probably at his best in a long one-turn race, which unfortunately is not an option during the inner track season; 7f to a 1m is probably his best game; likely needs a pace meltdown to get the job done, as part of the entry, if you back him, of course you're also getting Strapping Groom. - Byron King

Race 7

Joint Return

She has to step it up along the Beyer Speed Figure scale to get the better of this field, but still feel that she's an interesting late running option to consider in here; she's lightly raced, so the possibility of an improved performance still exists, and there's a chance that a few of these mix up up on the front end to give her a favorable setup.

Fierce Boots

Her recent form has been improved and she made it look pretty easy against seven rivals in a stakes in her latest start; half-sister to G1 winner Power Broker (4-10, 865k) has to be considered a threat to make it back-to-back wins.

Fleet Sixteen

She's been beaten by today's rival Joint Return in two of her last three starts, and this has to be considered a very tough spot for her to ship to New York for; note that she had to be dropped in with 10k maiden claimers to get her first win two races ago.

Fleet of Gold

She wasn't able to catch today's rival Fierce Boots in her latest outing, but she did secure a stakes placing, and this lightly raced filly is out of a multiple G1 winning dam who won 13 of 19 starts for $1.7 million; not going to count out the possibility of this miss showing up with an improved performance.

Ballylee

Nicely bred filly is out of a dam who was a stakes winner racing overseas while winning 2 of 9 starts for 245k, and this miss ran very well in her career debut at a distance that is demanding for a firster; feel that there's a good deal of potential living here at the moment.

Wraith

The added distance and addition of Lasix helped her a little bit at second asking, but that effort wasn't anywhere near strong enough to suggest that she can compete with a field of this caliber in her first attempt against winners.

Ketel Twist

She's been a pretty consistent performer through her first seven starts but she was beaten by a couple of today's rivals in her latest outing and she must improve her game to have a chance at turning the tables on those foes in this one.

My Jimmy Chew Girl

She appears to be the weaker of the two Pletcher-trained horses in here and she's likely going to need to improve 15-20 points along the Beyer Speed Figure scale to threaten the top contenders in here; winner from latest won next out here on 12/29 going 5 1/2f vs. 75k OPC's with a 59 Beyer.

Vero Amore

Obviously there's some concern with the added distance, but she's certainly bred to stretch out, and she's been very sharp in three consecutive starts sprinting prior to this, including coming up a nose short in a stakes run in her latest outing; must consider. - Brian Pochman

Race 8

Love to Score

Gray makes her local debut while going first time for a barn that excels with this type; she's had a drill to get acquainted with the inner strip but she's been much better going long and it has been a while since she's seen the winner's circle; have to side with others on the win end.

Ms. Cruisen'

She's another making her first start on the inner while returning from 5 months on the shelf; she likes the trip, but hasn't won in over 14 months and hasn't had a lot to offer late in the lane in some time; looking elsewhere for the winner.

Masasi

Improving filly has hit the board without winning in each of her 4 inner track tries; she'll tackle stakes foes for the initial time after running into a pretty good statebred here a couple of weeks back; her positional foot should have her in a good spot down inside early and in her current form she looms a big threat to pass the class test and take this heat.

Expression

Got her neck down to post the popular score over 3 rivals in here return to her beloved inner strip; she'll try stakes runners in this spot, though, and don't know that she's good enough to prove a legitimate threat for the top spot; maybe for a minor award.

Baby J

Speedy filly came up short late after setting the pace in her first crack over the inner and the gal who beat her in that one returns here as well; given a clean break, she does appear to be a tad quicker than this bunch early so the top could well be hers, but that didn't help her last on New Year's Day; still, they'll probably have to come and get her again to win.

Uno Duo

Four year old is relatively lightly raced and she did look pretty good while atoning for a couple of short priced losses in her first crack over the inner; she's been given some time to get over the score, but she'll face her toughest test to date in this spot; while she's not the most reliable sort, she does have some ability and the price will be much better today.

Lion D N A

Mare has been quite good since being taken by this outfit at Saratoga last summer; last out stakes winner is a perfect 2 for 2 over the inner track and she ran down a loose leader, who returns here as well, in her stakes debut; looks to be a huge danger right back.

P J's Superego

New Jersey bred was able to control things on the front end when in against 3 rivals in her inner track debut and beat them to the wire with a career best number; filly does like this trip and she doesn't need the lead to fire but these may be a little much for her to handle.

I'm Mom's Favorite

Filly was quite good sprinting with her peers last year before the foray into the graded stakes ranks proved too much for her and sent her to the bench; she'll tackle older for the first time in her initial spin under this outfit's care but they do well with this type and the filly did work a sharp half mile last weekend for this; worth a good look.

Merry Meadow

Hard hitting filly has been quite consistent over the past year and always picks up a check; she wasn't good enough while tracking the pacesetter in the restricted stakes ranks when returning to the inner last time, but she was given a little extra time off that one; she should be able to sit a spot to give her every chance to prove she's good enough at this level.

Conkate

Tried restricted stakes runners in her first local start after being claimed in California last fall and didn't have much impact behind a runner up who returns here as well; off the pace type would appreciate some pace in front of her and maybe she goes better second time over this strip; price will be right.

Delightful Quality

Wide trip didn't help her much in a short field last time but she was beaten only a length in a half as the chalk in that one; runner up in 3 straight prior to that one settles for a lot of minor awards, but she's also run fast enough to loom a threat in this spot; consider. - Steve Grabowski

Race 9

Uncle Sigh

Youngster ran his eyeballs out in defeat in bow when 10 lengths clear in the process; like the way he drew off to win going away last time; place in last graduated next out with a 69 Beyer; blood is there for this guy to thrive as he is kin to Percussion, who won the 9-furlong Albert The Great Stakes with a 95 Beyer on way to near $450,000 career; not a ton of speed in here outside of Samraat and this guy's trainer is taking it full on as told in the Big A notes, Contessa: "I'm hoping somebody keeps Samraat honest, but I'm not going to let him get an easy lead this time."

Street Gent

Runner didn't take to grass but proved the distance is no problem; 10/14 took the Grade 3 Dania Beach next out before failing in the Holy Bull; though he was losing a little ground late in last, he got his final furlong in :12.88; colt has a right to have a nice career as kin to mile stakes winner and $425,000 earner Beau Dare; last year Revolutionary was coming off a facile win on the inner strip in a MSW before coming from dead last to get up by a neck in this race with an 85 Beyer; that runner went on to win the Louisiana Derby and run third in the Kentucky Derby; winner of this race earns 10 points to gain Derby eligibility.

Scotland

Runner trying to do something that is not easy; he improved in his second start, and was third beaten just over 4 lengths in the Jerome on the inner surface; he will have to prove he can route successfully; sire won 2 sprints, dam was unraced and half sister Valari won 2 mile routes in her career in the minor league but in that last mile win she was losing ground in the lane; he got beat by a nice horse in the Jerome; that winner is 2 for 3 career and his only loss was to Holy Bull winner Cairo Prince; Dutrow has won with 19% of his starters in Graded stakes the last 5 years.

Classic Giacnroll

Consistent one has fired every time; winner in that 12/7 stakes repeated in a $100,000 stakes and then was 2nd beaten nearly 4 lengths in the $100,000 Miracle Wood; runner also finished his last furlong in :12.53 in the 12/7 race; sire Giacomo proved his stamina winning the Kentucky Derby, dam took a stakes but all of her wins were sprints; 2 siblings won routing including over $200,000 earner City Stormer, who won 2 mile races, the last when extending in the lane; look for him late if at all.

Samraat

Brilliant has been doing it against New York-breds; he set soft splits in the Runyon and was never asked for his best pulling away on his own; considering he missed some training before the Runyon because he weather, the race was that much better; he has to prove he can win in open company but he seems to be the speed of the speed and may forget to stop; he's wintered in Florida and his trainer explains in the Big A notes, Violette: "He had a few races close together and he ran such a big race in the Runyon. We sent him to Florida, he's been doing great as usual."

Honorable Judge

Runner came home with gusto to win debut in Philly, was wide on the first turn in his next and then rebounded beating first-step allowance foes; colt will be trying to duplicate the feat of his sire Afleet Again, who won this very race in 2010 by a length and a half with a 97 Beyer; Reid has been potent at the windows with shippers in Graded stakes the last 5 years; he was won 2 of 17 during that span, 4 others ran in the money and the median payoff was nearly $80; would have like to have seen some local works on this inner surface. - Brian Mulligan

Race 10

Starship Captain

Exits his best Beyer speed figure since his August-career best number; both-2013 wins were at today's 5.5F distance so cutting back adds to the appeal; other 3-career wins at 6F two of them on wet-main tracks; the 2-back runner-up finisher posted a 79 Beyer taking an AQU-20K-claimer next out.

Beer Is Good

Today's 111-pound assignment is the lightest of his career; not much since claimed off a career-best Beyer in September hoping the 113-day layoff will help wake him up; in that 3-back win gate-to-wire defeated the show runner who posted a 95 speed figure in his next-out BEL-20K-claiming victory.

Verbosity

Way off best form displayed in 2013 over the track; needed last start off the long layoff which is a key race; the show finisher Beyered 72 in his next-out AQU-20K-claiming win; defeated the 6th-place finisher a 74 speed figure-AQU-35K-claiming winner; the March winner 4-back was taking his 6th in a row next out with an 81 Beyer in an AQU-optional claimer.

Exact Again

The trainer is just 1-for-16 since 2013 with similar absentees; passed a few late in an even finish when last seen; Feb. 2012 was a gate-to-wire 16K-maiden claimer winner over today's surface at 6F with CVelasquez who sides with Island Sunset for this; the 2-back show runner won a 10K alw. next out In Puerto Rico..

Footnote in Blue

Trying to avenge latest loss vs Starship Captain as they both were defeated by the runner-up finisher a 79 Beyer next-out winner; last victory was on the lead and wants to go all the way if he can here; last time racing at 5.5F was a show finish in an alw. event; know him early but unsure about late.

Exley

1st race off the claim represents a new Beyer-career best but then nothing in next 2 races; which horse shows up for this?; offered brief speed when landing behind similar rivals in latest; is ranked as an outsider off latest Beyer his lowest since December, 2012; the 2-back winner made it 3 in a row taking an AQU-starter alw. next out wit a 91 Beyer.

Dan the Irishman

5-0-0-0 since the August claim all double-digit length defeats; outsider made his 1st trip to the AQU Inner Dirt in last posting his lowest Beyer since August; better wet-track record but caught off going in latest far-back defeat; would be a shocker.

Rigby

Exits a career-low speed figure when making his 1st start in over 7 months favored but finishing last when claimed for the 3rd time in his last 3 races; beat the 3-back show runner a 76 Beyer winner next-out taking an AQU-$12,500 claimer; November, 2012, posted back-to-back field-best Beyers on AQU Main; trying to bounce back in a big way.

Superiority

Have to go back to November to see a bad race on his form but has been finishing evenly suggesting he may want longer than 6F but cuts back in distance for this; 15-race losing streak coming into this; last score was an April victory on AQU Main at 6F in a $12,500 claimer; was edged by the 3-back runner-up finisher who Beyered 78 winning an AQU-$12,500-claimer next out.

Indefinable Humor

2-dull races off the November claim and his gate-to-wire win; no gate speed at all in latest but hates wet tracks so willing to excuse that performance; beat the 3-back runner-up finisher who Beyered 66 in his next-out 66 Beyer-PEN-$12,500-claiming victory; view as a pace presence for part.

Marquet Rebel

Raced evenly behind this same bunch 2-back while his career-best Beyer occurred over a synthetic surface; 27-race losing skid heading into this; his last win was Feb. 2012 a stalking trip 10K-claiming score over today's oval; January, 2009, a SA-dirt 32K-maiden-claiming show finish was his last race at 5.5F.

Island Sunset

Great sign that he posted his best Beyer since August when racing 1st off the claim; reunites with the rider of his runner-up finish in an April-20K claimer at AQU; the 3-back show runner captured his next 2 starts in AQU-starter alw. and allowances with 84-83 Beyers. - Art Gropper