Aqueduct: Closer Looks for February 2, 2014

Race 1

Colonel Anna

Offspring of Colonel John, who won a G1 stakes and 1.77 million, have scored in 3 of 39 debuts; the dam was zero for 9; among the winning siblings is 96K earner Diamond Donna; moderate work tab is on display.

Brown Mellisa

Drops to the lowest level of competition thus far; she has failed to show any early speed in her efforts and the local work pattern is nothing special; cannot endorse until much more enthusiasm is shown.

Francesca's Fancy

Game in defeat when negotiating the inner dirt for the first time in late December; she met some above average groups at Parx and can improve upon the latest Beyer at a healthy price; latest training track was an upgrade as well.

Please No Emails

Disappointed at odds-on in her last assignment but perhaps can awaken with this turnback in distance; switches to a red-hot apprentice and should be able to stay within range; most recent breeze at five-eighths was encouraging; obvious true contender.

Pinch Me Again

Newcomer was sired by G2 victor Tiz Wonderful who banked 254K and whose progeny have done very well first time out (winning 24 out of 104); the dam never competed; among the winning sibs is 11K earner More While Lace.

Chicks and a Pig

Adds Lasix after encountering trouble in her first route attempt; her sire, a pure sprinter, won the G1 King's Bishop and 1.02 million; the dam scored in 3 of 26 appearances earning 33K; winning siblings include 110K earner Evan's Rocket. - Jim Kachulis

Race 3

Media Kid

Colt was losing ground late in his last sprint try; the routes of late may have also dulled his speed further; there is plenty of speed to set up the kick but then things need to break just right; backers have to hope they go bonkers early and the race falls apart.

Green Gratto

The freshening did him some good; it's not simple beating winners right back and there are others here with designs on the top; off a career Beyer but even if that improves a bit, hard to see him right back in the charmed circle.

Tummel

Nearly 3 clear in the tough beat last time; bug got a chance to figure him out, but it's been awhile since he has won; there is speed inside and outside of him today; not sure the race sets up all that great for him.

Chapman

Two of his 3 wins have been on his surface; he had a legit excuse last time and would expect rider to be very aggressive from the get go; place horse in last cashed next out in a $50K starter with an 87 Beyer; runner has more speed than just flashed; rates long look in all the slots.

Southbeachsandy

Over 4 times as many slices as wins; gelding has been in a win slump and not sure this is his favorite trip; runner was inching toward the winner in last; off rail here, needs very best.

S'maverlous

Could see him sitting a solid trip here; like the way he was getting to the winner in last and note the show horse was 5 clear; Castellano got a chance to figure him out; should be right on the wire when the smoke clears. - Brian Mulligan

Race 4

Confederate Bay

Moves to the fence for the stretchout after tiring in her first start over the inner track; filly has shown a little bit of early interest and maybe she's more involved from the bell at this longer trip but she'll be facing the boys here; dam dropped a 3 time route winner but most of her other foals were better sprinting; prefer to side with others.

Ausable River

Last out runner up at the level proved no match for the runaway winner in the mud in that one but did beat one of these foes home; hot bug pilot sticks and the draw towards the inside should help this lightly raced colt sit a solid trip; contender.

Pari Nath

Showed some early interest from the fence when stretched out to 2 turns for the first time on dirt; filly will tackle the boys in this spot but she does like the inner strip and as her last showed she is capable of sitting within striking range of the top early; can get in the exotics mix.

Dynamic Chime

Sharpened his lick when turned back to sprint against a better bunch here last week; gelding didn't have enough to go with the top 2 while routing in the local mud 2 back and there's not a lot to suggest he's got a big move forward in him here; prefer to side with others for the top spot.

Cuckoo House

First part of the coupling was beaten chalk when dropped to this level a couple of weeks back; gray did have his head in front in mid-stretch of that last out sprint and maybe the stretchout to 2 turns will allow him to settle a big more early in this one; sire was a G2 SW router and though the dam's 8 wins all came sprinting she did run second in her lone route spin; lightly raced gelding is one to consider.

Sugeily

Adds the hood for the stretchout after offering very little in her 2 sprint starts and now she'll try the boys; dam was a route winner and she did drop a foal who won twice going long, but off what this gal's done she's got a lot of improving to do to have any type of say in the outcome.

Even Shower

Barn's other half hasn't moved forward in 2 starts after running into a 10 length winner in a 4 horse heat first time out; gelding returns quickly here and maybe the stretch back out helps, but she didn't have much to offer the first time they sent her long; looking at others.

Karamojo

Drops after offering little on the turn back to sprint the other day and now he returns quickly for the stretch back out to 2 turns; gelding ran big going long in his first crack over the inner strip and a repeat of that effort would make him pretty tough in here; barn excels with its runners tackling added ground; giving him the nod to move forward and beat them home.

Shelby Dean

Outside drawn gelding makes his first start under a new outfit's care with a bullet breeze in tow for his local debut; MSWs proved too much for him over synthetic footing last time but his one turn effort 2 back at Churchill was the fastest any of these has run; fresh face may prove the main danger. - Steve Grabowski

Race 6

Hope Rules

Been working well off the 57-day absence but races for a 6%-winning fresh trainer suggesting she will need a race to see very-best form; leaves a high-win percentage trainer which is not a good-win angle; regressed the Beyer speed figure 2nd-time out which is also not a good-win angle; caught mud in the 1st dirt start losing a decision to Sylvia T so deserves a chance to show form on a fast oval.

Sundae School

Leaps up in class off 3 straight losses vs. maiden claimers; the 3-back show finisher Beyered 59 in her next-out AQU-35K-maiden-claiming victory; the September runner-up finisher Beyered 84-74 in 2 next-out wins beating LRL-MSW and alw. runners.

Sylvia T

57 days since the 5th exacta finish of her career but all of those races were at distances longer than 6F; cuts back to her shortest-distance test since the career debut for this; the 3-back winner repeated in an AQU-optional claimer with an 80 Beyer; beat the show runner who Beyered 76 in a next-out BEL-MSW win; the April show finisher Beyered 83-75 in her 2 next-out wins including a BEL-80K stakes.

Rosemarie

Major-pace presence with stamina issues in each of her 4 defeats; the 2-back winner repeated in an AQU-alw. with a 72 Beyer; races with her heaviest assignment since the career debut; trainer went winless in 2013 and began this year on an 0-for-9; know her early but unsure about late.

Miss Lauren Ann

Like in the December 22 start projects to battle Rosemarie for the lead then hopes to hold off the closers; the 2-back runner-up fnisher Beyered 83-74 in her 2-next-out wins beating BHP-MSW and SA-alw. runners; is the one to catch.

How

Some runners improve dramatically 2nd-time out and she has stamina issues here off the April-debut loss; the good news is her trainer is superb with long-layoff runners; the runner-up finisher from last Beyered 84 in her next-out BEL-MSW graduation.

Star Empress

Her 2 best Beyers including latest-show finish were accomplished at longer distances than 6F; posted a field-best speed figure at 6.5F; getting up in time is a concern; is another who has dropped before into a lesser-maiden claiming without graduating; projects to sit far back early then make one run.

Lost in Success

Projects for an ideal trip stalking the inside speed; the winner from last Beyered 84 in a next-out LRL-alw. win; she defeated the 4th-place finisher from last a LRL-25K-maiden-claiiming next-out winner (58 speed figure); 92-day layoff is the lone issue for a runner with just 2 starts and still with plenty of upside. - Art Gropper

Race 7

Kiss of Thunder

Proven for this price but would have liked to have seen some success on the inner; 12/27 place horse took a $20K starter next out with an 88 Beyer; not sure this is his trip, he was a pop and stop 5th the last time going short; will be in the picture late if at all.

Tyrus

At least he got a feel of the strip; other than the rival on the extreme outside, there is not a ton of speed in here; gelding has been consistent, but he has the 11 slices and 3 wins; look for rider to send and try to steal it.

Bellamy

Could see him sitting a nice stalk and pounce journey; Crafty Dreamer exited the last race to cash in a $25K optional with an 86 Beyer; in the exacta in 5 of 8 on the strip; don't ignore.

Alcomatch

Respect hot claim box item; he has a nice turn of late foot, likes this layout and he got a boost when the place horse in last cashed next out in a $20K claimer with a 79 Beyer; right there against tougher in his recent career and the drop is not as big as the fact is he likes this surface.

Tiny Predicament

Would love to see this guy find that killer instinct; runner must prove he can win outside of conditioned claiming land; off the rail in last, lack of speed a concern; would be careful here.

Haverhill

Life and death for the last win and he's been off form since; the inner strip stuff leaves much to be desired; respect barn but this runner needs a turn around.

Son of a General

This guy's style really is not prime time material for this strip; runner seems to move up some in the off going but he just concedes too many lengths early to make it easy on himself; the hotter the pace the better.

Hackleton

First time offered for sale since he was claimed; this is his layout and note place horse 2 back cashed next out in a $20K optional with a 90 Beyer; - Brian Mulligan

Race 8

Irsaal

Draws the fence for the slight cut back after just missing the place from a wide spot in his first crack over the inner strip; gelding doesn't have much early foot, but there's not a lot of that commodity in here so maybe he's able to find a good tracking spot going into the turn; barn hits at a nice clip with its runners second back from the break and a wet track wouldn't hurt.

Fortify

Didn't take so well to the move to 2 turns when crushed at odds on off an impressive flat mile score over a muddy local main track; colt returned to work sharply for a barn that does well with its fresh runners; while he still needs to prove himself at this configuration, he certainly has ability and the inside draw should help him work out a trip; contender at a much improved price.

Mr Palmer

Just missed as the chalk at the level on New Year's Day in his return to a strip over which he's run well in each of his 3 spins; minor SW enters this one on the improve from a figure standpoint and he was able to get more involved early last time which should benefit him in a field without a lot of early foot; he's the one to beat.

Lubango

Drops from the N3X level for his local return and is offered for the optional tag in this spot; gelding is a local winner so maybe the return to this venue helps perk him up some, but off what he's run of late he looks to have his work cut out for him in this spot.

Socialsaul

New York bred steps up for his first off this barn's claim after running well late to get second money over the track a few weeks ago; gelding was capable of stepping at this level at times last year, but though he's been ok of late he hasn't run particularly fast; maybe his late kick gets him involved for a minor share.

Midnight Taboo

Four year old offered promise but was never able to put it all together for his prior outfit who gave up on him last time; new barn doesn't claim many, but this guy does enter this off a career best number at the level and maybe he has a move forward in him second time over the inner; he's shown enough positional foot to stay within striking range of the top early and looms the main danger here.

Carried Interest

Sprinter tackles a route of ground for the initial time after wiring entry level allowance sprinters in his first crack over the inner; like to see they worked him long last week and he is kin to a route winner but the sire's half of his pedigree is all sprint; should have things his own way up top, however, and will have to be run down.

This Hard Land

Moved back in to face fellow statebreds for the first time in a while last out and proved little threat to the money finishers; he'll start from an outside slot in his return to this level for a barn that hasn't had much luck at the local stand; in his current form we'll have to side with others on the win end. - Steve Grabowski

Race 9

Rock N Cozy

Has earned quite a number of checks and although regressing on the Beyer scale, the mare's last race was better than it looks on paper; finally draws the rail and perhaps can work out an ideal inside journey; logical for the trifecta, rain or shine.

Sensual Nite

Might have been best in her maiden voyage if for not losing ground at a critical point; her sire won a G3 stakes and 344K while the dam was unraced; among the winning siblings is 58K bankroller Russian Ally.

Once a Week

Scheduled to add blinkers after being caught wide in both attempts; beaten choice hails from multiple G1 star Invasor who amassed 7.8 million; the dam was a G2 winner who earned 251K; winning sibs include 432K earner Z Fortune.

Contender's Queen

Closed with a bold rush to just miss against weaker company last month; her sire won multiple graded stakes and 618K; the dam won 8 of 42 and 193K; there are no winning siblings to mention; worth some follow-up especially if catching another wet-fast racing surface.

Loomin' Lori Lou

She was involved in a strong pace battle second time out and wilted; her sire won a G1 and 1.08 million; the dam scored in 2 of 11 attempts; winning siblings include 120K earner Victory Island; steady workout regimen during the last month is a plus.

Royal Jest

Not far behind Once a Week in their last confrontation and she is scheduled to return with Lasix addition; although her best effort was on the turf, she has shown some fair prompting speed and now draws outside of the probable pacesetter; respect.

Echluath

Doubt that this distance is her optimum as her only effective rally was at seven furlongs; no visible excuse when losing to some of these same foes in recent starts; on the plus side: she should receive a much more rapid early tempo here if all runners go.

You Jane

Not the place to be recently: between rivals when part of a quick duel; her sire won a G2 sprint and 388K while the dam won 2 of 12 and 61K; there are no winning siblings to mention; can hit the board if changing tactics.

Camie's Dancer

A mere 102 to 1 last time out yet she showed decent early foot until the midway point; doubt that her endurance levels will increase dramatically although a switch to a fast racing surface might help towards that end; pass until further notice. - Jim Kachulis