Aqueduct: Closer Looks for February 3, 2014

Race 3

Vinhdication Spot

Maybe she just wanted to sprnt all along; there is some other speed here but it doesn't appear to be dominant; one of only 2 in the field proven on the inner, cozy slot now and miss comes back quickly to strike while iron is hot; still may need experience vs. winners.

My Donna Jean

One for 25 is a tough number to bet into no matter how you slice it; 1/9 show horse cashed next out here last week in a $20K claimer with a 60 Beyer; could see mare getting a similar trip to the race two back especially if the runners that bookend this field hook up; Ortiz hired, due.

Baal Perazim

Three dull tries since the win; show horse in last cashed next out in a $12.5K claimer; this guy is due for a trip; he lost irons three back, pinballed against the gate, then bobbled in last; must hustle.

Heiressofthecrown

Over 3 clear two back; lone win came at 5 and a half furlongs at Calder when she was losing ground in the lane; probably looking at a faster pace this time and at least he drilled decently a week ago; needs very best.

Radiant Cut

She has more speed than she flashed in last; if you figure she just needed the last, then you can make a case for a move forward; she was clear for fun of the show horse in last, drilled decently since and this is only the second time in a conditioned claimer; look out.

Princessbellaoncal

Nice ride in last; she was sent along and it's kind of amazing how brave a runner gets with a clear lead; he has lost ground in the drive in 12 of 14 races; you can see this gal forcing the issue from the sound of the bell, but you get the feeling that if she is looked in the eye, she'll blink. - Brian Mulligan

Race 4

Beautiful Me

The blinker addition in that second start could not prevent her from being caught wide; latest training track breeze does show some improvement; her sire won multiple G1s and 4.9 million; the dam won 9 of 49 and 175K; winning siblings include 62K earner Double Mint.

Patriot's Jewel

Nothing doing at Belmont all of last year regardless of surface or distance; workout regimen does not suggest a sudden turnaround is in the wings and this major weight shift will not likely make a difference; pass.

Tassinaia

With so little early speed in this event, this filly stands a chance to finally earn an exacta finish; broke alertly for a change in the latest showing and if she can duplicate that performance, she may finally end the long drought.

Erin's Desert

Futile efforts thus far and scheduled Lasix addition may not matter; her sire won a G2 and 448K while the dam won 1 of 2 and 4K; among the winning sibs is 135K earner Elise's Notebook; much work to do.

You Take the Cake

Compared to most of these, she has legitimate trifecta chances regardless of the track condition; she may be at the mercy of a soft pace yet again, however, and fail to get into gear in time; unlucky lass may find a way to save ground in the early stages.

Lady C Note

Ran a decent race over a wet-fast surface 3 starts back but then failed to improve upon that performance level; wheels back very quickly, however, and despite having limited sprint experience, could find herself much closer to the early lead than normal.

Lovely Bella

Has flashed only brief speed thus far and the switch to this course seems immaterial; latest blowout was not encouraging at all; will be an early presence by default but not a late once; pass until further notice.

Eva Lil

Goes back to the blinkers after repeated failures without them; despite the long record of toil, there is one bright light on the horizon: the suddenly sharp breeze from the gate on 1/25; that may enable her to finally show some enthusiasm against this extra-light field. - Jim Kachulis

Race 5

Resolute Babe

Tackles winners for the first time while moving to the fence off a front running score first time over the inner strip for a barn that's going pretty well at the stand; expect they'll again push her hard from the bell, but her uncoupled mate drawn next door brings some fresh speed to the table and this one's last out pilot ends up there as well; could find herself with little left late; siding against the repeat.

Missed Count

Fresh filly is the barn's second runner in here and she'll make her first start off their claim today which has been a productive angle of late for them; she'll return in a protected spot which is a positive and the pilot named has done quite well for them; expecting she'll return ready to roll second time over the inner; contender.

Hot Rendezvous

Statebred turns back to sprint after a troubled run going long in the restricted stake here last month; filly earned a big number in victory while sprinting 2 back over this strip and she does figure to have more to offer in the lane at this shorter trip; if things get hot up top she's the one to fear late.

So Blessed

Didn't have enough to offer from a wide spot when dropped in for a conditioned tag here 5 weeks back; filly does get a weight break with the bug named for this, but she hasn't seen the winner's circle since taken by this outfit last summer; looking elsewhere for the winner.

Dee Dee's Comet

Saw her number taken down after reaching the wire ahead a nostril against statebreds in the local mud; gray showed speed in that one, but she doesn't need the lead and proved in the fall that she can pass runners late so the move off the fence could help.

Eyes of Midas

She's another exiting statebred competition, but she enters this one seeking her third straight score; filly has really done her best over the inner track and she draws well to employ the stalking tactics that have proven successful for her here; giving her the nod to keep rolling against this open bunch. - Steve Grabowski

Race 6

Risk Control

Sire wins with approximately 11% of his first-time starters and dam was winless from six starts; this looks like a pretty tough spot for a firster, but she has a distance pedigree, and this barn has won with 21 of 120 (18%) first-time starters the past five years.

Sun and Moon

She is making her first start beyond 5 1/2f, but she's run well in all three of her starts to begin her career, and she might be able to grab the early lead and prove to be tough to catch; it looks like she tuned up with a sharp four furlongs on January 27 in preparation for this.

Lift

300k purchase didn't run poorly at first asking and she has every right to be ready for better with that experience behind her; like to see that she's had a series of evenly spaced workouts since her career debut.

Ka Buki Rose

Perhaps with the stretch out in distance and the addition of blinkers she can prove to be an early pace factor, but she's obviously going to need to show more if she's planning on seeing her number posted on top after this one is run.

Tiffany

335k purchase goes out for a capable win-early barn but it would have been nice to have seen her show more in her first two starts; third-place finisher from latest won next out at Prx on 1/19 going 6f vs. MSW rivals with a 69 Beyer.

Rosedale Arch

She hasn't attracted much wagering support for her first two starts and she tired badly at second asking after showing interest early on; when considering her pedigree, maybe a move to turf down the road will be a key for her; runner up from latest won next out here on 1/18 going 1 1/16m vs. MSw rivals with a 74 Beyer.

Hot Sirachi

She goes from one high win percentage barn to another and Jacobson sees fit to call upon Cohen for this; have to list her among the contenders and the winner from her latest race returned to win next out at GP on 1/23 going 1m over turf vs. 75k OPC's with a 75 Beyer.

Praise Be

Sire wins with approximately 11% of his first-time starters and dam won once from five starts for 26k, and her one win was earned routing; this filly is a 1/2 to multiple stakes winner Red Hot Buddha (6-14, 234k, 3 wins over turf and 3 wins sprinting) and multiple stakes placed Cue the Moon (1-6, 145k).

Aqua Regia

She's finished behind today's rival Sun and Moon in her first two starts but she was much improved at second asking, and even though the added distance is a question, she commands her share of respect in this spot with that performance in tow.

William'sluckygray

She might be looking to show some early speed while stretching out in distance, especially with an outside post in play in a two-turn mile; perhaps she'll be ready to take a step forward the second time around, and her most recent workout appears to be improved. - Jim Kachulis

Race 7

Alcolite

Chased a runaway winner in last but was clearly 2nd best; won't be getting a wide trip today saving ground from the 1 post while likely racing from mid-pack; the 2-back winner and runner-up finishers posted 80-70 Beyer speed figures in next-out AQU-optional-claiming and allowance victories; the 3-back winner and runner-up Beyered 94-83 in next-out AQU-125K stakes and OPC wins.

Awesome Heart

The 3-back win rider when sprinting on a wet-main track sides with Chrisandlorisposse for this; has something to prove vs. Alcolite after losing to that one at today's distance in last while posting his lowest Beyer since October; wish we projected a hotly-contested pace between Chilton-Saturday Appeal which would help his late kick.

Chilton

Is the one to catch here with Saturday Appeal the likely pace presser; winless since March, 2012, 14 races ago winning a 25K-maiden claimer at 8.3F on AQU-Inner Dirt stalking the pace then winning by a neck margin; beat the 2-back show finisher who Beyered 67 in his next-out AQU-$12,500-claiming win; the 3-back runner-up finisher Beyered 74 in his next-out AQU-$12,500-claming win.

The Brothers Rap

Just 1 race during career going long was over a wet-main track where he produced the 2nd-lowest Beyer of his career; the 2-back winner repeated in an AQU-OPC event with an 86 Beyer; the 4-back winner repeated in an AQU-OPC iwth a 77 speed figure; stretches back out seeking answers.

Onecats Chance

Blinkers on for the 1st time today which is interesting timing coming off the maiden breaker with a career-best Beyer attached; late runner needs Chilton and Saturday Appeal to duel each other into defeat through hot fractions to help his late punch; the November winner repeated in an AQU-OPC with an 83 Beyer.

Wise Guide

Win rider is back going 2-for-6 on this guy while the rest of his riders are 0-for-5 combined; game winner in his 1st start in 50 days while has 32 days to regroup for this; great sign that he won fresh because his September-fresh start was dull.

Saturday Appeal

Projects as a pace presence for part with Chilton the one to catch; is ranked a notch below these after losing vs. Acolite in recent races; the 2-back winner and runner-up finishers posted 80-70 Beyer speed figures in next-out AQU-optional-claiming and allowance victories.

Chrisandlorisposse

113 pounds is the lightest-weight assignment ever; win rider Maragh takes Chilton for this while the new pilot had other options but lands here; 54 days since fading in a key race; the winner and runner-up finishers from last posted 80-70 Beyer speed figures in next-out AQU-optional-claiming and allowance victories; lone win in a 1-turn Mile so the final yards are a concern.

Jesses Giant Dunk

Scored the maiden breaker rallying last-to-1st in his longest-distance test ever; adds yardage for the 1st start with winners which is often any runner's toughest-class assignment; the 3-back winner repeated in an AQU-OPC with an 83 Beyer. - Art Gropper

Race 8

Hot Stones

She hasn't run a bad race to date while winning four of seven starts and this looks like a favorable spot for her to try to improve upon her already impressive race record; Ortiz has won with 5 of 11 (45%) mounts for this barn at the current meeting.

Majestic Marquet

Late running filly carries multiple stakes placed credentials with her but it does look like she's going to need to improve upon her recent form in order to get the job done in this spot; feel that a minor award is likely the ceiling.

Lady Gracenote

No one else in here can boast seven victories or more than 300k in earnings, and this mare has shown the ability to dial up a performance that can make her a threat for the top spot against these; like to see that she's been at her best racing over the inner dirt in the past.

Love Contract

In a race where the winner seems very likely to earn a Beyer Speed Figure in the upper 70's or even into the 80's, this multiple stakes palced mare sports a top figure of 69; possible early pace factor might have a tough time try to keep up with these through the stretch.

Mr Hall's Opus

Grade 3 stakes placed miss enters this race off of a performance that was well below par for her, and don't care to see that she finished behind today's rival Love Contract in that race, but it is safe to say that her best effort is strong enough to get her into the mix against these.

Magma (GB)

Her best effort appears to be short of the mark of what it will take to come out on top in this event and this has to be considered a tough step up in class for her after being claimed for 16k from her latest start; she's another who might have a tough time trying to keep pace late after showing some early speed.

Tahoe Tigress

She's run very well in a number of starts for this barn and she appears to be in good form entering this race after coming up just a little bit short in a stakes attempt in her latest outing; her lack of early speed makes her vulnerable to a slow early pace, but she deserves to be listed among the contenders. - Brian Pochman

Race 9

Tactical Pal

The addition of blinkers 1st off the claim improved his Beyer speed figure 39 points 2nd-time out showing a style change rallying from off the pace when speed crazy in his debut; rider of last sides with Royal Posse for this; 3rd start in 30 days is the issue while the workout for this did not impress; if can repeat latest would be hard to ignore in the exotics.

Let's Discuss

Career-improving Beyer pattern while in latest was screaming out for more yaradge but 6F still may be too short to see very-best form; the 2-back runner-up finisher Beyered 61 in his next-out AQU-35K-maiden-claiming victory.

My Mojo

Sire is 78-for-693 with 1st-time starters; is out of an unraced dam who produced 3 winners from 5 other foals to race including top-earner 317K-stakes-placed Slevin (7-for-26); will be taking a wait and see approach.

Startripenterprise

Outworked other 1sters Nate and D D and My Mojo in their final 4F morning drills for this racing for a high-percentage 1ster trainer; sire is 3-for-16 with 1st-time starters; is out of a stakes-placed dam (3-for-21, 210K) who's only other foal to race is 4-0-0-0 Skinnydipper (1K).

Essence of a Hero

Raced greenly in the career debut ducking in during the stretch run in the educational unveiling; the workout for today's 2nd start does not enthuse for a trainer who began the Inner Dirt meet an icy 0-for-10; off the debut defeat view as a pace presence.

Island Therapy

Good 2nd-time out speed figure improvement with 1st blinkers and with an 8-week freshening between races; rallied like he wanted to run longer than 6F; the debut show finisher Beyered 74 in his next-out AQU-20K-maiden-claiming graduation; see plenty of upside.

Clearly Perfection

Do not see an improved workout for today's 2nd-career start which can be a dramatic-form improvement race; tackles NY-breds after the dull PRX unveiling where he showed zero gate speed; is projected to fire better at longer distances than 6F.

Nate and D D

Sire is 40-for-351 with debut runners; is the 1st foal out of a 2-for-16 dam (30K); the worktab does stand out but races for a high-percentage-1ster trainer who does not do nearly as well (10% winners) when unveiling one in a maiden claimer.

Royal Posse

Takes the biggest-class drop in racing angle from MSW-to-maiden claiming; the runner-up finisher from last Beyered 69 in his next-out AQU-MSW diploma earner; his muddy-6th-place finish 2 races ago represents a field-best Beyer speed figure; 1st sprint since his debut vs. the runner-up finisher who Beyered 67 in his next-out AQU-MSW triumph.

Bold Senator

4F workout for this suggests a huge improvement is on the way; the trainer rarely wins with 1sters but wish he showed anything in the 55-1 debut loss 34 days ago; trainer also does well going MSW-to-maiden claiming; see some upside. - Art Gropper