Aqueduct: Closer Looks for January 27, 2014

Race 1

Pegasus Tiger

His races against state-breds have been decent; he has the speed to flee the fence but there are others with designs on the lead; 11/20 show horse graduated next out in a maiden $35K claimer, lost next pair; backers can point to the fact that the lone sibling took 4 of 33 and earned over $200K; back to the original pilot; interesting.

Yo Bro

He was not himself for the debut when he acted up and probable left his race right there; dam out of the money twice; lone half bro to race lost 12 times; show horse in debut took a maiden $25K claimer next out and the place horse beaten maiden $15K sellers; needs a turn around.

Pass the Lake

The 2014 opener was okay as he's back in 10 days and note runner was nearly 3 clear before being taken down; dam was 2nd in best moment; 5 of 7 siblings won; top kin Chief's Lake took several stakes, won nearly $400K; may like it here.

Centripital

This is a tough sell no matter how you slice it after he took multiple months off; nice move on the 10th but not the gap in published moves till 12/18; would think long and hard before taking too short a number.

Hunter Grey

Eased in the first dirt try then pinballed against the gate; place horse in last won next out in a maiden $12.5K claimer, was 2nd beaten a nose in a $16K N2L claimer here last Thursday; dam 0 for 3; lone half sis lost 6 times; has some things to iron out.

Bird Hunter

Mugged at the break and he just had nothing left; 6 for 20 dam earned nearly $200K; this is her first to roll; with a clean start, it could be a whole new ballgame.

Mr. Masterpiece

Off a career Beyer when over 10 clear, he has been crushed in all of his efforts on dirt; considering the cut back, he could be left with a ton of work to do turning for the wire. - Brian Mulligan

Race 3

Metro Dreamer

No known excuse to the last defeat except perhaps for the wet-fast conditions; the colt's sire was a multiple G1 pure sprinter who banked 669K; the dam won 2 of 14 appearances and 270K; among the winning siblings is 20K earner Spider Dust; trainer excels with second-timers.

Secret Ops

Beginner has shown some promise in the a.m.; his sire won 570K including G1 success (progeny of D'wildcat have scored in 33 out of 260 debuts); the dam won 3 of 8 and 64K; winning siblings include 199K earner Enumerate.

American Progress

Outfinished Metro Dreamer in their initial match-up and had a much wider trip to boot; his sire won a couple of G3s and 474K; the dam won 3 of 16 attempts and 159K; among the winning sibs is 66K earner Dynamic Barbie.

Changeinaction

Offspring of El Corredor, a G1 winner who netted 727K, have won approximately 9 percent of their first attempts; the dam did not race and there are no winning siblings to mention; a moderate workout pattern is on view.

Vona

Used the rail to full advantage when holding on to the place in the last test; his sire won a G1 and 1.5 million; the dam never raced; among the winning siblings is 15K earner Cheers n Humor; obvious speed threat once again; regardless of footing.

Profluent

The selection based on the set of strong a.m. drills during the last month; the colt flashed some prompting speed in his first run at Laurel; his sire was a G1 turf runner who captured 928K; the dam was zero for 4; sib to 147K earner Kidding. - Jim Kachulis

Race 4

Run for Riches

1st start ever from the rail in last was a likely bounce off the 2-back career-best Beyer speed figure; in last was no match for Jewel in the Sky who is here for the rematch; the late run never materialized in last noting her FL wins were stalking trips; seems best on wet-main tracks; beat the 3-back show finisher who Beyered 43 in her next-out FL-$4,500-claiming win.

Vaid

4-2-1-0 record since the July claim; her 2-back race over the AQU-Inner track was not very enticing although could excuse that effort on a wet track which she hasn't handled now twice; her best game is racing on the lead but had to like latest where she stalked; never thrilled with backing a runner who steps in claiming price off a loss.

Fall Into Faith

1-for-22 dirt record is not easy to take off 7 consecutive off-the-board finishes;that main-track win was accomplished at 2F longer than this; today's 111-pound assignment represents the lightest of her career; the 3-back winner repeated in a LRL-6K claimer with a 61 Beyer.

Jewel in the Sky

Declining-Beyer pattern off the October claim but raced well in defeat in all 3 losses; the 2-back winner repeated in an AQU-20K claimer with a 63 speed figure; the 3-back winner scored right back with a 61 Beyer. last win was on the lead at 1.5F shorter than this but has not made the front since October, 2012.

Midnightinpositano

4-1-0-0 record since the August claim; was not a great sign that her return to AQU-Inner dirt represents her lowest Beyer since May; both wins were via stalking trips but was gunned to the lead for last which is not her best game; the runner-up finisher from last Beyered 70 in her next-out AQU-16K-claiming win.

Tatoo Me

The 61-day layoff did her a world of good snapping a 9-race AQU-Inner Dirt winless streak 2-back by rallying from next-to-last to win paying $99; raced a lot closer to the pace in last then did not have the same stretch punch but still ran well in defeat; makes her 3rd start in 26 days which is the main issue.

Miss Libby

1st time in 33 races she will be equipped with blinkers on; new trainer saw her outrun in latest noting her career-best Beyer was racing over today's surface January, 2013, at 6F finishing 3rd in a 15K claimer; lone win June, '12, on BEL dirt at today's 6F distance. - Art Gropper

Race 5

Beeliner

Going to look for this gelding to be involved in the running early on after breaking from the rail post, but he's never produced a performance that is up to the level of the top contenders in here; he has the look of an outsider.

Barrister Jim

It might be worth noting the presence of Ortiz aboard another in here, but this gelding ran well in his second start for this barn in his latest outing, and Arroyo has won with 3 of 9 mounts for this outfit at the current meeting; however, he's an early pace type and it doesn't look like he's going to have things all his own way through the opening stages.

Finn's Quest

He's run well in back-to-back starts prior to this and it looks like the return to dirt racing has proven to be the key; he's at his best when he has some early pace to run at and it does look like there's enough early zip in here to give him a decent setup.

Anaphylaxis

Multiple stakes placed gelding is the only three-time winner signed on in this spot and he was a solid third in his latest outing in a race that has proven to be productive; winner from latest won next out here on 1/12 going 1m 70y vs. N1X rivals with an 83 Beyer, and fourth finisher, Tizmas, won next out here on 1/17 going 1m 70y vs. starter alw. rivals with a 91 Beyer.

Indy Sea

Two of his three starts over dirt have been solid performances, and that includes a start over the inner dirt in his latest outing; like the idea of him stretching out in distance while making his first start for a new barn after a claim.

Santa Elf

275k purchase has run well in all of his starts over dirt and this is a good spot for him to make his first start since July and his first start as a 4-year-old; Repole-owned gelding appears to be very capable of making some noise against these.

Ruthless Alley

He boasts the best last race Beyer Speed Figure in here but it's just difficult to place confidence in him off of that one performance when considering that his form prior to that wasn't anywhere near that strong; leaning toward others. - Brian Pochman

Race 6

Commodus

Graduated on a fast track which is where both exacta finishes occurred; win rider takes Rap d'Oro for this; receives a negative 11-pound weight swing off the 4-length loss vs. Dapper Draper 2-back when breaking next to last; in latest broke a lot sharper and that would be his best hope to get out of the gate clean and stalk the speed.

Life's a Roar

6-0-0-2 career record with blinkers off noting that they were removed for last; not easy to take the 6-0-0-0 dirt line; his lone win was posted on 'good' turf in 2012; did not show any spark in latest when landing behind similar rivals; the 2-back runner-up finisher Beyered 78 in his next-out 35K-claiming win.

Denn Piper

Today's 111-pound assignment is the lightest of his career seeking answers; is 9-0-0-0 since the maiden breaker at longer over today's track which was more than 1 year ago; that was the only in-the-money finish of his career; would be a complete surprise.

Rap d'Oro

May be willing to excuse latest on a wet-main track; he has been best on fast, dry ovals; posted the field's best Beyer in March at today's distance on AQU Inner Dirt; exits 4 straight sprints so should enjoy returning to a route distance today; best races are when he breaks sharper than 7th which is where he left the gate in last.

Woburn

February's 4th-place finish at 1M and 70 yards was the only time he's ever raced 1 Mile or longer until today; career-best Beyer and lone win over a wet track 3 races ago defeating the runner-up finisher who Beyered 64 in his next-out AQU-16K-maiden-claiming win.

Spirit of Peace

Lone win was on the lead on grass and at least he's been flashing gate speed in recent losses; held on well in latest posting his best Beyer since August; clearly most-recent start was a good sign in his return to today's Inner Dirt oval; has to fend off Mr G Zee and Dapper Draper early then the closers late.

Dapper Draper

Learned to rate in recent races including the 2-back career-best Beyer wet-track win; figures to sit just off Spirit of Peace-Mr G Zee early then hopes to get 1st run on the closers; beat the 2-back runner-up finisher who Beyered 52 in his next-out LRL-8K-maiden-claiming win.

Mr. G. Zee

71 days since the next-to-last place finish with a career-low Beyer; a massive wakeup is needed from latest; his 2-back win was on the lead and hopes to crack Spirit of Peace then hold off the stalkers and closers late; beat the 2-back show runner who Beyered 57 in his next-out AQU-25K-maiden-claiming win; the 3-back show runner Beyered 86-79 in next-out MSW and optional-claiming victories. - Art Gropper

Race 7

Grand Rapport

Just missed against cheaper while making his first start in over 14 months over a track a few weeks ago and now he'll move to the fence for the class rise; gelding has run faster on the lawn, but he returned from the comebacker to work well and the sharp barn keeps them going second time back so maybe he has even more to offer today; consider.

Scotus

Field's highest last out Beyer earner stepped up to beat better in his first off this barn's claim at a slightly longer trip a couple of weeks ago and now they'll offer him back for their 20K purchase price; 6 year old seeks his fourth in a row here and as long as he's remained in one piece since his last he's going to be pretty tough to deny; price won't be much but they'll have to beat him.

Kiss of Thunder

He's offered for a tag today after showing little in a protected spot over the track last out; gelding wasn't much of a threat in his prior inner track spin against conditioned claimers 2 back, either; he sheds some weight with a capable bug named, but looks to have his work cut out for him today.

Festive Spirit

Tries better on the rise in his first start off the claim by a barn that excels with this type; gelding hasn't been good for a while and he's yet to find the winner's circle in 8 career spins over this strip; maybe he's better second back from 9 months on the shelf and this outfit specializes in turning this type around, but this guy is tough to get excited about in here.

Special Action

Gray brings some speed to the table while dropping back to the claiming ranks after fading off his local pace effort last time; 2 time strip winner beat cheaper quite handily 2 back in his local return and he draws inside his stretch out pace foe so he could find himself on the lead or just off it today if that guy is sent; contender.

Buckeye Heart

Was beaten just over a few lengths from a wide spot in his return to the inner at the level while making his first start off the barn's claim; 5 year old doesn't win too often, though his last score did come over this course about 11 months ago; concern is the trip as though he's bred to handle it he's done most of his running at one turn.

Road Agent

He's shown good speed sprinting, but his stamina since moving to this outfit via claim has been questionable; barn's second runner in here figures to be prominent from the bell and there looks to be just one foe between him and the top early; he did break his maiden going long and his pedigree suggests he certainly deserves another crack for a sharp stretchout barn, but his current form raises concern.

Mister Woolman

Didn't have much to offer late in either of his 2 spins on the inner last month after a sharp main track score; colt should get an honest pace to track from out here and though his rider goes next door maybe the switch to a hustling journeyman pilot helps him sit a solid tracking trip today; price should be right.

Hoppy Do

Colt returns at the level of his solid last out placing while retaining the pilot aboard for that one as well as each of his last 2 scores; he'll move to a tough draw for this one, though, and his recent 2 turn number is light of what some of these are capable of running; limiting his use to underneath in exotics. - Steve Grabowski

Race 8

Sunrise Lover

Shades on for this; he's used blinkers twice before and ran 4th and 7th; he needed Finger Lakes foes for the lone win and only beat 2 to the wire in the last cut back run; stablemate may be a bit more potent.

Buddy Red

Can't be thrilled with the record on the inner; he started his career on this circuit but all his success has been at Finger Lakes; he did something in that last win you don't see everyday and that's come back and win after losing the lead; hard to adore.

Bear's Spirit

The old Florida to New York tango here; gelding could have just been overmatched in the stakes last time; note he was 3 clear in the Calder finale and the last race came back fine; the show horse took a $10K GP optional, 9th finisher took an $8K CRC optional and the winner repeated in a $150K stakes on Sunshine Millions Day with a 105 Beyer; respect.

Abra

No magic on this surface so far but he was inching toward the winner in last; hustling bug got a chance to figure him out and note the show horse was over 3 clear; connections gave him a shot in the stakes 2 back and he was probably just over his head; top last race Beyer makes him the one to beat.

Sokitumi Samurai

Toscano thought enough of this guy to take him back; 12/6 place horse took a $30K claimer here next out with a 91 Beyer; place horse 12/22 won at this very level next out with an 85 Beyer; off rail here, legit player.

D' Sauvage

Four times as many slices as wins makes him a tough on top only ticket; 12/14 place horse took a $12.5K claimer, then was 2nd beaten nearly 3 in a $25K optional; like fact he has speed but he doesn't need the lead to win; could slip in for a section.

Bos'n Alwyne

Toss race two back as he broke in the air and never kicked; note he won last year in the second off the layoff run and nearly pulled it over at 22-1 last time; trainer has been firing on all cylinders; too sharp to ignore. - Brian Mulligan