Aqueduct: Closer Looks for March 16, 2014

Race 2

Cost Affective

60K for a maiden race and 5 enter? let's hope those Florida horses venture north soon...that said, this colt is a contender in here, having run third in three straight races; inner track efforts here have resulted in Beyers in the 69-71 range - not great but they match up with those that have run; edged by a neck for the place spot by Frame last out.

Frame

Moved forward in his latest but take note of him racing clear on the lead and enjoying an easy pace; finished a neck in front of Cost Affective last out and was 1 1/4 lengths behind him Dec. 26; so there is not a lot separating these two.

Simply Mas

Although on the board in two starts, those races came at Suffolk against easier; didn't impress the Beyer boys with figures of 19 and 14; blinkers come on; suspect this one is just using this race to gear up for racing later in the year at Suffolk; pass.

Spartiatis

Being by Scat Daddy, he's bred for the turf, but it is on the dirt two back that was his best race; might have needed that last race when returning from two months off, and a wide trip didn't help; has a history of tiring - so cut back in distance; needs to run faster.

Mr. Ticker Talker

390K buy is by 2014's leading sire, Tapit, whose runners are on a tear; this one has fired 4bullets at Fair Hill in preparation for his debut; 13% debut winners for progeny of Tapit; dam was a twice stakes-placed sprinter; 3 winners from as many foals to race from the dam, including a minor stakes placed horse; choice. - Byron King

Race 3

Bobby V.

Fair Hill shipper spent an eternity at the open N1X allowance class, and was a disappointment in his last two tries at Penn and Parx; the winner of his last race subsequently dropped an N1X/optional event by a nose, receiving an 87 Beyer; on the edges.

Speightscity

Leading trainer Jacobson has impressive stats first-time off the claim, and when he's given the bug Rice a leg up; classy son of champion sprinter Speightstown is halving in price following a freshening, which makes his hard to gauge; pretender.

Where's Danny (IRE)

Irish import has been competitive at this level, without really threatening the winner; he's being reunited with Arroyo, who's 0 for 9 at the meet for this trainer; can see him rounding out the tri or super.

Park City

The probable favorite is dropping from the second allowance category, and possesses an edge on his rivals in the Beyer department; the second and fourth horses from his last race both came back to prevail in optional-claiming company; Pletcher won at a 27% clip first-time with a tag over the past five years ($1.45 ROI); prime contender.

Nevada

Tapit gelding is descending to a new low off a troubled fourth in a $35K seller at Gulfstream; the bug Esquivel and Orseno are a combined 1 for 6 at the meet; plodder should be along to pick up some of the pieces, at the very least.

Cousin Michael

Comebacker earned a Beyer in the low 80s in two of his last three excursions, both in NY-bred optional-claiming company; hot trainer has excellent numbers with longer layoff types, and is 1 for 8 at the meet when he's used Decarlo; use in exotics. - Ron Gierkink

Race 4

Shiloh

Broke 11th from the gate was rushed up then had nothing 1st-time out; wish the trainer was better than 1-for-17 with 2nd-time starters and 1-for-10 when dropping one in from MSW-to-maiden claiming because they are 2 significant wakeup angles; good sign that the debut rider keeps the faith.

Ms. Sylvia A.

1st Lasix and 2nd-time out are both improvement angles; 1-for-14 long-layoff trainer since 2013 off the debut loss is an issue; does take the MSW-to-maiden claiming class-drop angle the biggest in racing and the barn is a rock solid 2-for-5 using this move since 2013.

Fashionation

Seems the one to catch exiting a field-best Beyer speed figure when just missing at shorter; the final yards here are the biggest issue but does not face world beaters in this event; continues to step up in price off the losses noting the 3-back start for today's price tag was an outrun line vs. Crazy Over Easy and the runner-up finisher who Beyered 43 in a next-out AQU-25K-maiden-claiming win.

Crazy Over Easy

Hopes to show better stamina 2nd-time out after flashing brief-gate speed; adding a half furlong today does not help the confidence level; the good news is the trainer yields an amazing 37% winners with 2nd-time maiden starters since 2013 so this is her speciality; beat Fashionation in her only start as they chased a next-out 43 Beyer graduate.

Jilly Mac

Sire is 21-for-299 with 1st-time starters; is the 1st foal out of a 4-0-0-1 dam (3K); gives away experience to each opponent today; super trainer in most all categories but yields just 9% winners since 2013 when unveiling one in a maiden claimer.

Frosty Lover

Claimed off the debut rally where she hit the gate broke last and was screaming out for more yardage but remains at 6F; a lot of suspect speed signed on here and hopes to launch her rally from a closer to the pace; see lots of upside 8 days later for start 2

Just Catty

2nd-start Beyer regression leads to the class drop; the debut winner is now 2-for-2 posting a 73 speed figure in her next-out AQU-optional-claiming win; adds blinkers to help the gate speed and the workout for this suggests we may see a new-and-improved filly today. - Art Gropper

Race 6

The Right Bird

Tries the local circuit for the first time while also making her first start under this barn's care; filly didn't do much in her sprint debut at Churchill though she did chase some pretty solid splits up top and the winner of that heat returned to take the G3 Schuylerville upstate last summer with a 72 Beyer; dam did drop a couple of route winners including G1 SW router and 448K earner Karlovy Vary; doesn't look to catch a very tough bunch and she certainly figures to appreciate the added ground; consider.

Image of Anna

Offered some early interest in each of her 2 sprint tries but didn't have a lot to offer late; filly doesn't boast a particularly solid route pedigree so don't know that this trip will move her up much, but she does figure to try and take it to them from the bell and may have to be run down.

Rosedale Arch

Wasn't a threat when trying 2 turns for the first time last out but she wasn't disgraced by the money finishers either; she goes for an outfit that does well second off the break and though her pilot opts off she does get a solid replacement; move forward second time at this configuration could get her a minor share at a decent price.

Colonel Juanita

Ships back here after running a big number on the stretch back out at Laurel earlier in the month; gal who beat her had run a 63 Beyer prior to the victory so there's a decent shot the number is legitimate; filly showed solid early interest in that one and she did run well sprinting against cheaper 2 back over the track so maybe the local return helps; anything close to her out of town try makes her tough to beat.

Pitched

Has a foundation of a couple of sprints for the stretchout try but she really didn't offer much in either of those starts; barn worked her long last weekend for this, but they haven't had much luck of late with stretchouts; unraced dam did drop a route winner.

Praise Be

Adds shades for her second career spin after showing little run until too late first time out; filly goes for a barn that does well with its second out runners and a top pilot will get aboard; each of her 5 sibs to race is a winner and one is a G2 SP router, but they are a combined 0 for 9 going long; she is capable of improving and there's not a lot in this cozy heat; contender. - Steve Grabowski

Race 7

Rodinia

Fresh and dangerous; this is the first time mare has been offered for sale since the claim in November; proven on the inner, she was far from disgraced the last two times at this level; drills well spaced for barn that is rolling; look out.

Newyork Conspiracy

Can't be thrilled about the inner slate; she tried hard in last despite the traffic jam and seems comfortable in a stalk and pounce position; apparently not much of a work horse; probably needs to improve to get there this time.

Another Page

Wraps added for the last 3; try to get a good look at her on the track; she has more speed than she just showed and would not be shocked if bug tries to get her into the race earlier this time; fully extended in the 2013 closer and it may have zapped her; still, can't count out.

Maxana

Filly got away with the slow splits last time and had plenty left in the tank; pace should be quicker here; 2 of her 3 wins came on the inner but she has to prove she can put wins together; trainer has been firing with everything; not sure race sets up all that great for her today.

Guyana Princess

Toss races away from the inner and the form brightens; been awhile since the last score; it came in a $15K claimer in 2012; must hurry.

Sugar Beach

Did that head victory in March of last year just knocked the starch out of her?; she had to hit the bench and has not looked sharp since; bothered early in last and she can show more speed if in the mood; needs a turn around.

Jerusalem Stone

Pushed into the stakes last May and has faltered since; no speed, no asset and with her style, things will always have to unfold just right; would be careful here. - Brian Mulligan

Race 8

Oltre' Oro

Rice has scored at a very good 26% clip first-time off the claim on the inner track over the past five years ($2.35 ROI); promising colt earned a juicy 83 Beyer when he wired $50K maidens at second asking, and has landed in a spot where he can double up; obvious speed threat.

Village Warrior

Repole Stable runner wasn't an impact player when he jumped up to this level off a workmanlike graduation Feb. 21; note that he checked in a distant second behind Oltre' Oro after racing wide in early January; Maragh, who broke his maiden, is 1 for 11 at the meet for this powerful barn; tri factor.

Otoy

Bernstein colt got dusted in a series of stakes after earning his diploma, and his first attempt at this optional-claiming level was disappointing; he figures to flash some stalking speed before tiring in his fourth start off the bench.

Pass the Coffee

Unbeaten son of War Pass won his two races by a combined total of about 11 lengths, with an average Beyer of just 56; will have to take his game to another level here if he's to make his presence felt; don't believe that he's up to the task at hand.

Lawmaker

Went from his first-out maiden victory at Laurel to the G2 Jerome, in which he finished a non-challenging fifth of eight while putting up a respectable 77 Beyer; could only manage fifth as the favorite in a tough N1X most recently, from which the runner-up exited to land a $100K stakes at Laurel (91 Beyer); Brown possesses solid numbers with blinkers on; contender. - Ron Gierkink

Race 9

Crescent Street

Newcomer was sired by multiple G1 pure sprinter Street Boss who baned 831K (his offspring have done well first time out, winning 20 of 105); the dam went 5 for 21 earning 196K; among the winning siblings is 80K earner Crescent's Mon.

Chief Assignment

Progeny of Hook and Ladder, a G2 winner who notched 388K, have scored in 32 out of 271 initial starts; the dam won 5 of 35 attempts and 175K; this is her only foal to make it to the starting gate.

Southern Proper

Could not recover from a slow break in his maiden voyage last year; his sire won a G1 and 2.35 million; the dam never raced and this is her sole foal to compete; latest training track blowout was fair.

Slew's Brew

Although failing to finish in the money as a juvenile, the most recent breeze from the gate suggests he may be a pace factor today; lost serious ground in his 2013 getaway race and should offer a fair price on the board once again.

Stenson

The grey was sired by 44K earner Freud whose descendants have thus far won 40 out of 355 debuts; the dam won 3 of 19 and 138K; among the winning sibs is 198K earner Lauren's Tizzy; moderate a.m. drills are shown.

Bambisfrostyracer

Worked today distance last month, a good sign, and the trainer has been going great guns; the colt's sire won a G1 and 454K (offspring of Frost Giant are 5 for 39 as far as winning their first test); the dam won 2 of 11 and 48K; there are no winning sibs to mention.

Four Directions

Finished well in his first attempt in a race that comes up above average in overall quality; his sire won multiple G1s and 3.63 million; the dam won 1 of 7 and 12K; among the winning sibs is 23K earner Peachy Baby.

Chase the Giant

Showed more prompting ability in that second despite a bumpy beginning; see Bambisfrostyrace, above, for information about the same sire; the dam scored in 7 of 42 appearances earning 138K; sib to 75K earner Jesses Giant Dunk.

Police Camp

Continues to fail over the inner dirt surface although all of those defeats were over off-tracks; note improvement to the latest half-mile breeze on the training track; the gelding cannot be considered though until he learns to break alertly.

Lyrical Miracle

Sired by Miracle Man, who won 5 of 18 and 186K (his progeny are zero for 3 as far as winning their first try); the dam lost her only race and this is her sole foal to start; solid gate breeze 9 days ago to note.

Startripenterprise

Held on strong when facing claimers to begin his career while favored; his sire won a G3 and 354K while the dam won 3 of 21 and 210K; there are no winning siblings to highlight; makes the difficult leap to special weight class.

Bad to the Roan

Draws a tough slot but the workout pattern of late is solid; his sire won a G1 sprint and 759K (descendants of the prolific Smoke Glacken have won 81 out of 609 initial starts); the dam won 2 of 19 and 100K; there are no winning sibs to highlight. - Jim Kachulis