Aqueduct: Closer Looks for March 24, 2014

Race 1

Sidearm

Colt has teased in this league a few times; he has hooked clear winners in the last pair and there seems to be enough speed to help promote the kick; colt has the experience of breaking from the rail so that will not be new; should be picking up serious steam late.

Let's Discuss

Took awhile to figure it out, had the excuse of the mud two back, was over 4 clear in last and show horse was well in front too; 2/21 winner proved it was no fluke winning next out in the $100K Caposella with a 99 Beyer; bred and owned by trainer, must be left in the mix.

Noon Shadow

Clipped heels, beat 4, was not himself when not wanting to load on a course he may have disliked; place horse in the debut graduated 3 races later but has been out of the money in 4 straight; drilled steadily for this but he was getting late in the win and now goes a furlong farther; lean toward watching one.

Forged

The drop worked to perfect but he found life with winners a little different; 1/27 place horse took a maiden $35K claimer next out; he has yet to pass a horse so if he doesn't get the lead, then what?; the blood is there for him to have a nice career as kin to multiple stakes winner and over $650K earner Comedero; must be left in the mix.

Three for Me

Wide in first pair, in tight last time as more experienced pilot takes the reins; there are a pair in the tree that earned at least $97K a piece; he must be doing well as he was entered Sunday when he drew the rail at this level in a route; respect.

The Rhythmisright

Colt should be sent along right back; fit enough to post a couple of drills since the last effort, he was over 4 clear but must devise a strategy to turn the tables on the rail; show horse 1/13 graduated next out, then won in this very league March 2 with a 60 Beyer; place horse 1/13 earned a 70 Beyer graduating on the stretch out next out; just may get brave with a lonely lead.

Social Rebellion

After the grass maiden breaker, he was pushed into the stakes and has not looked the same since; shades off like they were for the lone victory; looking elsewhere for a key top horse. - Brian Mulligan

Race 2

E Z Passer

She's done some decent work racing over the inner dirt in her career, but she enters this race off of a performance that was well below par for her, and that was her first start after a claim; perhaps the fact that she's being returned to action on 10 days is a sign that her connections feel she'll bounce right back.

Go Olivia Go

She hauls the best last race Beyer Speed Figure into this spot with her and that was a solid winning performance she showed up with while making her first start after a claim for this barn; she was beaten by today's rival Mess in a Dress two starts back, but she has the look of a top contender against these.

Taylor Jagger

One of two signed on in this six-horse affair going out for the Jacobson barn, and not only was this miss on top of her game when last seen, but this will be her first start for Jacobson after a 16k claim; Velasquez has won with 11 of 46 (24%) mounts for this barn at the current meeting.

Mess in a Dress

She's light on recent winning form, but she's another in here making her first start after a claim for the Jacobson barn and her best effort is clearly strong enough to make her a threat; she's another in here who has done well racing over the inner dirt, and Ortiz does get his share of live calls from this barn.

Bozique

Her two most recent starts haven't been her best, and her better Beyer Speed Figures have been earned racing over turf, but she was once capable of putting together a decent performance over dirt; she might be using this race as a conditioner for a return to turf in the near future, so going to lean toward others.

Ezpz Lemon Squeeze

Her best effort over dirt doesn't look like it's strong enough to get the job done in this spot, and she's another who might be looking forward to getting back over turf down the road; her lack of early speed makes her a candidate to be outrun throughout. - Brian Pochman

Race 3

Lady Luciano

Storied Lady beat her 2 back while today she is on the wrong end of the scales giving her nemesis 5 pounds extra for the rematch; she beat the runner-up finisher from last who posted a 63 Beyer speed figure in a next-out AQU-MSW win.

Storied Lady

Great sign that she continues to improve her Beyer for each start but in latest fell short to Saratoga Shoes; she beat SS out of the gate in last and hoping maybe she can change tactics a little and sit just off that one for this then make 1 run; outran those nearly 37-1 odds and seemed to fit well very with winners; hard to leave out.

Saratoga Shoes

Was surprised she did not break sharper in her 1st-route test but finished a good 2nd handling Storied Lady while chasing a runaway winner; sizzling-AQU Inner Dirt barn adds to the appeal and the rest have to be concerned if she breaks on top with an easy lead today.

Bridget Moloney

Comes off a career-low Beyer with distance questions to answer; in state-bred events like this I try to find a runner who may have competed well vs. open company and in this event she fits that billing; lightweight getting 4-9 pounds from each rival helps the cause too; 1st time beyond 6F is cause for concern; sire was a G2-SW at 9F on dirt; dam did not race longer than 6F on dirt.

Mlle. Minuit

Deep closer among this group was no match for similar rivals in last; she needed the start, hasn't worked great since and the barn is 0-for-11 since 2013 with starters 2nd time off the bench; being widest drawn doesn't help matters out any either sure to lose ground. - Art Gropper

Race 4

Unforced

Trailed throughout in his debut 3 weeks ago and there is only light workout activity since; his sire won 4 of 8 starts and 89K: the dam scored in 9 of 25 appearances earning 69K; there are no winning siblings to mention.

Tax Alex

His maiden voyage last summer at Saratoga was deceptive as he rushed into a fast pace before fading; the colt's sire won 3 of 18 and 360K while the dam won 9 of 27 and 317K; there are no winning sibs to report; some decent, recent breezes to consider.

Thrill Hill

Disappointed as the favorite in the last pair but he makes his first start under new silks and the latest a.m.move from the gate was upbeat; an alert start for a change would help him obtain his first exacta finish.

Island Therapy

Very light Beyers achieved thus far as he exits some of the slower maiden claimers of the meet; switches to apprentice handling for the first time and will have to improve significantly, especially pace-wise, in order to have a realistic chance.

Kick'n Butt

His best performance by far was over a fast track so perhaps 2 of his last 3 defeats can be overlooked; can return instant dividends for the new connections but another short price is certain; a pair of fair maintenance breezes turned in this month.

Sandomonium

New face hails from G2 victor Old Fashioned who banked 583K and whose offspring have won 5 of 35 initial starts; the dam involved was zero for 4 in her career; among the winning siblings is 121K earner Half Nelson; does not have to be much to make an impact.

Metropolitan Storm

Wheels back on a week's notice but still has not shown much firepower regardless of distance or soil condition; draws wide for the first time in a while and the cards seemed stack against him once again; cannot endorse.

Midnight Missile

The selection based on class relief, equipment change and the fact that he ran against Brass Pear earlier this month; that runner came back to run a deceptively strong fourth (while caught wide on 3/15, a day where inside speed dominated); should awaken today for expert trainer. - Jim Kachulis

Race 6

Mighty Zealous

Draws the fence for his second career start after some early trouble kept him from offering his best last time; gelding goes for an outfit that excels with its runners who have had a race and the number this guy earned in the debut run does fit in here; he's the first foal out of a dam who won twice; contender.

My Uncle Frank

Had little impact with local claimers in his debut run and now he'll step up to face MSWs; gelding goes for a low percentage outfit that hasn't saddled a recent second out winner; he is kin to a handful of winners including 4 who scored sprinting so maybe he has more to offer with the initial experience behind him, but he's got some improving to do to threaten in here.

Waterway

Colt's return from 11 months on the shelf wasn't much but he should be tighter for this one and he did earn field best numbers here prior to the time off; colt has yet to hit the board over the inner, though, and the barn hasn't had any recent luck with runners going second back from the break; consider.

Readyheartandsoul

Sire is 5 for 47 with his newcomers and the dam was a 2 time winner (routing and on turf) before dropping a limited sprint winner; the barn hasn't had a lot of recent luck right out of the box, but they had been training this guy in Florida are recently as last week so they may think he has a little ability; gelding went for 21 times his sire's stud fee at auction last summer.

Bambisfrostyracer

Sire is 5 for 39 with his first out runners and the dam won sprinting twice, including her debut effort before dropping this guy; he's another whose works don't offer a lot of clues as to his real ability but this barn is certainly capable of firing with a newcomer.

Ten Year Warranty

Gets Lasix for the first time in his return from nearly 4 full months on the shelf; 4 year old faces a bunch of 3 year olds here and maybe getting off the fence will help him some; dam was an 8 time route winner and 215K earner so maybe he moves up quickly.

Worth Wild

Newcomer will get Lasix and a top pilot for his unveiling for a barn that is going pretty well here; his sire gets about 11% first out winners from his offspring and the limited sprint winning dam dropped winners from each of her 5 foals to race including SW statebred sprinter and 243K earner Dagnabit; there's a bit of a gap in his worktab, but he still demands some attention.

Shinnecock Bay

Barn's second runner in here showed pretty good early foot from the fence first time out and understandably came up short late; he'll get Lasix for this one as well as a switch to a top pilot; he is kin to 5 sprint winners and has a right to be better with the initial experience behind him; outside slot could help put him in a nice pace tracking spot from the bell; giving him the nod to get home first today. - Steve Grabowski

Race 8

Antipathy

Always love the GP winter meet-to-New York win angle for a 42%-winning AQU-jockey-trainer combo; last time Ortiz rode was the 2-back loss vs. the runner-up finisher who posted a 92 Beyer speed figure in her next-out CRC-100K stakes win.

Natalie Victoria

Exits a field-best Beyer speed figure when defeating the show and 6th-place finishers; they Beyered 80-67 in next-out AQU-starter allowance and 20K-claiming wins; versatile mare with 4 wins on the lead 4 from off the pace she figures to be a force from bell-to-finish here.

Firenze Feeling

Way off best form; in both Inner Dirt defeats she lacked stamina; the winner from last made it 3 in a row in an AQU-Grade 2 with a 90 Beyer; she beat the 3-back show finisher a next-out 74 speed figure LRL-optional-claiming winner; won off nearly a 1-year layoff so this 60-day absence is not cause for concern.

Miss Da Point

Figures to be the main speed here with Natalie Victoria; receives the highest weight assignment since December for her 2nd start since a 7-week absence; the return was poor vs. New York breds now tackles open company again; view as a pace presence for part.

Miss Mischief

Stakes winner has not raced beyond 7F yet; sire only raced on synthetic surfaces; he went 1-for-1 in synthetic routes taking a Grade 1 event at 8.5F; 1st foal from the dam who finished 2nd her in only dirt route in an LS allowance; class relief here; the winner from last Beyered 90 in a next-out AQU-100K-stakes score; the 2-back winner repeated in a GP-150K stakes with an 87 Beyer. - Art Gropper

Race 9

Got the Moves

Switches to a journeyman pilot while moving to the fence for his second start back from the break; gelding's last was his best yet and he did encounter some trouble in that one, but he's still yet to run nearly as fast as some of these; maybe for a share.

Camp Floyd

Ships up here from Tampa Bay Downs where he didn't have too much to offer first time on dirt, but he did run into a couple of next out winners on the drop to this level (Beyers of 44 and 42); he'll get a weight break with the capable bug named and maybe getting off the fence helps some; consider.

Johnny Star

He's had some time since the third of his poor efforts since debuting on the main track in the fall; he boasts just one slow recent breeze for his return for an outfit that doesn't win many races; can only watch this longshot today.

Kissed and Missed

Gelding was justly removed from the top spot and placed second when scoring at odds on second time off the barn's claim last month; he's had time to recover from the effort and will pick up weight while switching to a journeyman pilot for this, but he also appears to be the controlling speed unless the newcomer comes out running; looks as if he'll be the one to catch and beat at a short price.

Proper Impulse

Ships back in here to make his first start over the inner after failing as the chalk at Parx earlier in the year; maybe the time off helped as the barn boasts sharp recent numbers off the break and this guy does own some back numbers that fit rather well in here; still, off his last few starts he's got something to prove.

Run Logan Run

Didn't do much first time out at the level and now he'll return in just a few days to give it another shot; maybe the turn back to sprinting helps get him going and his dam did win twice prior to dropping 4 sprint winners; barn isn't going so well here but this guy figures to offer some type of improvement.

Go to the Net

Moves forward to get third money at a big price behind the DQed winner who returns in this spot as well; 6 year old gets off the fence and maybe that allows him to settle in a better spot today, but he's had 32 tries already; maybe for a share, but it's tough to back him on the win end.

Moonlite Encounter

Wasn't beaten much when moved up a spot at the level over the strip a couple of weeks back; he's another who has had more than his share of chances but his recent efforts here have been solid; big guy in here did beat him rather convincingly 2 back but he was well ahead of him in their prior engagement; contender.

Sir Warbo

Newcomer draws outside while boasting just a few slow drills for his unveiling; colt is by a sire who is 5 for 42 with his newcomers and the limited sprint winning dam's 2 other foals to race were multiple sprint winners including one who won first time out; barn hasn't had a lot of recent luck with its debut runners but this guy wouldn't need to be too much to have a say in the outcome. - Steve Grabowski