Aqueduct: Closer Looks for March 6, 2014

Race 1

Uragano

Little chance when breaking from the extreme outside a month ago when trounced by key opponent Prime Time City; just on post position transition, can earn a minor share at huge odds; no listed workouts since the last run though.

Prime Time City

Likely to draw the attention of the bridejumper fraternity; he ran well in the last pair at this same level, defeating many of these same opponents; draws ideally and if not pestered by stretchout sprinter Hunter Grey, seems all too obvious; like death and taxes, odds-on status is certain.

Harry Consolidator

The gelding has never finished in the money and the trend is likely to continue although he does exit a recent sprint where he was caught wide; might flash a brief bit of early foot but will not likely affect the favorite unless he breaks sharply inward (he has done so in the past).

Hunter Grey

Probably the only one in the line-up capable of testing Prime Time City today; attended a decent early pace for the class involved in his latest assignment and the morning breeze on 2/27 is solid; worth some inclusion if you have exotic wagering plans.

Mad Props

Rallied belatedly for a thin slice last month while never a threat to Prime Time City; can improve upon that performance if the few pace prompters in this field fade from view before the stretch; would complete short exacta payoff.

Bundler

Lost serious ground in his only start since December and that was his first attempt around 2 turns; can be a money player if Ortiz, who has been riding in top form, can save ground in the early stages; February work tab is lacking, however.

Left Uppercut

Talk about weight concessions; she gets in with a 10-pound apprentice today and is facing males, thus qualifying to carry 15 pounds less than her foes; has displayed some fair route speed over the turf in the past; one puzzling lady. - Jim Kachulis

Race 2

Pinch Me Again

Ths successful young sire Tiz Wonderful was a G2-winning router, but neither of the unraced dam's two route starters on the main track were victorious; trainer scored at a 13% clip second-time off the claim during the past five years ($1.04 ROI); trainer has weak stats with stretchouts; post 1 in routes at the meet has yielded 20% winners.

Please No Emails

The probable pacemaker is lengthening out off a workmanlike maiden win under Rice, who has landed on Appearance; her route form is decent, and she could take this field a long way if the track is kind to inside/speed; use underneath in gimmicks.

Red Constitution

Bernardini filly wired $25K maidens early in the meet, but will likely have to cope with a more demanding pace scenario in this $40K starter; his new bug rider has posted excellent numbers for Rudy, who's worked this gal regularly leading up to this engagment; on the edges.

Appearance

Raced wide while the rail was golden when a fading fifth in a six-furlong dash at this level Jan. 25; a repeat of her runner-up placing in a Dec. 13 optional starter would likely be good enough to get the job done here; sheds some weight with the live bug Rice riding for Jacobson, a hot combo; dangerous.

My Jimmy Chew Girl

Wasn't an impact player in her last few, including the Busher Stakes; daughter of Thunder Gulch is bred to run long, but the jury's still out as to how far she'll go; trainer/rider tandem is 2 for 7 at this stand; tri factor.

Front Cover Dream

Sprinter is bred to run long on the dam's side--she was a stakes-placed router, and three of her four route starters on the main track were victorious; trainer sports poor numbers with stretchouts, but he's had some success when using the bug; doubtful. - Ron Gierkink

Race 3

Dowager

Two of her first four starts have been much stronger races than what any of her rivals in here have shown to be capable of, and as long as she shows up and runs her race, she figures to be tough to tackle; Ortiz has won with 5 of 10 mounts for this barn at the current meeting.

Hope Rules

Half-sister to G1 winner Funny Moon (5-15, 530k) has seen her form head in the wrong direction since a decent effort at first asking and it's worth noting the presence of Ortiz aboard Dowager; third finisher from latest won next out here on 2/10 going 1m vs. 35k MCL's with a 65 Beyer.

Bi Light of Day

Her two most recent races have been a couple of her better performances, and her most recent start was over the inner dirt, but she's going to need to be ready to take her game to another level to have a chance at the top prize in here.

Mary's Mystique

Late running miss has improved since stretching out in distance after her career debut, but like the others in here, she's going to need to see Dowager show up with a performance that is well below par in order to have a chance at something more than a minor award.

Legally Bay

She finished behind a couple of today's rivals in her most recent start and it looks like she might have a tough time trying to get herself into the mix against these while stepping back up in class to take on maiden special weight competition.

Sundae School

Her better Beyer Speed Figures have been earned racing over turf and she is going to have to step it up over what she's shown in her dirt starts if she's planning on putting any pressure on Dowager in here.

Tizallheart

She looks like another in here who is more comfortable racing over turf than dirt and it is worth noting that she was soundly defeated by today's rival Dowager just two races ago; it looks like a minor award is probably the ceiling. - Brian Pochman

Race 4

Western Tryst

Finally draws inside and lands into a field that simply lacks any pure pacesetter; lost all chance at the break of his last attempt and now re-unites with Velasquez who was aboard 3 back when the gelding lost to a blowout, repeat winner; consider.

Frost Jordan

Graduated in his second start while heavily backed and finds a very soft allowance field in this comeback; sharp half-mile breeze over the training track should have him ready and he is one of the legit true contenders regardless of soil condition at post time.

Lt. Kojak

Suffolk import raced in the Big Apple long ago but has spent the majority of his career on the grass; did break maiden in an off-the-turfer but that was a route affair and that is this gelding's best setting; this could be merely a springboard race towards that end.

Sunrise Lover

Broke alertly abut then retreated when cutting back recently; just on pace cross-reference, he may find himself on or near the lead here and the half-mile fraction should be much slower than in the last run; may last longer than most bettors project.

Jack's R Wild

Tried to rally effectively last month but lost way too much ground turning for home; can work out a better trip here and the latest blowout is a step in the right direction; seems worth some inclusion at the least in the superfecta.

Dark Roast

On the shelf since a bold finish last fall at Belmont; a consistent rallier regardless of surface, he shows 2 attempts over this inner dirt course (the latest was a route where he was bothered by a wide slot, the previous one was a commendable sprint showing); respect his chances this afternoon.

Testosterstone

Lightly-raced colt is highly recommended here as he ran against the grain of the track on 2/17; likely to be a dead send, he seems capable of stealing this show if able to clear the field before the far turn; a bone-dry track would help as well.

Pete's Fleet

This colt has better prompting speed than most of the field and is certainly not one for an off track (so the last effort can be dismissed); if he catches a fast racing surface and can equal or improve upon his January performances, he should prove a major player. - Jim Kachulis

Race 6

That's No Limit

She's beaten several of these sprinting and seems the one to beat; is 1 of 6 runners to test 1 Mile for the 1st time; she has not raced past 5.5F yet; Grade 1-placed sire went 0-for-5 in dirt routes (15K); 1-for-3 dam (26K) won her debut at 6F on dirt but finished 8th in her only Mile start; the debut runner-up finisher posted a 58 Beyer speed figure in her next-out AQU-35K-maiden-claiming win.

Goldstandardlady

Has not raced past 6F yet; G2 sire won 7 sprints and went 0-for-1 in dirt routes; SW-dam won 5-of-20 (120K) overall(1-for-5 in dirt routes 34K); lost ground from 1st call to finish in all 3 defeats not giving the impression that added yardage was within her scope.

Confederate Bay

2nd-time Long is often an improvement angle; the winner from last where she was facing the boys repeated in a LRL-16K-claimer with a 49 Beyer; the 2-back show runner graduated next out in a 16K-maiden claimer with a 42 speed figure.

Notably Awesome

G2-sire is 18-for-175 with 1st-time starters (3-for-6 in dirt routes 397K); is out of a 9-0-0-0 dam (4-0-0-0 all routes); her only other foal to race is Awesome Island (3-for-24, 39K) (0-for-2 dirt routes losing by a combined 28 lengths).

Promise Me Forever

Has never raced for this low of a claiming price; connections thought she was something special trying her in stakes races at FL as a maiden; That's No Limit easily handled her 2-back and has to get by that one here to graduate; 3 races ago she was defeated by the winner and runner-up they both Beyered 51 in next-out FL-MSW and alw. wins.

Backyard Birdie

Try to catch me; helps that we don't see a lot of other gate speed here and she wants to be loose on the lead like last in Maryland; the 1st blinkered-1st route test produced a career-best Beyer but stamina is a big concern tiring in all 3 losses although gets in with her lightest-weight assignment ever for this.

Very Precious

Has not raced past 5.5F yet; SW-sire went 3-for-19 in dirt routes (117K); is out of a 2-for-10 dam who did not win past 7F going 0-for-2 in dirt routes; exits a career-low Beyer when outrun throughout; best speed figure occurred without blinkers and a good sign that they are removed for this.

Lucky Nancy E.

Has not raced past 7F yet; G3 sire did not race past 7F; is out of an 0-for-5 dam who finished 8th and 12th in 2-dirt route defeats; That's No Limit beat her going short 2 back; posted the field's best Beyer on turf; clearly has the new distance questions to answer for this.

Red Carpet Ready

Has not raced past 6F yet; G2 sire went 5-for-9 in dirt routes (1.2M); is out of a 3-for-12 dam (37K) (2-0-0-0 in dirt routes) who won all 3 races in1-Mile turf starts; most runners move forward 2nd-time out and she has plenty of room to improve off that one.

Sugeily

Defeated 1 runner combined in 3 losses; the latest vs. males; 2nd-time Long is often an improvement angle; Confederate Bay beat her easily in last while the winner repeated in a LRL-16K-claimer with a 49 Beyer; latest gate workout was her best ever drill but needs a wakeup call. - Art Gropper

Race 7

Mama Zee

Didn't have much of an impact late at a slightly shorter trip at the level last time and now she'll move to the fence; barn is having a nice meeting and there's not a whole bunch of lick in here so maybe this gal is able to find a good spot down inside and she did earn a nice number in victory at the trip over the main track in the fall; consider.

Julesco

Statebred moves in to face open company after taking a step back against restricted runners here last week and the winner of that heat did return to score on Monday; filly has some speed and it should be on display with the move inside today; gets a bit of a weight break with the sharp bug pilot named and may have to be run down.

Start It Up

Should have some bottom for the turn back to sprint after taking a step back against fellow statebreds last time; both of her career scores did come at this trip including a local maiden score from close range; if she does have a little extra to offer late at this shorter trip she can get in the mix for a share.

Absolute Paradise

New York bred returns to face open company after failing to get involved against statebreds at a slightly shorter trip; filly jumps up with a good one from time to time, but she's clearly far from consistent and there's not a lot to suggest a big move forward will be on tap today; have to side with others on the win end.

Ascended Fever

First part of the coupling makes her first start of the year with some decent breezes on her worktab for a barn that does well with its fresh runners; her better efforts have come on the green and she's yet to win off that footing, but if she gets some pace in front of her she could be coming hard in the lane; late running contender.

My Donna Jean

Six year old was beaten just a couple of lengths while in with better here last week; class drop should certainly help and she did go on a pretty nice run as soon as she was taken by this barn last fall; reuniting with the top pilot aboard for her 2 back score, she looms a big threat.

Wildcat Thunder

Sheds weight with the switch to a winless triple bug following yet another weak try over this strip; mare hasn't been a threat in over 9 months and doesn't appear to be much of a fit with these; looks to be a very long price in this spot.

Bileaps and Bounds

Steps up the class ladder for her first off this solid claiming outfit's buy after exploding to beat limited winners at a slightly shorter trip; filly gets off the fence here and that may temper her early interest, but note that each of her wins came on the front end after breaking from the rail; likely to face a tougher journey from here.

Baal Perazim

She hasn't been a threat since exiting the maiden ranks on the Belmont lawn in early fall; limited winner hasn't been very good on dirt and she'll go for a low percentage outfit that hasn't had any luck at the stand; tough to make much of a case for her.

Imanindianoutlaw

Barn's other half returns to this circuit to make her first start over the inner after besting conditioned claimers in Maryland; like the fast she shows up in a protected spot and she's certainly gotten her act together since leaving here in the fall; they'll have her to beat if she goes. - Steve Grabowski

Race 8

Mlle Margaux

Slop and switch to Rodriguez remedy for the last win but is's been Dullsville since; no speed, no asset and in the inner strip opener nothing to write home about; back quickly, but hard to see that as the cure all; can't endorse.

Princess Mara

Three of her 7 wins came on the inner; nice; miss caught a slightly faster pace last time and was getting disinterested late; mare has more speed than she showed in last and she is the type that seems to get brave if they are allowed to roll early; capably barn due to get rolling; look for rider to be much more aggressive here.

A Prettydixie

Nice ride in last; pilot tracked the slow splits and had enough left; note the show horse was 5 clear and she comes to this race relatively fresh; she has to prove she can put wins together and will likely need to go much better to repeat.

Physical Delivery

Wonder if the sloppy win knocked the starch out of her?; you don't always see runners stopped on at these levels after a win; the place horse in last was well clear but note the gap in published drills till 2/24; trainer has been firing on all cylinders, would still try to get a good look at this one on the track.

Familyofroses

It took her awhile to figure it out but she has been pretty solid vs. winners; bothered early two back and then wide from the marooned slot in last; winner of the 2013 closer repeated in a $75K stakes, then ran out of the money in a $75K optional; must be left in the exotic equation at least.

Hundred Acre Wood

Like the fact she has speed but she has proven she can settle, rally and cash; she tried to track from post 9 but gave up the ghost way before the real racing began; she set the slow pace in the last win; would tread lightly here.

Broadway Music Gal

Back to favorite pilot and look for rider to be sending hard on the stretch out; 3 of sire's 4 wins were routes; dam was best on grass but she dropped 19-race route winner Broadway Melodrama; homebred could very well have a theft on her agenda; look out.

Marcy

Spotty race record is a concern; note she only finished in front once and the awarded win came to the north; she did hook a freak two back but the way she stopped on a dime last time makes her an iffy proposition at best.

Great Gracie Dane

Miss needs help on the front end but there is a fair amount of speed in here with a number with designs on the top; hung wide two back, forced to steady in last but she has the 3 races to draw from now; a bit more keen to drill on the 23rd and very clever barn overdue to break out after 22 starts; don't ignore. - Brian Mulligan