Aqueduct: Closer Looks for November 2, 2013

Race 1

Leilani's Ticket

Four times as many slices as wins makes him a tough on-top only ticket to embrace; he has the 2 races to draw from and did improve last time; 7/24 winner repeated in a $75K claimer, then was 2nd a neck in a $35K optional; must be left in the exotic mix at least.

Coaltown Legend

Eight and still rolling along; with his style, things always ahve to break right; note 4 of his 10 wins came in the off going and he has been given time to recoup from the last fiasco; can't teach this guy any new tricks, maybe that's why there is over a month gap in published drills; 5th finisher in last took a $25K optional next out and the winner repeated in a $20K optional; one angle to think about: this rider is 5 for 17 for this barn in the last year or so.

Stealth Steed

Only in the money once since the lone win and he didn't scare the winner that day; wonder if that muddy June effort just knocked the starch out of him?; he just has been way off form since; not seeing it.

Pure Attitude

Protected last time, now under the purchase price; repeatedly proven vs. higher priced foes, runner was caught wide in last but he made a nice middle move in the win two back; the show horse 8/5 cashed next out in a $25K claimer with a 93 Beyer; expect much better effort here.

So Scott

Not a lot of horses can win at this distance and also succeed at 2 miles; connections took a shot in the stakes last time; apparently not much of a work horse, backers have to hope they go bonkers early and the race falls completely apart; things need to unfold just right.

One Smokin Cat

Considering the winner was by himself in last, the race was not all that bad; note show horse was over 3 clear; toss the SAR finale, wrong surface; could see him sitting a nice stalk and pounce trip; don't ignore.

Uncle Smokey

Lone win came routing on the inner Jan. 1 2011; new bug takes the reins today, not sure what to make of the drill on the 24th; he had to be off for over a year for a serious reason; try to get a good look at him on the track before taking a swing.

Mr. G. Zee

Bet like a good thing in the career cheap spot in last and he didn't disappoint; toss the MSW races and the form brightens a bit; never simple to beat winners right back but he has been given time to recoup from the maiden breaker; will need to improve to repeat.

Ludo Bagman

The win came in the second career start on a sealed muddy strip on the inner by nearly 6 lengths with a 67 Beyer; the figures improved every time since the July claim and this guy at least has the speed to gain decent position early; rates long look in all the slots.

Half Nelson

Connections have given this $100K purchase time and the return was decent; Ortiz got a chance to figure him out and he has more speed than he flashed in last and barn is solid with second off the layoff performers; only poor effort came in the 2012 closer when he was the meat of a troubled sandwich; respect.

Potus

He's never finished first but was awarded the win in the route; spotty race record is a concern; place horse 4/12 cashed next out in a $15K claimer; winner 4/12 repeated in a $25K optional, lost next several; has to hurry.

M P Joe

Last race was at least his best since the win; off the rail, bug got a feel of what is under the hood last time, and note he did catch some fast splits in July and August; decent move on the 27th, look for him late if at all.

Race 2

Chow Fun

Major-style change in last when pressing the pace but has been at her very best when allowed to settle early then make 1 run; has outside speed to help set up her late punch while should be able to save every inch of ground for this; new rider here off latest her lowest Beyer speed figure since the debut; 7%-winning turf trainer is a concern.

The Giant's Beauty

The 1st race off the long layoff produced a career-low Beyer at long odds which makes her an outsider for this although is eligible to move forward strongly; the 2-back runner-up finisher captured her next 3 starts winning MSW and optional claimers with 82-77-76 Beyers; the 3-back winner repeated in a BEL-optional claimer with an 82 speed figure.

Life's a Stage

Both AQU grass starts are in-the-money finishes while her best Beyer was at longer 3-back; off latest when a clear runner-up finish behind a runaway winner fits very well here; wish the worktab stood out more for an 8%-winning grass barn.

Done Smoking

60-day layoff and traffic off the bench but still put in a very-good performance; scary if moves forward for this with another 30 days to regroup with a high-percentage fresh trainer; has to get by Eddy's Time again who handled her 2-back but she got the best of that one in last; has not done much wrong in 3 races; she seems the one to beat.

Eddy's Time

Exits her worst finish since May when dull off the bench; she has been best at longer distances however latest did not give the impression that she is currently on her best game; mild workout for this and have seen her fire a lot better in the past; has something to prove off most recent.

Echluath

Saved best Beyer for latest at 1F shorter than this with 1st blinkers; the added yardage here helps the cause; best finish was on a wet-main track so would not mind this rained off; has been screaming out for more distance and gets it here; 2-for-129 MSW trainer since 2012 does not add to the appeal.

Celesta

Mild-late punch in latest at today's distance while no match for similar rivals in recent races; her best finish was in April on AQU grass at longer; the addition of blinkers 3 races ago did not produce the desired results; new rider is her 7th differernt jockey in 11 starts which is not a good-win angle.

Amber Morning

Her 2-back near-miss finish represents a field-best Beyer; coming up short in latest off a 52-day absence and is eligible to hang on better in deep stretch 2nd time off the bench; mixed reviews from the worktab for this; lightest-weight assignment ever trying to make amends.

Absolute Paradise

The last start racing long on grass was a last-place finish; wokeup in last vs. much lesser in a dirt sprint and seems to be shooting high for this; best races without blinkers which were removed for last; 1-for-23 dirt-to-turf trainer does not add to the appeal.

Rosalie's Pleasure

Projects to race on or near the lead; removes blinkers hoping to show better stamina in deep stretch noting the 2-back race without the hood was one of her best finishes; her best start was at a much shorter distance than this; getting today's Mile is the biggest obstacle to overcome.

Sakonnet Point

Just 2 starts so plenty of upside especially off the near-miss finish for last; adds Lasix off the 99-day layoff; super-fresh trainer saw her test the debut winner who repeated in a DEL alw. with an 82 Beyer; cutting back to 1 Mile is the lone issue but should be tough to hold off in deep stretch; the pick.

Lakeview Lady

Projects to press the pace wide much like latest-11-post fade; the addition of Lasix 2 races ago did not produce the added stamina necessary; best race was her debut going short; gets in with her lightest-weight assignment ever; know her early but unsure about late.

Prize Taker

Main Track Only entry has had stamina issues lacking in recent races showng her best Beyer at 7F; improved her finish 2nd off the claim but today's Mile distance is clearly a major issue; the 3-back show finisher Beyered 71 in a next-out BEL-MSW win.

Sky Lassie

MTO changed style in last when breaking last; 2-back faded behind the winner who repeated in a BEL-optional claimer with a 68 Beyer; best Beyer occurred a shorter than this when landing behind similar rivals; the addition of blinkers has not produced the desired results.

Gloria Victoria

MTO's sire did not race past 7F winning scoring a Grade 3 at 6F; she was troubled 2-back landing behind the runner-up finisher who Beyered 76 in her next-out SAR-MSW win; well backed in each start but is here with a declining-speed figure pattern.

Live Life Fast

MTO races on dirt for the 1st time trying to race back to her debut-sprint Beyer when beating the show runner a next-out 63 Beyer BEL-MSW winner; sheds weight to her-lowest assignment ever with her 5th different rider in as many races which is not a good win angle; latest did not give the impression she wanted to race this far.

Race 3

Gabriel's Flame

Drops in for a tag while moving back to dirt off a weak turf try across town last month; his initial main track spin wasn't much but he did catch a wet track in that Parx heat and he did blow out well the other day for the cut back to this trip.

Maybe My Way

Hood goes on for this guy's return to dirt and he didn't have much to offer in that debut heat; barn does boast some recent luck with the equipment change and this guy is kin to 4 main track sprint winners including SP, 153K earner Picata who won 6 sprints.

Niche

He's in for a tag for the inital time after again failing to go on against MSWs a couple of weeks back; his dam banked 107K on the track and did drop 4 winners, but only one of them did so sprinting on the main track; still, this guy has shown some early interest and maybe the class relief helps him go on.

Good Guy Mike

Sire gets nearly 20% first out winners from his offspring and the G3 SW dam was herself a first out juvenile winner and 178K earner who dropped 2 sprint winners from 3 foals to race; recent breezes are on the improve but he's yet to work past a half mile and the barn doesn't usually have them cranked for their best right out of the box.

Maximus Decimus

Caught slop against MSWs first out and didn't do much running but he did run a number that plays out as the best of this bunch; one of his 2 sibs to race is a sprint winner; barn boasts a recent second out winner and they'll switch this guy to a solid journeyman pilot for the drop in to face claimers in what could be the money run; big Beyer advantage makes him the one to beat in a weak heat.

Bird E House

Barn does excellent work preparing its newcomers but this colt doesn't boast a listed drill past a half mile and there was a big late summer gap in his moves; sire gets 9% winners from his debut runners and the SP dam's 2 wins both came routing prior to dropping a limited sprint winner.

Alice and Trixie

Tried the green without much luck first time out and now she'll be offered for a tag while taking on the boys; barn doesn't do so well with its second out runners but this gal is kin to a couple of multiple main track sprint winners including SW and 206K earner A Rose for You, so maybe she moves forward over this footing and she doesn't catch a very tough field.

Heading to Boca

Sire gets 8% first out winners from his offspring and the SP dam was a 2 time sprint winner and 72K earner who dropped Colony Crossing, a SP router and 83K earner who also won sprinting; some of the drills are ok and the barn does well right out of the box.

Xixixi

Showd pretty solid early foot before backing out of it late in his Monmouth debut against MSWs and now he'll show up here for a tag; colt has a right to move forward with the initial experience behind him and if he gets off to an alert start could be long gone; looks like they'll have to come and get him to win.

Lulu Rocks

Statebred tries open claimers after tiring from the tracking spot at a shorter trip first time out; unraced dam's 2 other foals to race are winners including SW and 349K earner Mystic City whose 5 wins all came either going long or on the green; he draws a good post to stalk the front runners and his barn hits at a nice clip second time out, but don't know that he'll have much more to offer late in this heat.

Flying Joe

Outside drawn colt goes first time for a tag after settling early when shades were added in his return to this circuit a couple of weeks back; maybe the switch to a journeyman pilot helps and he did run pretty well for second money at Delaware 2 back; field's most experienced runner is worth a look.

Race 5

D J's Hope

Interesting play with the first attempt at the claiming level and the return to the Big A surface; showed no preference at all for Belmont and displayed good gate speed in his last run here; worth backing if inside front-runners have done well on the card.

Pegasus Tiger

Came up empty in his first attempt after flashing only brief speed; the gelding's sire won multiple G2 stakes and 450K; the dam was without victory in 4 attempts; among the winning siblings is 168K earner Pegasus Diamond.

Sunrise Lover

Chronic maiden returns to the proper setting and the workout activity last month was surprisingly way above average; earned his personal best Beyer over this surface and although that was long ago, he can earn a share here at a healthy price.

No Nukes

Bold finish last month came up a bit short when losing a blanket finish; despite more than doubling in claiming price here, he can hit the board if there is a similar pace meltdown; downplay his chances if there is an off track, however.

Private Irving A

He has some prompting speed in his favor and the latest failure can be dismissed as he was away slowest of all from the gate; best career effort was over a wet-fast surface and he can be considered if that is the soil condition at post time.

Ballybrit

The last few Beyers achieved are better than the rest of the field but those were accomplished over the grass; failed in a previous appearance over the Aqueduct main but that was pre-Lasix and he certainly has improved substantially since then; respect his chances.

Ed's Magic

Did not have a smooth beginning in that September getaway race but in the prior try, he was a pace factor until midway; the workout on the morning of 10/16 suggests he can be an early presence at the least now in a field with little quality gate speed.

Prime Time City

Puzzling invader from Suffolk retired early in his maiden voyage; his sire was a G1 sprinter who banked 818K; the dam won 12 of 43 and 184K (all victories in sprints); there are no winning siblings to mention.

Red Shogun

Raced evenly at a mile last time out, just missing the show; switches to Paco Lopez who is enjoying an outstanding year and the latest training track breeze could be the key; seems worth inclusion if the odds are generous enough.

John Silver

Has not shown much firepower regardless of the racing surface; the sire involved was a G1 pure sprinter who notched 1.16 million; the dam won 1 of 14 and 27K; sib to 160K earner Show Me the Cash; another runner in this line-up whose latest workout was a major upgrade.

Giulio Cesari

Fought bravely all the way around in his first try only to lose by a neck; his sire won the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and 1.26 million while the dam won 4 of 12 and 80K: among the winning siblings is 61K earner Sea Current; must try to clear the field in opening strides.

Race 6

Micromanage

He had a rough trip in the Grade 2 Indiana Derby last out, when he managed to close for fourth in the slop after breaking from post 10; gets the other extreme here, as he's drawn the fence; is a stakes winner and half-brother to multiple Grade 3 winner Indescribable ($476K); like that he's kept quality company throughout his career, and he appears to be a leading contender.

Bad Hombre

He was stakes-placed earlier this year in the Curlin at Sar; the race was his lone out at this mile and an eighth trip, and he popped one of the best Beyer Figures of his career; can be closer to the pace than he found himself last time in what was a quick Grade 2 Indiana Derby; fires an improved race.

Midnight Taboo

He's appealing as a winner at this mile and an eighth trip, with the score coming two starts ago at Sar; he's also a winner at Aqu, and he's one of just two horses in the field who can claim a local victory; the other is leading contender and stablemate Battier; runner with useful stalking style is one of several who can share.

Vegas No Show

He's a gusty sort; he overcame adversity to win the $100K Coastal last out at Bel, and the time before put in a sustained run to take the $50K Ricci Tavi at Del Park; suspect his confidence is soaring right now off those back-to-back wins; is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Bullsbay ($923K) and Grade 3 winner Our Khrysty ($313K); starting highweight at 119 pounds might get ideal tracking trip off Romansh.

Mr Palmer

He's another who exits the Grade 2 Indiana Derby; he encountered trouble in the quick race, which was also his first start over a wet track; the out was also his first since the Wood Memorial back in April; is appealing as a stakes winner at this mile and an eighth distance; capable in competitive field.

Battier

He was a good third last out in the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby, and note the winner and runner-up from the race are to start in this afternoon's $5M Breeders' Cup Classic at SA; as for this one, he's been a consistent sort in a series of stakes starts, and he also owns the field's best last-race Beyer Figure; can be closer to the pace than he's found himself of late, and perhaps on the class move he'll settle into a stalking trip behind Romansh and Vegas No Show; choice.

Romansh

He's faced Will Take Charge and Moreno in each of his last two starts, and note those runners are both set to compete in this afternoon's $5M Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita; had his number put up in the Curlin at Sar, run at this mile and an eighth distance, and one start later popped a triple digit Beyer Figure in the Travers; dam was a multiple stakes winner of $383K; candidate to wire the field.

Norumbega

He's a specialist at this mile and an eighth distance, with a 3-for-4 record at the trip; showed more speed than usual last out, when on the move from a mile and 70 yards to nine furlongs he dictated the terms to win at Kee; is a half-brother to Grade 3 winners Hunting ($286K) and Quiet Harbor ($274K).

Race 8

Mr. Masterpiece

He hasn't shown up with a truly competitive performance through his first 10 starts and he's still seeking his first top four finish; tough to give him a favorable push based on what he's done so far.

Media Kid

He has a nice pedigree for turf and he's out of a multiple graded stakes placed dam who won 5 of 23 starts for 194k, including 2 of 11 North American turf starts for 119k; this colt is a 1/2 to G1 winner Go Between (8-27, $2.9 million, including 5 of 19 turf starts for $1.1 million).

Moravitz

He's by a top turf sire and his two most recent races have been improved performances; this is an outfit that will be worth getting a good look at early on at this meeting as they are eligible to have a lot of live horses ready to send out, and this looks like a decent spot for this colt to land in.

Omos Journey

Like the idea of this gelding getting back over turf but it does appear that he's going to need to find a way to produce a career best effort to prove to be the one in this spot; looking in another direction.

Fiddlers Chico

If he can reproduce the effort that he showed up with just two starts ago, he can have a say in the outcome, but he does have to bounce back from a performance that was below par for him; note that he finished behind today's rival Moravitz in his latest start.

Gridiron Great

He's shown the ability to produce a performance that is strong enough to make him a threat in this spot and perhaps the drop to the 20k maiden claiming level is just what he's looking for; Velasquez has won with 26 of 108 (24%) mounts for this barn in 2013.

My New Hope

He showed up with a respectable performance two races back at Meadowlands, but that level of performance hasn't been the norm for him, and he can't afford to show up with anything less than that against these.

Angel de Amour

His recent starts are right in line with what it might take to get the job done in this spot and he finished right behind one of today's key rivals in Bernie's Best in his latest outing; he clearly deserves to be listed among the contenders.

Brother Brendan

He's shown a little something in his first four starts and like the idea of him dropping to the 20k maiden claiming level for this; his lack of early speed is a concern, but maybe the addition of blinkers can help sharpen him up.

Perfect Coconut

Sire wins with approximately 13% of his turf starters and stakes placed dam won once from 10 starts for 39k, including 0-for-4 over turf; he hasn't shown much in his first two starts and his connections will hope for better with a move to turf.

Bernie's Best

Don't like to see that he's had 12 chances to clear the maiden hurdle prior to this, but he's certainly fast enough to be competitive at this level of competition, and at the very least, he figures to be a tough one to keep out of the mix.

Colmont Kid

He's going to need his best effort to date to get the better of this field, but he is lightly raced and he shows up for a barn that knows how to get the most out of their turf starters; runner up from latest won next out at Prx on 10/1 going 7 1/2f over turf vs. 40-35k MCL's with a 59 Beyer; Cintron has won with 25 of 99 (25%) mounts for this barn in 2013.

Prince Curlin

It's fair to question the dirt form that is lined up in the main body of this race but this colt is still going to need to find a way to show more in order to contend; he looks like more of an outsider.

Rap d'Oro

If this race has to be moved to the main track, this will be a favorable spot for this gelding to land in, and if he can find his way back to one of his better performances, he's eligible to make light work of this field.

The Culchie

Not wild about what this colt has shown us so far but his latest start was his best performance to date, and when looking around at the lack of dirt form in this race, perhaps a minor award is within reach.