Aqueduct: Closer Looks for November 29, 2013

Race 1

Do I Amuse You

Try to catch me winning latest right on the lead with a career-best Beyer speed figure attached; defeated the show and 4th-place finishers from last they posted 85-84 Beyer speed figures in next-out BEL-optional-claiming wins; 1-for-1 racing on AQU Main graduating at today's distance; main knock would be a wet track where he failed to fire 3-back vs. the show runner who Beyered 84 in his next-out SAR-optional-claiming win.

Notmyfirstime

The 4-for-6 dirt record is noted as the turf experiment may be over off latest-dull effort 1st off the claim when a lot more was expected as the betting favorite; figures to set up just outside of Do I Amuse You then hopes to wear that one down; beat the 3-back show runner who Beyered 94 in a next-out BEL-optional-claiming win.

Marsh Dawg

Last win was right on the lead losing all chance when breaking the last of 7 in most recent; has been strong at FL but has something to prove off his latest BEL-AQU defeats since July; needs a quicker gate break to improve upon latest finish.

Longfor the City

Projects to stalk the inside speed then hopes to find the missing-late punch; defeated the 2-back show runner who Beyered 85 in his next-out AQU-optional-claiming win; toss the stakes race and the first pair on turf and he doesn't ever run a bad race.

Uncle Smokey

Late runner scored 2nd time off the claim and hopes someone can soften up Do I Amuse You early to help his late punch; the workout for this was not very enticing but surely wokeup since front wraps were removed and switching barns; been consistent in last 4 starts since the more than 1-year layoff.

Driven by Solar

Projects to stalk Do I Amuse You from the gate; was claimed back off the win when showing up with front wraps on for the previous conditioner; latest snapped an 0-for-5 AQU-Main mark now steps back up; field-best Beyer was posted December, 2010, gate-to-wire in an AQU-Inner Dirt allowance event; the 2-back runner-up and show finishers both posted 79 speed figures in next-out wins BEL-AQU-16K-claiming wins.

Towering Moon

Career-best Beyer was accomplished on a fast-main track so the surface switch can help this one; likely to see the whole field from last then make one run noting both wins occurred at 6F; defeated the 3-back show runner who Beyered 77 in his next-out BEL-optional-claiming victory.

Knockher Off

Scored right on the lead on grass and hopes to be close to Do I Amuse You from the bell then hold off the closers; being winless on the main track is the main issue for this; has been working steadily for a 12%-fresh trainer since 2012; in his last dirt start in 2012 defeated the show runner who Beyered 70 in a next-out AQU-MSW win.

Race 3

Money Only

Tries better in his first off the claim for a barn that's had a nice start to the local stand; late runner draws the fence again and that doesn't really benefit his style; prefer to limit his use to underneath in exotics.

Precious Metal

Changed hands after holding second money against statebreds here a couple of weeks back; gelding did take an off the turfer 4 back at Belmont with a decent number but don't know that he fits so well with this bunch and the new outfit is in the middle of a rough stand.

Spirited Touch

First part of the coupling broke through in his ninth career start and now he'll try winners; he showed solid early foot in that local maiden score, running better than anything he had for some time in California, so maybe it's the taste of the local water that's perked him up and another good one is on tap; worth a look.

Velvet Cap

Argued quick fractions before backing out of it against claimers in his return to the main track here earlier in the month; gelding cuts back for a barn that's profitable with the move and his career best number did come in a near miss at the trip at Saratoga this past summer; consider.

Start Jumping

Barn's other half earned a field best number when again missing by less than a length in his first local main track spin at the level; late runner has been on his best game since taken by this sharp outfit out of the Spa maiden score and he should get an honest clip to rally into today; one to beat.

Herbal Prospector

Steps up after running on to get the place against claimers in his first local start; gelding does have some positional foot and maybe he sits a better spot early in his second crack over the track, but his ceiling today appears to be a minor award.

Seeker

Gelding won his first local start and wasn't bad when third going 7 panels in his most recent crack at Belmont; draw towards the outside should help him sit a decent tracking trip on the cut back and though he's winless at the trip he's still run pretty well at 3/4s; contender.

Slamarama

Opened a clear early lead at this trip earlier in the month but didn't have enough to go on when rivals came to him; colt has done most of his solid work on the green and his speed will likely find company in here; have to side with others on the win end.

Race 4

Media Kid

Half-brother to G1 winner Go Between (8-27, $2.9 million, including 5 of 19 turf starts for $1.1 million) hasn't run poorly in his two most recent races, and even though he's stepping up in class to take on maiden special weight company for the first time, he looks like a pretty decent fit with this bunch.

Bred to Boss

Sire wins with approximately 23% of his turf starters and dam was winless from one start, and it wasn't a turf start; this colt is a 1/2 to Bayou Mist (2-7, 53k, including 1 of 3 turf starts for 31k); he's an interesting player while stretching out in distance for his first turf test.

Shatak

His career debut was an encouraging performance and he goes out for a barn that does well with young/lightly raced horses routing over turf; he might have to be careful to avoid getting caught up in a swift early pace, but he has to be considered a top contender.

Flashy Ross

5-year-old gelding is going to need to produce a performance that is much stronger than anything he's done to this point in time in order to contend; note that his one turf attempt prior to this wasn't a strong showing.

Ay No Digas (GER)

Nicely bred runner is out of a dam who was a G1 winner racing in Germany, and when considering the tote support he received in his first start in America, it seems likely that we didn't see his best; runner up from latest won next out here on 11/14 going 1 1/16m over turf vs. MSW rivals with a 78 Beyer; must consider.

Candy At My Place

Sire wins with approximately 13% of his turf starters and this is the first foal from a minor stakes winning dam who won 4 of 21 starts for 150k, including 0-for-2 over turf; he gets a strong turf rider in Alvarado for his turf debut, and at the very least, he figures to be a part of the early pace picture.

Graffitist

He has some quality to his pedigree, although dirt leaning, but he was outrun at every point of call in his career debut and he's obviously going to need to be ready to deliver a much sharper run in order to prove to be a threat.

Spartiatis

He's shown us that he has a little bit of early speed to employ but it's tough to trust him with the win dollar until he shows more through the stretch in his races, and it looks like the early pace in here will be legitimate; prefer to look toward others.

Buddy's Smart

Sire wins with approximately 15% of his turf starters and G1 winning dam won 10 of 24 starts for $1.4 million, including 0-for-2 over turf; he earned a decent Beyer Speed Figure for his career debut and perhaps the move to turf can help him along.

King of Broadway

If this race has to be taken off the turf, this will be a favorable spot for this colt to try to go after his first career win; his best effort appears to be strong enough to leave these behind to battle it out over the place prize and Alvarado has won with 36 of 141 (26%) mounts for this barn in 2013.

Cat Man Fu

The 0-for-37 race record alone is enough to make one look in another direction for the top spot, and his best effort simply isn't fast enough to threaten the top contenders in here; he has the look of an outsider.

Secret Bid

He deserves another chance to see what he can do racing over dirt and it looks like he's trained well over dirt; he's out of a multiple G1 winning dam who won 14 of 17 starts for $1.6 million, and he's a 1/2 to multiple G1 winner Smuggler (5-9, 654k).

Race 5

Lady C Note

Showed some upside in the career debut going long but not much form to speask of since; getting out well from the gate has been an issue in her 3 races including the 2-back rail defeat and is all the way inside again for this which does not help the confidence level; the workout for this was not very enticing.

J Rose Gal

Back on dirt noting the lone-main track start was a last-place finish; 49 days since beating one runner home and posting the 2nd-lowest Beyer of her career; the 4th and 6th-place finishers from last Beyered 71-35 in next-out BEL-16K and FL-$4,500-maiden-claiming wins.

Eva Lil

24th attempt seeking her 1st-exacta finish ever coming off 6 consecutive double-digit length defeats; best start was on a wet-race track on the AQU-Main surface but when catching off going 2-back she did not fire at all; would be a surprise.

Lovely Athena

Sire is 6-for-123 with 1st-time starters; is out of a 2-for-10 dam (73K) who produced 4 winners from 4 other foals to race including 103K-earner Judge Well (5-for-35) who did not break his maiden until race 5 of career.

Gingee

Best Beyer at much longer on grass but her only in-the-money finish was on a wet-main track although did not fire at all in latest when catching the type of surface she prefers; the 3-back runner-up and show finishers Beyered 76-56 in next-out KEE-30K and BEL-16K-maiden-claiming wins.

Signora Sofia

Needed last start off the long layoff beating one runner home with a career-best Beyer attached; the 2-back winner and show finishers posted 54-26 speed figures in next-out AQU-optional-claiming and 16K-maiden-claiming wins.

My Lucky Lieu

The strong-gate speed displayed from the show finish fresh in September was missing badly from recent defeats; new rider for this after beating 1 runner out of the gate for last; 21%-winning jockey-trainer combo since 2012 adds to the appeal; can better rating with a sharp start.

Candy's Luck

3 of her 5 defeats were zero Beyers and her best speed figure was posted on turf; defeated 2 runners combined from last pair when racing over today's oval; reunites with the rider from her October-BEL loss facing the winner who repeated in a LRL-5K claimer with a 53 Beyer.

Light Weight

Way off best form since that solid-exacta finish from post 10 in September; not a good sign that latest was her only start on today's AQU-Main oval; the 2-back runner-up and show finishers Beyered 69-42 in next-out AQU-35K and 20K-maiden claiming wins.

Tassinaia

Races 1st time in a maiden claimer considered as the biggest-class drop in racing; 62 days since troubled in the turf debut where the runner-up and 6th-place finishers Beyered 75-62 in next-out BEL-MSW and AQU-20K-maiden-claiming wins.

Peggy Virginia

Not much form since the 2-back field-best Beyer going long on grass; the debut-dirt loss looks better since the winner and runner-up finishers posted 72-67 speed figures in next-out BEL-optional-claiming and 35K-maiden-claiming victories.

Race 7

Noon Time Shower

Cuts back severely after failing as the 3 to 2 favorite going long last month; she turned in a very strong training track workout 8 days ago but notice she has drilled well in the past; conflicting signals for this lass.

Keep Right

New face hails from multiple G1 victor Street Cry who banked 5.15 million (his offspring have score in 8 percent of their debuts); the dam won 2 of 7 appearances earning 93K; winning siblings inclue Current Aquasition.

Goldstandardlady

Progeny of Posse, a G2 winner who notched 662K, have won their first test at a rate of 10 percent; the dam won 5 of 20 and 120K; among the winning siblings is 147K earner Cardiac Rehab; this trainer has done well with longshot beginners.

Underthemoonlight

Rallied in the middle of her maiden voyage to capture the place behind a blowout winner; her sire won a G1 and 2.19 million while the dam never made it to the races; this is her sole foal to start; note extra-fine workout turned in 10 days ago.

Truericepudding

Firster hails from Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus who netted 1.99 million and whose descendants have won 11 percent of their initial races; the dam won 9 of 26 and 344K; among the winning siblings is 38K earner Unflappable Mary.

It's Easy

Some upbeat workouts for this new arrival; her sire won multiple G2s and 1.25 million; offspring of Repent are 21 for 330 as far as winning their first assignment; the dam did not race; winning siblings include 39K earner Big Apple Alke.

Maybry's Fortune

Drew wide posts in each race but was dead game 2 back when claimed at Belmont; the grey shortens up a sixteenth of a mile today and that fact, combined with a steady workout regimen, stamps her as a legit contender.

Storied Lady

Her sire won multiple G2s and 450K; progeny of Read the Footnotes have won 18 out of 172 debuts; the dam involved won 1 of 8 attempts and 45K; among the winning siblings is 265K earner Love Abroad.

Lemme Rock

Tries blinkers for the first time after that wide second run; her undefeated sire won the G1 Carter and 480K; the dam won 1 of 9 and 43: among the winning siblings is 62K earner Stoneridge; can show improved early foot this afternoon.

Race 8

Unbridled Logic

Tries better after getting up to beat conditioned claimers 2 months back on the Belmont lawn; gelding does enter this on the improve and since he's been given some time to get over the career best Beyer effort maybe he's able to get back to it; inside drawn doesn't benefit an off the pace type, but he's hit the board in 6 straight and could get involved for a minor share again in here.

The High Priest

Gelding was sent to post at 97-1 in his local return and ran ok, but still wasn't much of a threat against that cheaper bunch; barn in winless on the year and the returning pilot hasn't had much luck here either; looms another long price in this spot.

Battle Call

Late runner makes his local debut in his first start for a barn that has saddled only a couple of winners this year; he's winless on the green and in a field without a lot of early lick his running style won't make things easy on him in a bulky gathering; have to look elsewhere for the winner.

Adirondack Dancer

Just missed on the rise to this level in his first start since Saratoga; statebred broke his maiden over the course last year and his surface efforts this year have all been excellent; his positional foot looks to give him an edge over his main rivals today; one to beat.

Cantonic

Ships back into this circuit after being beaten by just over a length in each of his last 2 cracks at the level out of town; 7 year old was running fast enough to win this one last year, but he's clearly lost a step or 2 and in his current form may have some trouble getting to the bigger guys in here; lures a solid pilot for his return to a course over which he owns a score.

Idle American

Three time local course winner gives the level another crack after his late run came up just short a few weeks back; gelding hasn't won in a while, though, and his style could well subject him to traffic issues so he's going to need to catch some breaks; consider.

Middleburg

Lightly raced sophomore wasn't beaten much in a roughly run Keeneland heat while trying older for the initial time at the level in his first start in 7 months; he'd shown solid tactical foot prior to that in Florida and has a right to move forward with his last behind him; he's kin to 1.6 million earner and multiple G1 SW turfer Winchester; barn moves them up second back from the break and a top pilot who knows him well will get aboard; must consider.

Jonrah

Statebred was beaten just over a length at the level here earlier in the month; he was able to get a little more involved early in that one which is encouraging given the lack of lick in this heat and his price does again figure to be solid so maybe he warrants some underneath exotic consideration.

Alarmed Ndangerous

Barn's second entrant in here starts from an outside slot in his second crack at the level; he had finished second in each of his prior 3 local sod spins before that one and he is often close at the wire, but he'll have to prove he can step with open company runners before we can use him for anything more than a small share.

Mr. Jenney

Outside drawn colt was part of the dead heat for second money while returning from the freshening for his first crack with winners; he's kin to G1 SW router and 1.2 million earner Mrs. Lindsay; another who prefers to do his running from out of it early, he'll likely be stuck in a wide spot from this starting spot, but he clearly has ability and figures to be a huge threat.

Ithastobegeorge

MTO held second behind a next out winner while sprinting early in the month; colt has been stuck in this condition for a while but he's run ok on wet tracks and can get involved for a share at a decent price if the rains come.

Mail

MTO earned a big number in besting a next out winner at Belmont in his first start since the maiden win at Monmouth; dam was a G2 SW router and 378K earner so wouldn't be surprised if this lightly raced colt kept on improving and his pedigree suggests he'll love it wet; main danger if this gets moved to the main track.

Mighty Ian

First part of the barn's coupling has taken a huge step forward since claimed by this white hot outfit; MTO pressed a quick clip in his local debut before kicking away and he took well to a surface with moisture in it 2 back at Parx; looks like they'll have him to beat if he goes.

North Ocean

Second half of the entry is another whose figures have improved since the outfit took him over this summer; MTO has positional foot which should have him in a great spot from the bell here and one of his better efforts came in the Spa slop; contender if he represents the barn.

Race 9

My Pal Chrisy

Note that Calder finale came back ultra live; short, long, off going, nothing bothers this gal; she did only beat 4 horses in last but note the place horse was well clear; pretty snappy move on the 23rd suggests she is feeling pretty good about herself; she may be able to sit a 2-hole trip here; may like it at the Big A.

Centring

Mare can be her own worst enemy as she has limited speed; she was over 4 clear and if you key off the Phipps effort in May and she's a valid factor; note this rider was up for the maiden breaker and miss handles any kind of going; backers have to hope they go bonkers early and the race falls apart but if the speed does come back, this miss will be a handful.

Royal Lahaina

Proven fresh but must show she can beat Graded foes; the winner of this race last year, Nefertini, was also coming out of the Turnback the Alarm and she recorded a similar 85 Beyer in that race; place horse in the Shuvee took a $100K stakes, then won a $111K stakes at Churchill before running 4th in the Grade 1 Zenyatta; miss did make a little move to get within 3 and a half of the lead last time but could not carry on with the momentum; another that will need help on the front end to get there.

Street Girl

Runner was slip sliding away against and all out only 5 rivals for the lone win vs. winners; considering the stumble in Philly two back, that effort was admirable; miss was inching toward the winner in the lone try at this distance but this race is a whole new ballgame; not seeing it.

Willet

This is a serious Empire-bred; only solid horses are in the exacta in 11 of 13; the 6/15 winner took a Grade 2 and a Grade 1 since; miss used the same stepping-stone last year coming to this race and then she did everything but get unsaddled in the neck beat in the 2012 Go for Wand; she got beat by a runner that controlled the pace and the outcome in the Iroquois; interesting.

Fantasy of Flight

Shorter trip figures to help some; note she was far from disgraced in that mile turf race in July; she also improved in the second off the layoff run in May with a plus 19 on the Beyer scale; a bit more keen to run in the drill on the 23rd and she really doesn't hook a lot of speed; could be long gone with a lonely lead.

Ol Donyo

Miss gets the acid test in her Graded debut; bothered a bit early in last and note she was just off a :21 and change quarter in May; place horse in that last win was well clear, she s off the rail and one could envision miss sitting a nice trip, maybe right off Fantasy primed to pounce; not impossible chore.

Executiveprivilege

She could sulked after the poor start to kick off year and she got a boost when the winner that day repeated in a Grade 3, then was 2nd beaten a half in the BC Turf Sprint; versatility could be her best asset; she can make the lead and succeed or run huge off the pace like she did BC Day last year; miss had aim at the top of the lane the last time the blinkers were on; respect interloper.

Race 10

Bob and Jim

Like the idea of him dropping in class for this, and he's clearly a good fit with this group, but have to be a little bit concerned when seeing that he appears to be much sharper sprinting than routing; can't count him out of it, but the one mile distance is a question.

Chang's Secret

He's another who has appeal in this spot while dropping in class and have to believe that he's well meant while getting a rider switch to Castellano; as long as the early pace doesn't turn into a crawl, he figures to be making some noise through the lane.

Fiddlers Tango

His lack of early speed has been leaving him with a lot of work to do when he turns for home and he's yet to run a race that is up to the level of the top contenders in here; he looks like more of an outsider.

Sir Maurice

This will be his first start beyond six furlongs and he was beaten by today's rival Chang's Secret in his latest outing; however, he might not mind stretching out in distance and he deserves some credit for the way that he performed in his first turf attempt two races ago.

Sunnyinseabrook

He looks like another in here who is going to need to show up with a performance that is much stronger than anything he's done to this point in time in order to contend; his lack of early speed make shim a candidate to be outrun throughout.

National Buck

Feel that this gelding can be listed among the contenders and he figures to appreciate getting back over turf after staying in an off-the-turf event in his first start back from a layoff in his latest outing; that said, it might be worth noting the presence of Velasquez aboard another in here.

Eastcoast Lights

Sire wins with approximately 10% of his turf starters and multiple stakes placed dam won 2 of 5 starts for 87k, and she didn't make a turf start; this gelding is a 1/2 to One Note Samba (6-14, 171k, including 5 of 7 turf starts for 126k); this isn't a bad spot for him to find out was he's capable of racing over turf.

Shortcoming

Not sure if the top spot is within his reach, but a few of his recent performances seem to be strong enough to suggest that he can earn a solid share of the prize against these; feel that he's worth considering underneath in the exotics.

Easy Street

He raced okay in a couple of his starts over turf as a 3-year-old and his one turf start since moving into this barn can be viewed as being the sharpest performance of his career; not going to be surprised if this one proves to be competitive against these.

Magical Salute

From three starts, his best finish is an eighth, and he hasn't finished closer than 12 lengths to the winner; he was beaten by a couple of today's rivals two starts ago, and he has the look of an outsider.

Arctic Missile

This wouldn't be a bad spot for this gelding to draw into and he figures to play a role in the way that this race shapes up; it doesn't hurt to see that he shows up for a barn that has been live lately.

Fiddlers Chico

He needs to see a couple of scratches in order to draw in, but if he feels up to one of his better performances, it wouldn't be a shock to see this late running type secure a spot underneath in the exotics.