Dave Litfin's Aqueduct handicapping notebook April 17

Wednesday, April 16 review

After rain on Tuesday briefly changed over to ice pellets and sleet in some spots overnight, we were off the turf to begin the penultimate week of racing at the spring meet. The main track was harrowed and “good” for the first two races, and upgraded to fast thereafter. There were 53 runners after scratches, a measly 5.88 per race.

While there was much talk about the track being tilted toward inside speed, I think the jury is still out. Although five winners led or raced within one length of the lead after the opening quarter-mile, four others overcame deficits ranging from 2 1/2 to 5 lengths, capped by a $138 late double of Testerstone (8th, $27.20) and Purling (9th, $8.80), who were each in mid-pack early.

David Jacobson posted a three-bagger, and lost two of the winners via the claim box. Quiet Sunshine (2nd, $4.20) won for the third time in 15 days, and was claimed by Bruce Levine. Sportswriter (3rd, $6) edged a stubborn Ausable Chasm to snap a 15-race losing streak, and was claimed by Gary Contessa. Classic Salsa (7th, $2.90) shipped up from Tampa Bay following a private purchase, and is now 2 for 2.

Horses to Watch

LONG BLOOMING ROSE
Trainer: Bruce Levine
Last race: April 16, 5th
Finish: 4th by 5 1/4
Beyer: 61
Stumbled at the start, lacked room and brushed with a rival approaching midstretch, and finished evenly in first allowance attempt.

FLEET FIRST
Trainer: George Weaver
Last race: April 16, 8th
Finish: 4th by 3
Beyer: 62
Recent maiden graduate struck the side of the gate, trailed approaching the stretch, and finished with interest first time against winners.

Thursday, April 17 preview

We’re back on the turf today, and it will likely have considerable give to it.

There are several potentially short-priced favorites with a “5” in their morning-line odds, beginning with Laguna Girl (2-5) in the opener and Read the Proposal (8-5) in the second half of the early daily double.

Clearly, Laguna Girl is no great shakes after giving up an easy lead in her debut, but her 46 Beyer Figure is twice as good as the last-out figure of one of her rivals, Nurse Stone (23). Among the four remaining entrants in this bottom-level maiden claimer, three did not run fast enough to earn a “speed” figure in their last race.

Read the Proposal is drawn toward the outside in a $16,000 restricted claimer. If the track is as kind to inside speed as it was last weekend and again yesterday, she may have a tough time catching Cobalto, who puts blinkers on and appears the main speed from the rail.

The nominal feature is race 8, a first-level allowance at one mile out of the chute in which Harris makes his second start back from a layoff of more than 20 months for owner-breeder Eugene Melnyk and Todd Pletcher, who also campaigned the lightly raced 5-year-old’s dam, five-time graded stakes winner Pool Play.

Harris is the 2-1 choice against five opponents, on the heels of a 92 Beyer for a clear runner-up finish in his recent return against odds-on winner Coin Broker at Gulfstream Park.

Harris drew the rail, which at 12 for 40 (30%) heading into the final two weeks has been the place to be in one-mile dirt races at the meet.