Aqueduct Notebook 12/8

AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK

DECEMBER 8

by Bernard T. Moore

The transition from Aqueduct's main track to its inner dirt course was hardly

seamless, as high winds and a driving rainstorm resulted in unsafe track

conditions, thus necessitating the cancellation of the first inner track card on

Wednesday. Excessive rain, in addition to wind gusts that exceeded 40 mph, made

racing a dicey proposition at best, as the jockeys and NYRA management

collectively agreed to call off racing.

Thursday's nine-race card was run without incident, as the opening of the

inner track is definitely a telltale sign that winter is just around the corner.

There will be many new faces, along with some familiar ones competing at the Big

A this winter, which will undoubtedly make for some very interesting racing in

the upcoming weeks.

The first graded stakes contest of the new meet was the Queens County H. (G3)

for three-year-olds and up at 1 3/16 miles. A field of nine runners went to the

post, with Evening Attire (Black Tie Affair [Ire]) being the 2-1 favorite and

123-pound highweight. CLASSIC ENDEAVOR (Silver Buck), making full use of his

beneficial rail post, was immediately sent to the lead under Aaron Gryder and

would never relinquish that advantage, posting a hard-fought,

three-quarters-of-a-length victory.

Nicely rated on the front end by Gryder, the winner, who is trained by

Richard Dutrow Jr., held tenaciously to withstand a strong and sustained rally

from runner-up Evening Attire in the stretch. The runner-up, who has been

plagued by bad luck on the track in recent years, did not help his cause when he

hesitated at the start. As a result, he was left with no other choice but to

race wide to improve his position down the backstretch. He continued to lose

valuable ground on the far turn and into the stretch, while rallying. It

appeared for a moment as though he would run down the pacesetter in the final

yards, but he could not muster the necessary late punch while spotting the

winner six pounds.

Colita (Grindstone) saved ground while stalking the early pace but lacked a

sufficient response when called upon in the stretch to finish third, a nose

ahead of Kissin Saint (Kissin Kris), the early trailer who closed belatedly.

The $80,750 East View S. for two-year-old New York-bred fillies at a mile and

a sixteenth was run on Sunday. The eventual winner, SUCCESSFULLY SWEET

(Successful Appeal), would be both lucky and good at the same time, holding on

tenaciously in the stretch to eke out a quarter-length victory. Successfully

Sweet found herself carving out a moderate early pace when the 5-2 favorite,

Karakorum Splendor (A. P. Jet), came away from the gate awkwardly, spotting the

field three lengths from the outset.

The winner, trained by Gary Contessa, repelled a stiff challenge from Pelham

Bay (Smart Strike) on the far turn and again in the stretch, but still had

enough gas left in the tank to hold the late rally of Seeking the Ante (Seeking

the Gold), who closed well for second. Pelham Bay tired slowly late to settle

for third. An unfortunate Rahy's Appeal (Rahy) was hemmed in along the inside in

the stretch while crying out for running room as she tried to rally. Her pleas

went unanswered, though, as she could do no better than fourth. Karakorum

Splendor suffered a wide trip after her clumsy beginning and faltered badly in

the stretch, finishing a well-beaten fifth.

Successfully Sweet registered her third successive victory since being

treated with Lasix, and made her initial foray around two turns a successful

one. Jockey Ariel Smith has ridden her throughout her brief career.

When racing resumed on Thursday, the track played favorably to early speed,

and it remained that way on Friday as well. However, there was no perceivable

bias on either day over the weekend. The inside paths were definitely the place

to be on Thursday and Friday, but the bias seemed to diminish on the weekend.

Despite the switch to the inner track, Dutrow has not missed a beat, as he

shares the top spot in the trainer standings with Scott Lake and Dominic

Galluscio, with each trainer saddling three winners during the opening week.

Gregory F. Martin, James A. Jerkens, Thomas M. Bush, Timothy A. Hills and Frank

LaBoccetta Jr. are all in close pursuit with two winners each.

Jockey Rafael Bejarano's decision to switch his tack to Aqueduct this winter

seems to be paying off, as he finds himself leading all riders with eight

victories. Norberto Arroyo Jr. is hot on his heels with seven wins,  and

Gryder has six scores to his credit. Pablo Fragoso and Shaun Bridgmohan round

out the top five.

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (12/2)

4TH - IF IT'S MEANT TO B (David) showed vast improvement in her econd career

start while switching to a dry track. Exhibited more speed to chase a fast pace

while racing in the deeper part of the course, and the juvenile filly finished

with good energy in the stretch while not being abused late.

5TH - DAVID'S C BISCUIT (West By West) gave a good effort returning to his

proper claiming level. He wound up clearly second best while futilely attempting

to overhaul a loose front-runner in the stretch over a speed-biased track in a

race that finished up well late.

Friday (12/3)

2ND - BERRYTHEGOLD (Goldminers Gold) showed a fine effort turning back to

a sprint. Racing in cramped quarters down the backstretch and around the far

turn, the sophomore gelding finished with good energy in the stretch once

securing running room. He was undoubtedly second best chasing home a decisive

winning favorite. Obviously prefers a dry track sprint.

8TH - SONG OF THE SWORD (Unbridled's Song) prepped in this return to

competition off a long layoff. Allowed to lag too far behind soft fractions on

the front end while unhurried early, the three-year-old began to level off

nicely on the far turn and closed with interest to gain the place over a

speed-favoring course in a race that finished up well late. He adores the inner

track and has more tactical speed than he demonstrated in this comeback effort.

Saturday (12/4)

4TH - COLONIAL SILVER (Silver Deputy) offered a creditable showing despite a

tough outside post for a trainer who usually does not fare well with first

timers. The juvenile dispensed a strong middle move into a fast pace and

finished evenly late to run third. He should have derived beneficial

conditioning and experience from this initial outing.

5TH - SAY COUSIN LENNY (Smart Strike) was a bit slow to find his best stride

early. After rating behind soft fractions down the backstretch, he lacked

running room while attempting to rally and was forced to steady as a result.

Hampered by a bit of an indecisive ride, the five-year-old gelding finished

with interest once clear in the stretch as the pace quickened late.

8TH - ZAKOCITY (Precocity) was forced to stalk the pace racing outside of

rivals throughout while meeting older runners off a layoff. Held well to finish

evenly in the stretch. Would benefit from a cutback in distance and a slight

class drop.

Sunday (12/5)

3RD - VOLATILE VICKIE (Elusive Quality) finished a sharp second while making

first start for trainer Scott Lake. Sophomore filly held gamely after setting a

pressured pace and could not contain a closer who sat a perfect trip.

6TH - PENNANT CONTENDER (Unbridled) turned in a decent third-place showing

while stretching out to a distance of ground in second career start. Gave

relentless chase to a superior speed setting a very lively early pace and should

have derived beneficial conditioning and experience from this effort. Juvenile

might be better served if rating tactics were employed in the future, and he's

bred top and bottom for a route of ground.