AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK
JANUARY 12
by Bernard T. Moore
The Aqueduct inner track meet was just beginning to garner momentum last week
after the long Holiday break when the final six races of its Saturday card were
cancelled due to unsafe track conditions. Apparently, the inner track can only
absorb so much water, and once it reaches that point, racing over the
moisture-laden surface can be extremely hazardous.
Once the jockeys declined to ride over the sloppy course, management was left
with little recourse but to scrap the remaining races on the card. As a result,
the $75,000 Count Fleet S. was postponed, and will be run this coming Saturday.
Racing resumed as scheduled on Sunday, as the entire nine race card was run
without incident. There were no stakes events to report on.
Early speed dominated on the inner track, with front-runners enjoying a
banner day on Sunday, especially in sprints. There did not appear to be a path
bias to kick off the week, but the inside paths were preferable on Thursday and
Friday, and once again on Sunday.
Richard Dutrow Jr. and Tom Bush remained tied for the top spot in the trainer
standings. Scott Lake and Gary Contessa are in a dead-heat for third, trailing
the top pair by just one victory. Bruce Levine rounds out the top five.
Rafael Bejarano padded his lead last week and is now nine victories ahead of
Norberto Arroyo Jr., who solidified his status as the second leading rider.
Aaron T. Gryder maintains the third spot, and Shaun Bridgmohan and Richard
Migliore are tied for fourth.
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (1/5)
8TH – TAKE ME THERE (West Acre) was compromised once more by a pedestrian pace on
the front end. Closed with good energy late despite slow fractions and a speed
conducive course.
9TH – BYBACK (Smart Strike) tired slowly in the stretch after disputing
a lively pace for the class level while returning to Mike Hushion. Has
demonstrated the ability in the past to set or stalk the early pace.
Thursday (1/6)
7TH – ANNIKA LASS (Mister Jolie) faced a tough task off the layoff. Gave
resolute chase to an odds-on favorite who benefited from an intense speed bias
and a golden rail. Four-year-old closed with good energy despite having to alter course in the
stretch in her initial effort over a
wet track.
9TH – SOUTH MAGNOLIA (Southern Halo) was a tad short off the shelf
for Steve Asmussen. Forced to chase a superior speed rival who simply freaked over the
sloppy track. Should have derived beneficial conditioning from her initial inner
track experience and will be fitter in her next start off the layoff.
Friday (1/7)
1ST – AURIFY (Gold Case) finished a much improved third turning back to a sprint and
adding blinkers off a layoff. Finished with interest despite a wide trip over an
inside speed biased track.
3RD – GHOST MOUNTAIN (Silver Ghost) turned in a decent effort chasing a superior speed
rival over a wet track, which he did not appear to appreciate. Would benefit by a return
to sprinting, or catching a field with little other speed.
Sunday (1/9)
2ND – LOOKIN SWELL (Cherokee Run) was bumped shortly after the start. Raced wide
virtually the entire way and finished with interest against the grain of an
inside speed biased track. A half-sister to a couple of stakes winners, it
appears that she would relish two turns.
8TH – BYANOSEJOE (Cherokee Run) finished a good second facing winners while stretching out
to a route of ground. Closed with good energy in the deeper part of the track
against a rather ordinary early pace.