AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK
FEBRUARY 16, 2005
by Bernard T. Moore
Triple Crown prep races were contested across the country this past weekend,
and New York’s contribution toward that end was Saturday’s Whirlaway S. at 1
1/16 miles. The race featured the return of the talented New York-bred Galloping
Grocer (A.P Jet), whose lone blemish on an otherwise impressive record is a
heartbreaking defeat by a neck to the highly regarded Rockport Harbor (Unbridled’s
Song) in the Remsen S. (G2) last November.
Because of that sparkling effort on his resume, which stood out like a sore
thumb in the 10-horse Whirlaway field, Galloping Grocer was installed as the 1-2
favorite. As expected, the odds-on choice, with jockey Aaron Gryder aboard,
broke alertly to dictate the early fractions, as Diamond Wildcat (Forest
Wildcat) settled just to his inside down the backstretch. The duo raced heads
apart until the far turn until Galloping Grocer dueled that rival into defeat.
He then proceeded to secure a tenuous lead in the stretch, as Scrappy T (Fit to
Fight), who had stalked the pace from the outset, dove to the rail for his
stretch bid.
By this time, SORT IT OUT (Out of Place) was in high gear to his
outside, and loomed a threatening presence as Naughty New Yorker (Quiet
American) also began to level off as well. There was little to choose among the
quartet as they reached the eighth pole before Sort It Out started to assert
himself between rivals in deep stretch, as a beleaguered Galloping Grocer began
to fade slowly. Scrappy T was also weakening under pressure, and a last ditch
effort by Naughty New Yorker fell short as Sort It Out was able to hold on and
post a hard fought neck victory. Scrappy T wound up checking in third, although
he did respond favorably to the rating tactics that were employed.
Galloping
Grocer certainly acquitted himself well in defeat, his first start in 11 weeks.
He was not abused in deep stretch, finishing just a neck farther back in fourth.
Upon returning to the saddling area, Galloping Grocer was bleeding from his left
hind leg. The cut, while minor in nature, obviously did not help Galloping
Grocer’s cause in his comeback effort.
To say that the Allen Iwinski-trained Sort It Out outran his nearly 20-1 post
time odds would be an understatement, as this Empire State-bred runner has
progressed nicely over the winter. Whether or not he can continue moving forward
and compete at the graded stakes level is uncertain. For the time being, he can
sit back and rest on his laurels as his connections plot the next move in his
three-year-old campaign.
Inside speed ruled on the inner track to start the week in both sprints and
routes. That bias began to wane as the week wore on and the main track appeared
bias free over the weekend.
Scott Lake holds a narrow one-win lead over both Gary Contessa and Richard
Dutrow Jr. in the trainers’ race. Bruce Levine holds on to the fourth spot as
Tom Bush, Mike Hushion and Kiaran McLaughlin are deadlocked for fifth in the
standings.
Rafael Bejarano continues to lead the jockey standings, as Norberto Arroyo
Jr. remains steadfast in second. Shaun Bridgmohan is in third with Stewart
Elliot joining the top five, edging out Richard Migliore for fourth place by
just one win.
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (2/9)
1ST – GOLDEN TRIESTE (Old Trieste) showed vast improvement on the drop with the hood
removed. Hampered by a bit of a troubled start and a rather ordinary pace on the
front end, he finished with good energy as the pace quickened while continuing to
cut into his deficit.
6TH – WING MAN (A.P Jet) gave a good effort off a freshening with the addition of
blinkers. Gave futile chase to a loose front runner over a speed-biased track in
a race that finished up well late.
Thursday (2/10)
4TH – GOLDEN JEWEL (Banker’s Gold) closed belatedly for fourth with blinkers
off. Obviously prepping for a distance of ground in the near future, she has run
well versus much tougher in the past without the hood.
9TH – FIVE STAR GOLD (Goldminer’s Dream) turned in an useful effort in his
two-turn debut. Gave futile chase to an odds-on winning favorite while clearly
second best. Bred
to handle middle distances, and a cut back to 8 1/2 furlongs would serve him
well.
Friday (2/11)
5TH – IWANNABEACOWBOY (Indian Charlie) ran sneaky well in a swiftly run race.
He disputed a lively pace and understandably gave way and could be very dangerous in
next start if able to get an uncontested lead.
8TH – MRS. DOYLE (Partner’s Hero) fell a length shy of overhauling a loose
wire-to-wire winner who benefited from a lethargic pace. She has dangerous
tactical speed for a live trainer at the meet.
Saturday (2/12)
3RD – A TO Z (Honour and Glory) raced evenly on the stretch out with the
addition of Lasix. He was compromised by a lackluster pace on the front end, but
finished with interest late and would clearly benefit from a more livelier pace
scenario in addition to a slight class drop.
7TH – KARAKORUM PATRIOT (Personal Flag) improved to third in his second start
versus
open company rivals. He ran very well without the lead, closing with interest in a
race that finished up well late.
8TH – Galloping Grocer was hard-used setting a quick and pressured
pace off a layoff. The colt gave ground grudgingly in the stretch to fresh closers as he
began to feel the effects of a sustained battle for the lead. He should have
derived beneficial conditioning from this effort.
Sunday (2/13 )
5TH – MISS GREENY (Wheaton) continues to maintain her form over the inner
track. She dispensed another good effort chasing a lively pace and finished well in
a race that was above par for the level.