AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK
JANUARY 18, 2006
by Bernard T. Moore
Welcome to racing in the winter at “The Big A.” Last Friday, a pea soup
like fog enveloped the track, and you literally couldn’t see a hand in front of
you or the horses running around the track for that matter. And, if that were
not enough, racing came to a grinding halt just two days later on Sunday when a
snow and ice storm hit the New York metropolitan area, forcing management to
scrap the card. Racing took place as scheduled on Monday at the
track, despite the cold and windy conditions.
It has been said that good things will come to those who wait. BOHEMIAN LADY
(Carson City), who had run well enough to win her last three starts, finally got
over the hump with a victory in Saturday’s Affectionately H. The
five-year-old mare was able to set a uncontested and deliberate early pace under
jockey Jose Santos. School was basically out after she completed the half-mile
in a ridiculously slow :51.92, with subsequent runner-up After the Tone
(Stormin Fever) attempting in vain to keep her honest on the front end.
Bohemian Lady proceeded
to draw away from that rival under token encouragement by Santos in the stretch
and was never really asked for her best while reporting home a facile
seven-length winner as the 1-2 favorite. After the Tone outfinished Strategy
(A.P. Indy) for the place, with the latter coupled in the wagering with
Provincial (Pulpit), who was pulled up during the race and vanned off the track.
Aqueduct ran a special Monday holiday card to celebrate Martin Luther King
Jr. Day, with the Jimmy Winkfield S. serving as the day’s featured race. When
the odds-on favorite, One Way Flight (Precise End), encountered trouble breaking
from the gate, STRUMMER (Phone Trick) took full advantage and made every pole a winning one, scoring by four lengths. The winner was well
handled on the lead by jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. as he roamed free on the front
end while setting a comfortable pace and remained well clear of second-place
finisher Johnny Utah (Salt Lake) at the wire.
One Way Flight, who had not been
headed in two career efforts, was placed in tight quarters shortly after the
start. He was hustled down the backstretch to gain a forward position, only to
be caught in traffic along the rail around the far turn. One Way flight
eventually finished with interest when finally clear in the stretch and took
down the show.
There were no apparent biases on Wednesday or Thursday. A heavy fog on Friday
prohibited viewing of the races. The track appeared honest on Saturday, with
racing canceled due to a winter storm on Sunday. When racing resumed on Monday,
the track did not appear to favor any particular running style.
There did not appear to be any detectable path bias all week.
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (1/11)
3RD – BUTTERFACE (Safe Prospect) turned in a much improved effort off the layoff.
Dictated the pace that was fast for the class level and tired slowly in the
stretch. Versatile mare can either sprint or route and might benefit from a
slight drop in class.
8TH – INTERLINE (Will’s Way) offered a creditable second-place finish behind an impressive
daylight winner. Finished with good energy vs. a modest pace in a race that
quickened late. Appears poised for a career best effort in his next start.
Thursday (1/12)
3RD – DEMODEE’S THUNDER (Thunder Gulch) was allowed to lag too far behind a
dawdling pace on the front end. Could not make an impact in the stretch in a
race that finished up well late. Needs a more flattering pace scenario along
with aggressive handling to progress off this effort.
9TH – MIDAS GOLD (Touch Gold) wound up a useful third off the layoff, turning
in a much
improved effort from off the pace in his inner dirt debut effort. Fits well against limited winners.
Friday (1/13)
8TH – CODED PRINCESS (Menifee) was a good second stepping up and tackling older rivals
off the shelf. Held gamely to save the place while chasing home a daylight winner in a
race that finished up well late.
Saturday (1/14)
3RD – RA RA SUPERSTAR (Deputy Minister) was obviously short shipping back to New
York off the layoff. Forced to chase a superior pace rival dictating a
lively pace, he should have derived useful conditioning from this effort and might
benefit from a class drop as well.
4TH – COMPASSIONATE BAY (Greenwood Lake) finished with good energy from near
the back of the pack for second in an encouraging debut effort. Should
appreciate a route of ground.
Monday (1/16)
2ND – PSYCHOTIC LADY (Trippi) decimated an overmatched field of maiden claimers
in a very fast time. Appears as if she could win right back if entered against
limited winners for a similar claiming tag in her next start.
9TH – DYLANS DESTINY (Tomorrows Cat) offered an improved effort on the drop. Held
reasonably well after disputing the lead while racing three-wide in a race that was
fast for the class level. Fits well at the 14,000 claiming level.