AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK
MAY 4, 2006
by Bernard T. Moore
Turf racing was in abundance over the weekend at Aqueduct. Usually, that
means only one thing — that a race meet at a particular track is drawing to a
close.
With Aqueduct concluding with its Sunday program, racing in New York will now
move to beautiful Belmont Park, which is sometimes known as “Big Sandy” because
of its expansive nature and the composition of its main track.
Belmont Park is also widely recognized as the home of the Belmont S. (G1),
the last stop on the road to the Triple Crown. This year’s renewal will be run
on June 10.
At Aqueduct last Saturday, BERNARDINI (A.P. Indy), with only a sparkling
maiden special weight victory to his credit thus far, made a successful
transition into graded stakes competition as he easily annexed the Withers S.
(G3) for three-year-olds at a mile. Stalking the early pace dictated by 3-5 favorite Luxembourg (Wild Rush), Bernardini dueled that rival into defeat
shortly after entering the stretch. Upon hitting the front, he proceeded to run
clear of competition while amassing a daylight lead, eventually emerging
victorious to win by a comfortable 3 3/4 lengths. Doc Cheney (Saint Ballado) sat
a perfect trip behind the pacesetters down the backstretch and rallied mildly in
midstretch to gain the place while never a serious threat to the winner.
Luxembourg was hustled away from the gate after a bit of a slow start while
breaking from the rail. He dictated a pestered pace off the inside until the
stretch, holding reasonably well once displaced on the lead by the winner. Rob’em Blind (Robyn Dancer) trailed throughout and finished last in the field of
four.
A dawdling pace and a speed conducive turf course assisted POMMES FRITES (Dynaformer)
as she scored a front-running victory in the Beaugay H. (G3), which was also on
the Saturday card. Saddled by Bill Mott and ridden by jockey Cornelio Velasquez,
the winner was sent to the lead and laid down leisurely fractions. A lukewarm
5-2 favorite in the wagering, Pommes Frites was eventually headed on the front
end around the far turn. However, she was nowhere near finished, as she secured
breathing room once again in the stretch to draw clear by 1 1/2 lengths.
Naissance Royale (Ire) (Giant’s Causeway), who had enjoyed a ground-saving trip
thus far, was angled out in the stretch for a final run at the leader. Pommes
Frites was able to hold on grimly to her lead, winning by a head over the
oncoming Naissance Royale, who had to settle for second. Brunilda (Arg) (Mutakddim)
raced with the early pace from the outset, moved to challenge for the lead on
the turn, but could not sustain her rally as the race quickened and finished
third. Angara (GB) (Alzao), dispatched at odds of 7-2 while making her first
start for Mott, obviously needed this race off the layoff and finished a
non-threatening sixth.
Sunday marked the end of the Aqueduct spring meet, and the Kings Point H. for
New York-breds at 1 1/8 miles was featured. The race showcased the 2003 Kentucky
Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1) winner, FUNNY CIDE (Distorted Humor), who was sent
off at 3-5 odds. Saddled by Barclay Tagg, Funny Cide walked on the front end
while setting a very pedestrian pace. Gold and Roses (Gold Token) moved to
challenge the front runner on the turn, with Win with Beck (Personal Flag)
rallying along the inside. It appeared as if they would blow on by the favorite.
However, Funny Cide would refused to throw in the towel, responding willingly to
energetic handling by jockey Richard Migliore to brush away both challenges and
slowly edged away under a vigorous hand ride in deep stretch to post a
hard-earned 3/4 of a length victory. Gold and Roses was clearly second best
while talking the place by 3 3/4 lengths over Win with Beck. Delta Sea (Sea
Hero) never made an impact and finished last.
Aqueduct also carded split divisions of the New York Stallion S. on Sunday.
Both races were scrapped when racing was canceled on April 23 due to track
conditions, and were rescheduled for closing day.
NO REASON (Precise End) was able to rally from off-the-pace and subsequently
outfinish the pacesetting Little Miss Zip (City Zip) in deep stretch to win the
Park Avenue Division of the New York Stallion S. at double-digit odds. Artistic
Express (Western Expression) finished well along the inside at long odds to get
the show.
In the Times Square Division of the New York Stallion S., PRINCE OF PEACE
(Regal Classic) closed with determination in the final yards to overhaul One Way
Flight (Precise End) by a neck. Dismissed in the wagering at odds of 14-1, the
Mike Miceli-trained runner had his work cut out for him in midstretch, with One
Way Flight holding on to a 2 1/2-length advantage. However, the eventual
second-place finisher, who had contested a lightning fast pace, began to weaken
late as the finish line did not appear quickly enough to save him. Say
Tomorrow (Tomorrows Cat) closed belatedly get the show.
Eibar Coa took down another riding title, with Mike Luzzi finishing second.
Kent Desormeaux, who recently moved his tack to New York, finished on even terms
with Alan Garica and apprentice rider P. Morales for third.
Gary Contessa bested Richard Dutrow Jr. by just one win to once again lead
all trainers, with Bruce Levine finishing third.
The main track seemed to play uniformly all week. There was no distinguishing path bias present last week. Early speed fared extremely well over the turf course on Saturday.
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (4/26)
8TH – WAR GOD (Ecton Park) exhibited an eye-catching turnaround in first
start for trainer Bruce Levine in New York Clearly second best chasing home an
odds-on wire-to-wire winning favorite who set a comfortable early pace, the
Canadian-bred three-year-old should be able to handle a middle distance of
ground.
9TH – FIRST EXPRESSION (Western Expression) recorded a good third-place
finish off a prolonged layoff while making his first start for a selling price.
Held well chasing a strong early pace in a swiftly run race. Should have derived
beneficial conditioning from this effort.
Thursday (4/27)
4TH – TRUELY WICKED (The Wicked North) finished a strong third at long odds
in his turf debut. Exhibited surprise speed adding blinkers to set the pace.
Held well once displaced on the lead in a race that finished up well late.
Obviously gained useful experience and conditioning from this effort.
6TH – WATCHTHEATLANTIC (Stormy Atlantic) was dueled into defeat vs. a
superior pace rival off a class rise. May prefer to rate and make one run. Might
be most effective against $25K maiden claimers.
Friday (4/28)
2ND – MR. HAMLEN (Devil His Due) offered a creditable showing in his first
effort vs. winners. Chased a very quick pace for the class level while
stretching out to nine furlongs before weakening. Continues to move forward
since outfitted with blinkers.
Saturday (4/29)
2ND – MIDTOWN SOUTH (Phone Trick) wound up a heartbreaking second while
adding Lasix for new trainer Kim Laudati. Stalked a very fast pace prior to
seizing the lead, only to yield late to a fresh closer. New medication may
finally get her over the hump in the future.
3RD – Luxembourg had to be hustled along after breaking a bit slowly from the
rail and set a lively pace. Was ultimately no match for the highly-regarded
Bernardini, but continued to finish with interest to the wire.
6TH – FREEDOM ISNT FREE (Fly So Free) rallied strongly despite a bumping
incident to finish a good second behind a loose front-running winner. Both
winning efforts have come sprinting, one of which was at Belmont Park last
spring.
Sunday (4/30)
1ST – ZAYNAB (FR) (Ocean of Wisdom) turned in a deceptively strong winning
effort in her North American debut effort for top grass trainer Christophe
Clement. Responded willingly when set down in the stretch and drew clear under
an energetic hand ride. Has the potential to be a future stakes winner.
8TH – One Way Flight was an unlucky second, losing by a neck. Argued a very
hot pace and then drew clear in the stretch, weakening only to a persistent
closer. This New York-bred runner is stakes-placed vs. open company rivals, but
has yet to win beyond six furlongs.