AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK
NOVEMBER 20, 2009
by Albie Johnson
We lost the Stuyvesant (G3) last week due to a shortage of entries and that
was the only graded event that was scheduled during the past week.
There were a half-dozen state-bred stakes on Sunday which were all part of
the New York Stallion Series, and the start of the day was MOTHER RUSSIA (Mayakovsky),
who won her fifth stakes of the year by taking the Staten Island division in
wire-to-wire fashion. The sophomore filly has shown great versatility this
season, winning stakes on the grass going both short and long. In this victory,
she scored her third black-type win on the main track, two this year and one
during her initial campaign.
Mother Russia has been nicely managed by trainer Linda Rice, who has had just
a simply spectacular year on this circuit.
The day’s only scheduled turf stakes was switched to the main track as we
lost all the grass races on the weekend due to heavy rain.
A field of seven headed by RUFFINO (Raffie’s Majesty), who was coming off a
second in the $250,000 Empire Classic S. at Belmont in October, stayed in the
Cormorant division, which was shortened-up to a mile when the race was
transferred to the sloppy, sealed main track. Ruffino was made a very heavy
favorite and prevailed after looking beaten turning for home. The bay gelding
surged in the last sixteenth to get by Pretty Boy Freud (Freud), who had stalked
through the opening quarter, surged to the lead midway on the turn, but could
not hold off the public choice after opening up in midstretch. The final margin
was three parts of a length for this homebred who is trained by H. James Bond.
Earlier in the week, the fleet and talented TAR HEEL MOM (Flatter) went
wire-to-wire in an overnight stakes, scoring her second such contest in a row,
having previously been victorious in a similar event at the Meadowlands. She’s
been nicely spotted by trainer Stanley Hough over her two years of racing and I
wouldn’t be surprised if she were to notch a win in a graded stakes in the near
future.
Another overnight stakes was run on Thursday’s card and attracted a number of
fillies and mares who have raced well against graded competition. In an exciting
three-horse battle to the wire, the Todd Pletcher-trained SEA CHANTER (War
Chant) was up in the last several strides to prove a half-length better than
state-bred Chestoria (Chester House), who in turn had a neck on fellow New
York-bred Love Cove (Not for Love).
The winner was returning to the grass for the first time since February,
having raced on the main track in her previous half-dozen starts.
TRACK STATS
Wednesday and Thursday saw fast and firm condition, but the turf was
downgraded to just good on Friday. The weekend saw a sloppy, sealed, main track
with no turf racing.
Speed or those running near the pace proved most successful in both sprints
and longer contests, while there was no discernible bias visible in the several
grass races that were run.
Inside posts (1 and 2) have won 38 percent of the sprints run at the meet
with a very nice distribution in races of a mile or longer on the dirt. As far
as the grass racing is concerned, there is a nice distribution there also
excepting the hedge post, which has won only one of 34 at this meet.
The leading rider is once again Ramon Dominguez, who holds a sizeable 10-win
lead on Jose Lezcano as he tries for a sweep of the Belmont, Saratoga and
Aqueduct titles.
In the trainer’s race, Todd Pletcher has a three-win lead over both Chad
Brown and Mike Hushion, with nine other conditioners lumped close together right
behind them.
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (11/11)
3RD — AWESOME ASHLEY (Unbridled’s Song), who won a pair of stakes during the
winter here, signaled that she may be returning to form as she rallied to finish
second in this sprint behind Tar Heel Mom. The effort was her best since the
spring and she should be a force when the action shifts to the inner-dirt in the
next few weeks.
6TH — Nice training job by Steve Asmussen as he had AUTUMNLADY (Proud
Citizen) ready off a 10-month layoff to break her maiden in wire-to-wire
fashion. The filly was dropping into a claimer for the first time and getting
the addition of blinkers.
Thursday (11/12)
8TH — Making his second start off a Bruce Levine claim in late August, GONE
MISSING (Pine Bluff) finished a very game second in this spot, giving the
classier and heavily favored Base Commander (Officer) all he could handle here
while losing by just a half-length. He’ll find an easier spot soon.
Friday (11/13)
1ST — The lightly raced BILLY BEAR (Tiznow) continues to impress as he had
no trouble in this state-bred allowance/optional claimer. In running his record
to 5-3-2-0, the dark bay stalked early in this spot, took over when ready and
proved much the best while winning by 4 1/4 lengths. He looks stakes bound soon.
Saturday (11/14)
5TH — Don’t often see 10-year-olds winning on this circuit, but MIDWATCH
(Sea Hero) sprinted clear early in this one-mile test for bottom claimers and
never had an anxious moment while reporting home by 5 3/4 lengths. The veteran
was picking-up his 13th lifetime win and off this one he has some more left in
him.
6TH — Very nice debut by THEMANINTHEGLASS (Malibu Moon) in this spot.
Well-bet off of some sparkling drills, the Pletcher-trained colt had a tough
post (8 of 10) and after being rated early he split runners on the turn and
rallied to finish third. The $200,000 yearling purchase should win soon here, or
at Gulfstream if they elect to give him some time.
UPCOMING STAKES
The Discovery H. (G3) is scheduled for Saturday, and has drawn a field of six
sophomores going 1 1/8 miles.
Have a nice week!