AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK
DECEMBER 4, 2009
by Albie Johnson
The final week of the short fall meet on the main track came to an end with a
flurry of graded events, which were headed by the Cigar Mile (G1). The $300,000
contest attracted a small field of six, including Met Mile (G1) winner Bribon
(Fr) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]), Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G1) victor
Vineyard Haven (Lido Palace [Chi]), and Vosburgh (G1) and Carter H. (G1) winner
KODIAK KOWBOY (Posse).
Vineyard Haven set the early pace and it was not a particularly fast one for
the level. All the riders sensed it and no more than seven lengths separated the
runners as they hit the far turn. Bribon moved toward the leader as they
approached the quarter-pole with Kodiak Kowboy in a bit of a tight spot as they
turned for home. The top pair were now engaged in a heated battle and jockey
Shaun Bridgmohan on Kodiak Kowboy got his mount off the rail and in the clear.
They closed resolutely on the outside of the dueling duo and surged past in the
final yards to win by three parts of a length over Bribon, who had a head up on
a very game Vineyard Haven.
Kodiak Kowboy has had a solid career and this important win proved that he
really is a middle distance specialist, as prior to this one seven furlongs was
always his preferred trip.
One race earlier on the big stakes program, three-year-old fillies were in
the spotlight in the $300,000 Gazelle (G1), one of the older continuous run
events on this circuit. The race was headed by last year’s two-year-old filly
champion, Stardom Bound (Tapit), who had not raced since this past spring at
Keeneland; the lightly raced and improving Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled’s Song);
and FLASHING (A.P. Indy), who was racing on conventional dirt for the first time
since taking the Test (G1) at Saratoga.
The Gazelle had a nice betting angle to it as Flashing was the only entrant
to have raced on the main track at Aqueduct and she was undefeated (two-for-twp)
on it. Her recent work activity had been strong and jockey Richard Migliore took
full advantage of her speed and put this Godolphin filly right on the lead. She
was never seriously threatened on her way to a 4 1/4-length triumph over
Unrivaled Belle, who chased throughout and gamely held down the place spot by 2
1/2 lengths on longshot Bon Jovi Girl (Malibu Moon).
Flashing had been scheduled to go to the breeding shed next spring, but this
impressive win has given her connections second thoughts as to whether that will
be the case. Of the vanquished, Stardom Bound did not break well and after
racing in hand offered nothing when rider Mike Smith asked her to respond.
The other two stakes on the Saturday card featured two-year-olds going 1 1/8
miles, with seven juvenile fillies lining up in the Demoiselle S. (G2) headed by
Protesting (A.P. Indy), who was coming off an impressive maiden win at
Keeneland.
Longshot Oh Diane (Stephen Got Even) set the pace, closely followed by
TIZAHIT (Tiznow) and Fuzzy Britches (Pollard’s Vision) with Protesting being
rated early after breaking a step slowly. Tizahit had first run when the
pacesetter stopped turning for home and jockey Edgar Prado successfully kept
Ramon Dominguez on Fuzzy Britches pinned down on the rail turning into the
stretch. After drawing clear, the lass had enough left to hold Protesting safe
by a length as that runner made a race of it late. The entire field looked dead
tired in the last furlong and the final time was a slow 1:53.09 over a track
labeled fast.
Tizahit had been successful in her debut and finished second in the Blue Hen
S. at Delaware, giving her some valuable two-turn experience, before having a
troubled trip in the Tempted S. (G3) last out on this surface. George Weaver
trains this dark bay filly for longtime owners Jim and Susan Hill.
One race later, juvenile colts were in the spotlight in the Remsen S. (G2),
which in years gone by has been a major stepping stone for some legendary
runners on the Triple Crown trail. The test was a two horse affair on paper,
with recent Nashua S. (G2) winner BUDDY’S SAINT (Saint Liam) and Champagne (G1)
hero Homeboykris (Roman Ruler) squaring off.
Citrus Kid (Lemon Drop Kid) set the early pace with Homeboykris in close
attendance and Buddy’s Saint keeping a close eye on his main rival. When things
quickened on the far turn, Buddy’s Saint easily went by the top pair and it
became evident at that point that Homeboykris had nothing to offer. Buddy
cruised home to a 4 3/4-length score over Peppi Knows (Stephen Got Even), who
passed some very tired runners for the place spot. Citrus Kid was dead tired but
still managed to hold onto third.
Buddy’s Saint has been impressive in his last pair and you can’t fault his
connections, owner/trainer Bruce Levine, for getting a bit of Derby Fever.
Homeboykris just did not fire in his first attempt around two turns, which often
separates precocious individuals from the ones of quality. We’ll see how he does
at Gulfstream after he gets some badly needed time off.
A couple of days earlier on the Thanksgiving holiday, the Fall Highweight H.
(G3) had a field of 10 professional sprinters and middle-distance runners square
off in the six-furlong sprint, and the public centered on Keeneland invader The
Roundhouse (Fusaichi Pegasus) as the race favorite.
Longshot Hatfield (Proud Citizen) set the early pace with a firing line right
behind, which quickly moved as a team on the far turn to produce a rather heated
pace battle into which eventual winner CHEROKEE COUNTRY (Yonaguska) and
runner-up Greenspring (Orientate) would close into from far back. Cherokee
Country reported home by a half-length over Greenspring, who had 1 1/4 lengths
on third-placer Hatfield.
Cherokee Country is based in the mid-Atlantic region and was rebounding in
this spot after a poor effort last out on this surface in the Bold Ruler H.
(G3). Ramon Preciado did the saddling for brother Guadalupe and Jose Lezcano
contributed a well-timed ride.
TRACK STATS
Todd Pletcher won the trainer’s title by a 13-to-eight margin over Mark
Hennig, while Dominguez completed a sweep of the years meets with a 38-to-24
advantage over John Velazquez.
Racing moved to the inner dirt on December 2 and will continue there until
late March.
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (11/25)
6TH — IT’S THE BIG CAT (Kitten’s Joy) ran a fine pacesetting second in this
spot in her first race in more than three months and first with Lasix
administered.. Lightly raced state-bred filly should win soon.
8TH — Second-favorite QUALIA (Saarland) ran a big race for a filly making
only her second start. She chased a solid pace and was getting to the
wire-to-wire winner in the last 100 yards. She impressed in her winning debut
and did so again in this spot.
Friday (11/27)
2ND — CHIMAYO (A.P. Indy). who cost $3.1 million, broke her maiden in this
nine-furlong contest after shipping back from Keeneland where she disappointed
as the favorite. The Darley runner may yet pan out to be a good one for trainer
Kiaran McLaughlin.
Saturday (11/28)
3RD — The late Barbaro’s full brother LENTENOR (Dynaformer) ran a very big
race in this spot. After bobbling at the break, he saved ground on the inside,
had some traffic on the far turn, and closed strongly once clear to miss by a
half-length. This runner has talent.
Sunday (11/29)
2ND — Another expensive runner from the Darley Stable, KEEP THINKING (A.P.
Indy) finished first in this maiden special weight but was taken down for
drifting a bit late. The $2.4 million Keeneland September purchase is clearly
better on conventional dirt than he is on synthetic tracks and should win next
out.
UPCOMING STAKES
There are no scheduled graded events until December 12.
Have a nice week!