AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK
OCTOBER 24, 2011
by John Mucciolo
A single graded race headlined the third week at Aqueduct.
Discovery H. (G3): Jay Em Ess Stable’s REDEEMED continued his winning
ways with a convincing 2 1/4-length win under Edgar Prado. By Include, the
Richard Dutrow trainee endured nine panels in 1:49 1/5 over the fast main oval.
Track Stats
A total of 45 races were held over the Jamaica, New York venue, with
favorites winning at a 51 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining
for 69 percent of the wins during the week. From 37 races on the main oval,
eight animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (22 percent), and no runner led at
every call on the lawn from eight races.
Through 35 grass races at the meeting, not a single horse has led at every
call on the turf. We’re starting to think that this is not a coincidence.
The main oval played pretty fairly all week we thought, with horses winning
from on, just off or well off the early pace.
Meet Totals
| RACES: | 115 | |
| DIRT: | 80 | |
| TURF: | 35 | |
| FAVORITES: | 46 (40 percent) | |
| 2ND CHOICES: | 22 (19 percent) | |
| TURF WIRE: | 0 | |
| DIRT WIRE: | 19 (24 percent) |
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (11/16)
7TH — LADY COHIBA was tons the best and seems to have a very bright future
for conditioner Christophe Clement. The two-year-old Broken Vow lass handled
this sloppy oval with ease and looms a big player leading into her sophomore
season.
Thursday (11/17)
1ST — RON THE GREEK finally broke his losing skid and did so in a big way,
rolling home by five lengths in this spot under Jose Lezcano. The four-year-old
could make some noise during the winter at this meeting.
3RD — DEMI TASSE was a clear second in this one and showed some stubbornness
in making the winner work hard in here. A two-year-old daughter of Flatter, the
Timmy Hills pupil could be of stakes quality.
Friday (11/18)
7TH –HOW DO I WIN rolled home in his second straight fine tally and has
really turned it around in his last pair for conditioner Todd Pletcher. A son of
Corinthian, the well-bred juvenile was always moving like a winner in this spot
and is in line for a class rise, possibly a hefty one.
Saturday (11/19)
7TH — ALL OF THE ABOVE returned with a gritty win in here at a trip shorter
than his best for trainer Tony Dutrow. The talented New Jersey-bred will be
stakes bound next time.
Sunday (11/20)
6TH — KID BLAST just missed in a sharp debut run in here for conditioner
Bruce Levine, and the juvenile son of Posse should be a winner before long.
Levine is often much better with second time starters, but he’s had his babies
ready to fire in the past few weeks.
A Look Ahead
Six graded races will take place through the Holiday weekend here. Saturday
is the big day and plays host to the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap, Grade 1
Gazelle Stakes, Grade 2 Remsen Stakes and Grade 2 Demoiselle Stakes.
The Grade 2 Go for Wand Handicap is on Friday, while the Thanksgiving feature
is the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap.