AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK
JANUARY 3, 2013
by John Mucciolo
There were no graded events over the weekend at the Big A.
Track Stats
A total of 54 races were held over the Jamaica, New York inner track, with
favorites winning at a 35 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining
for 56 percent of the wins during the week. Twenty-three horses won in
wire-to-wire fashion (22 percent).
Speed carried the week at Aqueduct, with front runners and those pressing or
attending the pace winning the majority of the races, especially going long.
This oval has often been known to be especially kind to speed players in the
past, and this year looks to be heading in the same direction.
Meet Totals
| RACES: | 333 | |
| DIRT: | 278 | |
| TURF: | 55 | |
| FAVORITES: | 125 (38 percent) | |
| 2ND CHOICES: | 68 (20 percent) | |
| TURF WIRE: | 10 (18 percent) | |
| DIRT WIRE: | 70 (25 percent) |
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (12/26)
4TH — SOCIALSAUL (Read the Footnotes) ran huge in this spot in a fine
runner-up performance, finishing more than 11 lengths clear of third. The Gary
Contessa trainee responded well off the three-month break and seems to have come
back in fine form.
7TH — BOX OFFICE (Tiznow) pressed the pace to the top of the lane and
cruised home an impressive 3 1/2-length winner under Junior Alvarado. The
sophomore colt will be a big player right back for Richard Dutrow.
8TH — We tabbed LITTLE ROCKET (Yes It’s True) following her professional
debut win and the Michael Hushion trainee made us look good with a romp in her
first run with allowance types. This juvenile miss surely appears to be of
stakes quality.
MISS DA POINT (Strong Contender) was stuck behind a slow pace with a clear
leader, but this juvenile filly still rallied well to nearly gain second for
trainer John Toscano Jr. We think this miss could move forward on the lawn, but
is one to watch as a longshot next time, nonetheless.
Thursday (12/27)
5TH — FULL OF INTENT (Master Command) was impressive in her manner in this
winning race, tracking along the rail, moving four-wide nearing the top of the
lane and wearing down the pacesetter late in a professional tally. The Bruce
Levine-conditioned sophomore filly looks to be heading in the right direction
leading into 2013.
6TH — RUN A DUBB DUBB (Harlington) couldn’t keep pace early but came home
with a fury to almost bag this race at first asking for Tony Dutrow. The
two-year-old filly made up a ton of ground late and was a bit unlucky in here.
Friday (12/28)
2ND — REVOLUTIONARY (War Pass) finally broke through after a few promising
starts to his career, and stamped himself as a sophomore to keep an eye on in
2013. The Todd Pletcher juvenile romped home by 8 1/2 lengths in running a solid
final quarter-mile and the well-bred sort might continue to improve with
distance.
6TH — CHAPMAN (Stanislavsky) was tons the best in this debut run for trainer
Chris Englehart, prompting the early tempo before drawing off late in a solid
final time and the gelding is likely to try starter allowance foes after this
fine debut.
Sunday (12/30)
2ND — The gelded ODEA (Cherokee Run), who was making his first start in this
sprint, was sharp from start to finish and came home in a swift :24 under Ramon
Dominguez. The Jimmy Jerkens pupil is bred to be a nice sprinter and appears to
be just that.
Monday (12/31)
3RD — We had to give ourselves a little self promotion when the previously
mentioned Miss Da Point came back to bag this stakes race in easy fashion just
four days off of an allowance fourth. The filly changes tactics in gunning to
the front early in here, and gave her foes little chance in the lane.
7TH – Trainer Richard Dutrow has GALLANT FIELDS (Smarty Jones) going well
right now, as the gelding followed up a fine stakes second with a pretty handy
allowance win in here beneath Dominguez. We wouldn’t be surprised to see this
one entered in the next week or two.
A Look Ahead
There are a pair of stakes races this Saturday at the Big A, with the Grade
2, $200,000 Jerome Handicap for three-year-olds leading the way.