AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK
DECEMBER 12, 2013
by John Mucciolo
There was no graded racing over the weekend at Aqueduct.
Track Stats
A total of 45 races were held at the Jamaica, New York venue, with favorites
winning at a 38 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 53
percent of the wins during the week. From 41 races on the main oval, eight
animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (20 percent), while one of the four races on
the lawn was taken all the way on the front (25 percent).
The closing week on the main oval here played mostly fairly, with a few
horses winning from on the pace, and a few from off the pace on each racing day.
We are very eager to see how things shake out early next week as racing moves
to the inner oval on Wednesday. While speed is often the main theme on that
oval, it has not been as strong in the past two seasons as years past, but is
still advantageous, nonetheless.
Meet Totals
| RACES: | 234 | |
| DIRT: | 184 | |
| TURF: | 50 | |
| FAVORITES: | 90 (38 percent) | |
| 2ND CHOICES: | 49 (21 percent) | |
| TURF WIRE: | 2 (4 percent) | |
| DIRT WIRE: | 32 (17 percent) |
HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (12/5)
5TH — MAJESTIC JESS (Majestic Missile) made a sweeping move into the lane
and held on gamely to post a fine win under Irad Ortiz Jr. The Rudy Rodriguez
trainee has been in good current form and came home pretty well on this “good”
turf oval, and we like the gelding to run big right back.
6TH — TIZ SO SWEET (Tiznow) got the jump out of the gate and repelled a
strong challenge from the favorite throughout the lane in a fine maiden conquer
for conditioner Bill Mott. The juvenile filly completed her final quarter-mile
in a useful :25, and could be a nice one with expected improvement.
Friday (12/6)
4TH — MY TEDDY BEAR (Rockport Harbor) tracked the leader to the top of the
lane, took a small lead by midstretch and stayed on very well to be a clear
second at a big price beneath Abel Lezcano. The sophomore gelding shouldn’t be a
maiden for long with a slight move forward out of this heat.
6TH – The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained FORTIFY (Distorted Humor) took command
with ease approaching the turf for home and demolished his foes in rolling home
by 8 1/4 lengths under Jose Ortiz. The well-bred colt defeated a few good ones
we thought and he could surely be a stakes player in 2014.
Saturday (12/7)
2ND — UNCLE SIGH (Indian Charlie) broke slowest, quickly moved into
contention and gave the odds-on favorite all he could handle in a superb second
place run in this debut dash. The Gary Contessa trainee finished a whopping 10
lengths clear of third and will surely be in the winners’ circle soon with
anything like this performance.
5TH — DECEIVED (Broken Vow) returns to this list following a no-doubt maiden
tally, being always well placed and pouring it on in the lane under a confident
Ortiz Jr. The juvenile colt should have little distance limitations and he is
also bred for the lawn, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see him thrive on that
surface, as well.
Sunday (12/8)
5TH — TYRUS (First Samurai) won the battle but lost the war so to speak, as
the five-year-old got the better in a pace duel but was run down late in a sharp
third-place finish. The gelding from the Eddie Kenneally barn is very swift and
the fact that this field came home so quickly tells us this was a fine try in
defeat.
A Look Ahead
Racing moved to the inner track on Wednesday, December 11.