AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK
JANUARY 30, 2014
by John Mucciolo
There was no graded action this week at Aqueduct.
Track Stats
A total of 36 races were held over the inner oval at the Jamaica, New York
venue, with favorites winning at a 28 percent rate and the top two betting
choices combining for 64 percent of the wins during the week. From 36 races on
the main oval, 18 animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (50 percent).
Speed was thoroughly dominant on Thursday and Saturday, and pretty good all
week, when 12 of the 18 races were won in wire-to-wire fashion (67 percent). In
addition, for the week in total, 25 of the 36 winners broke from posts 1-3 (69
percent).
Inner Meet Totals
| RACES: | 272 | |
| FAVORITES: | 91 (34 percent) | |
| 2ND CHOICES: | 78 (28 percent) | |
| DIRT WIRE: | 73 (23 percent) |
HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (1/23)
8TH — In one of the more impressive performances of the week, PROHIBITION
(Lawyer Ron) led early and poured it on late in posting a superb 15 1/4-length
victory under Stewart Elliott. The Cathal Lynch-conditioned gelding came home
pretty fast under light encouragement and is very sharp right now.
Saturday (1/25)
2ND — LEAGLLY BAY (Read the Footnotes) rallied big and just missed off the
layoff when a very close third for Marialice Coffey. The four-year-old received
a very questionable ride in our view and she could graduate next time while
being stronger second off the shelf.
6TH — Trainer George Weaver unveiled a nice prospect in SATURDAY BLISS (Any
Given Saturday), who grabbed the lead soon after the break and left little doubt
in the lane with a facile 11 3/4-length tally under Chris DeCarlo. The sophomore
could be any type going forward.
Sunday (1/26)
4TH — UNDERTAKER (Unbridled’s Song) earned his second straight win for
conditioner John Servis and is vastly improved after his first few lifetime
runs. The sophomore colt didn’t break best but was rushed up, opened up a
sizable edge and held off all comers in a nice tally. The peaking sophomore
could evolve into a stakes type with continued progression.
Monday (1/27)
3RD — Eddie Kenneally’s METRO DREAMER (Zensational) chased in second
throughout and nearly reeled in the wire-to-wire winner in a much improved race
under Cornelio Velasquez. The sophomore colt should be graduating soon on this
oval with another leap forward next time.
5TH — FINN’S QUEST (Giant’s Causeway) looked beaten in late stretch but
refused to be passed in posting a brave victory beneath Irad Ortiz Jr. We love
horses like this that simply have a nose for the wire and will not be denied
when challenged.
A Look Ahead
Saturday will play host to a quartet of stakes races at this venue, two of
which are graded. The Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes and the Grade 3, $150,000
Toboggan Stakes, are the headliners.