AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK
JANUARY 1, 2015
by John Mucciolo
There was no graded action last week on the inner oval at Aqueduct.
Track Stats
A total of 27 races were held over the inner strip at the Long Island, New
York venue, with favorites winning at a 33 percent rate and the top two betting
choices combining for 52 percent of the wins during the week. Ten races were won
in wire-to-wire fashion (37 percent).
Speed took over on this main oval during the weekend, with five wire jobs on
Saturday and four more on Sunday (nine-for-18 overall). Inner posts were also
good as 15 of the 18 races were taken by horses breaking from the innermost
three post positions.
Meet Totals
| RACES: | 126 | |
| DIRT: | 126 | |
| FAVORITES: | 52 (43 percent) | |
| 2ND CHOICES: | 18 (13 percent) | |
| DIRT WIRE: | 33 (23 percent) |
HORSES TO WATCH
Friday (12/26)
2ND — BEEN HERE BEFORE (Tapit) took the lead at the top of the lane and
cruised home a nice graduate for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. The well-bred filly
looked she could have kept going and rates as a sophomore to watch in 2015.
3RD — SALUTOS AMIGOS (Salute the Sarge) capped off a fine year of racing
with a big late rally, drawing away from a pretty good field. The David Jacobson
trainee showed vast improvement since arriving to the East Coast and is one of
the better one-turn horses on the grounds.
Saturday (12/27)
5TH — MAXIMUS MIKE (Tiz Wonderful) unleashed his best run approaching the
stretch and carried it to the wire, drawing off like a good thing. The sophomore
gelding was very impressive from a visual standpoint and will be tough right
back for trainer Gary Gullo.
6TH — JOHN’S ISLAND (Posse) looked to have too much to do in the lane, but
steadily cut into the clear leader and gamely prevailed late under Angel Arroyo.
The three-year-old gelding has been going fairly well for a bit and should have
a productive four-year-old season with continued growth.
7TH — SHOTGUN LOVE (Posse) sped from the gate and was clear inside the final
furlong, only to get run down late and finish in third in a good debut run. The
sophomore filly should be a player next time out and should graduate soon for
Dom Schettino.
8TH — IRSAAL (More Than Ready) was last and wide for much of this one, but
did put in a fine late rally to just miss running down a horse that was well
clear inside the final panel. The McLaughlin trainee will be a major factor with
any type of improvement in his subsequent outing.
Sunday (12/28)
1ST — We’re not sure what she topped in this one, but ROSE QUARTZ (Rock Hard
Ten) surely put on a show in rolling home by more than 20 lengths to break her
maiden in style. The Joe Orseno trainee has to get a look next time following
this display.
3RD — KATHY’S HUMOR (Justenuffhumor) had little chance running down a clear
winner who is on quite a roll, but the filly made a nice run to be a clear
second under Irad Ortiz Jr. The two-year-old miss could be moving into a nice
form cycle for trainer Richard Violette.
A Look Ahead
There is no graded racing this week at Aqueduct.