AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK
FEBRUARY 27, 2014
by John Mucciolo
There was no graded racing this week at Aqueduct.
Track Stats
A total of 38 races were held at the Jamaica, New York venue, with favorites
winning at a 34 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 61
percent of the wins during the week. Eight horses won in wire-to-wire fashion
(21 percent) over the inner oval.
The main oval played pretty fairly all week, with no advantage to any type of
runner that we took notice of. Of the eight runners who led at each call, five
came in sprint runs and the other trio occurred in two-turn races.
Inner Meet Totals
| RACES: | 384 | |
| FAVORITES: | 133 (35 percent) | |
| 2ND CHOICES: | 108 (28 percent) | |
| DIRT WIRE: | 98 (26 percent) |
HORSES TO WATCH
Friday (2/21)
5TH — GROUND CONTROL (Awesome Again) made quite an impression at first
asking under Manny Franco, taking command prior to the turn for home and pouring
it on late in a fine debut showing. The sophomore colt was very professional in
this dash and could be a nice one for conditioner Tony Dutrow.
7TH — The Tom Albertrani-trained HANDSTAND (Hard Spun) broke slow, was a bit
green on the backside but kicked into gear nearing midstretch and got the job
done at first asking. The three-year-old didn’t run that swiftly in this dash,
but he is bred to run much longer and he could develop into a nice one,
especially when stretching out with more development.
Saturday (2/22)
4TH — ZIVO (True Direction) once again showed a fine late kick and
determination in getting up late after being last turning for home beneath Abel
Castellano Jr. The hard-trying five-year-old got his final five-sixteenths in a
strong :31 3/5 for trainer Chad Brown.
Sunday (2/23)
2ND — CHAPMAN (Stanislavsky) secured a big lead early on and never looked
back in posting a facile score in this dash for conditioner Chris Englehart. The
multiple stakes placed Empire State-bred is back in excellent form and seems to
thrive on the inner oval.
3RD — HOW (Indian Charlie) put in one of the better races of the week in
this impressive maiden victory under the guidance of Irad Ortiz Jr, driving home
a fine winner. The four-year-old filly swept to the front past a clear early
leader and left little doubt in the stretch, cruising home by 3 1/4 lengths. The
four-year-old got her final quarter-mile in :24.
6TH — JCS AMERICAN DREAM (Catienus) had no chance with a loose-on-the-lead
winner, but the three-year-old filly was a very good second while well clear of
her nearest foe. Expect the young filly to be a major factor next time with any
type of improvement in her subsequent outing.
Monday (2/24)
1ST — PASS THE COFFEE (War Pass) followed up a nice debut score with an
impressive romp over starter foes in this opener, successfully stretching out
following a sprint score. The talented three-year-old has yet to be challenged
and should be in line for a class test next time with allowance foes.
9TH — ELMRA (Mizzen Mast) showed speed, dropped back a bit on the backside,
put in a second move to lead for most of the stretch and was unlucky in falling
a tad short at the wire. A similar effort next time could vault this one into
the winner’s circle following this very sharp debut effort.
A Look Ahead
A trio of graded races will be held on Saturday at the Big A. The topper
features sophomores in the Grade 3, $500,000 Gotham Stakes. Also carded for the
big card is the Grade 2, $200,000 Top Flight Handicap and the Grade 3, $200,000
Tom Fool Handicap.