AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK
APRIL 9, 2015
by John Mucciolo
A huge Saturday of racing headlined the week at Aqueduct.
Wood Memorial S. (G1): Godolphin’s homebred FROSTED (Tapit) ranged up on the
outside of a clear runner in the lane and wore that one down late to earn a
two-length victory for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. The talented three-year-old
colt clocked nine furlongs in 1:50 1/5 with Joel Rosario in the silks.
Carter H. (G1): Vincent Scuderi’s homebred DADS CAPS (Discreet Cat))
defended his crown in this race when slipping through an opening in the lane and
powering home a 1 1/2-length victor under Jose Ortiz. The five-year-old stopped
the teletimer in 1:23 3/5 for seven-eighths for Rudy Rodriguez.
Gazelle S. (G2): Michael Dubb et al’s CONDO COMMANDO (Tiz Wonderful) secured
the lead going into the first turn and left foes in her wake en route to a 2
1/2-length tally beneath Rosario. The Rodriguez trainee finished up nine
furlongs on the fast main oval in 1:52 and looks the one to beat for the
Kentucky Oaks (G1) next month.
Bay Shore (G3): Robert LaPenta’s MARCH (Blame) was last early, gained
momentum approaching the turn for home and held off a stern test inside the
final furlong to secure a half-length score beneath Irad Ortiz. Jr. The
sophomore colt sped seven panels on the dirt in 1:24 3/5 for trainer Chad Brown.
Track Stats
A total of 39 races were held over the inner strip at the Long Island, New
York venue, with favorites winning at a 44 percent rate and the top two betting
choices combining for 59 percent of the wins during the week. From those races,
15 animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (38 percent). A return to turf racing is
right around the corner.
Main track speed has been going well for three of four weeks now and has to
be considered a huge asset here. Of the 15 who led at every call, eight came in
sprints and seven in two-turn events.
Meet Totals
| RACES: | 501 | |
| DIRT: | 501 | |
| FAVORITES: | 192 (38 percent) | |
| 2ND CHOICES: | 107 (21 percent) | |
| DIRT WIRE: | 133 (27 percent) |
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (4/1)
5TH — Greg DiPrima may have made a sharp claim of UNREPENTED (Repent) out of
this one after the four-year-old filly blew this field away on the front end.
The miss was geared down late and could be in line for a class rise in her
subsequent offering.
8TH — KID CRUZ (Lemon Drop Kid) put in a decent run late to gain second in
this allowance tilt and should be all set for a peak next time. The graded
winner has been running at trips shorter than his best this year and will be
improving in all likelihood as the campaign continues.
Thursday (4/2)
5TH — SACRED SUCCESS (Officer) pressed the leader and got on even terms
nearing the top of the lane before tiring in the stretch under Manny Franco. The
six-year-old had been off 10 months and surely has room for improvement in her
second run off the layoff.
8TH — CAPTAIN SERIOUS (Successful Appeal) ran a second straight big one,
this time rolling home an easy winner over a nice field, and the four-year-old
should be stakes bound in his comeback showing for conditioner Linda Rice.
Saturday (4/4)
3RD — DEFINED (Desert Party) had little chance with the fine winner but gave
a nice account of himself and may continue to show more next time. The Chad
Brown trainee overcame the rail to be second and should improve with a bit more
ground.
4TH — ZINGARELLI (Bernardini) made it two straight tallies to kick off his
career and has impressed us more than we can say. Conditioned by Kiaran
McLaughlin, the well-bred colt is fast, capable of rating and push-button when
asked, and he acts like he can run all day. We are admittedly fixated on this
four-year-old.
6TH — JUBA (Tapit) looked the part in a fine wire-to-wire tally on an oval
we thought was not as good for speed as the numbers might appear. The
four-year-old beat a solid field and looks the type that will be stakes-bound in
the near future.
8TH — PUCA (Big Brown) showed the improvement we expected second time off
the layoff and we still consider her to be among the top sophomore fillies in
training right now. The Bill Mott trainee showed improved early foot and was a
clear second to a very nice one under the line.
10TH — EL KABEIR (Scat Daddy) might be a notch below a few of the top
sophomores, but he always fires and ran a very good third we thought behind a
tepid early pace. The John Terranova received a perfect Derby prep in our view
and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
A Look Ahead
The $200,000 Top Flight Handicap (G3) on Saturday is the feature this weekend
at Aqueduct.