AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK
APRIL 23, 2015
by John Mucciolo
A single graded stakes race headlined the week of racing at Aqueduct.
Distaff H. (G2): Lady Sheila Stable’s LA VERDAD (Yes It’s True) sped to the
front, shook off an early challenge and cruised to a 5 1/4-length win, defending
her crown in this affair. The five-year-old mare sped six panels on the fast
main oval in 1:10 for trainer Linda Rice and pilot Jose Ortiz.
Track Stats
A total of 43 races were held over the inner strip at the Long Island, New
York venue, with favorites winning at a 56 percent rate and the top two betting
choices combining for 74 percent of the wins during the week. From 30 races on
the main oval, five animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (17 percent), while two
of the 13 grassy races were taken all the way on the lead (15 percent).
Welcome back, turf racing!
The main oval was not especially good for front runners as we thought things
played fairly throughout the week. We did not have a winner break from outside
of post 6 on the main oval, but small field sizes had a lot to do with that. All
five sprint winners who led at every call came in sprint runs.
Both of the pair of wire-to-wire winners on the green occurred in route runs.
We saw a lot of the grassy graduates in the hunt early on, but we also witnessed
some from off the pace. Too early for any snap judgments.
Meet Totals
| RACES: | 43 | |
| DIRT: | 30 | |
| TURF: | 13 | |
| FAVORITES: | 24 (56 percent) | |
| 2ND CHOICES: | 8 (19 percent) | |
| DIRT WIRE: | 5 (17 percent) | |
| TURF WIRE: | 2 (15 percent) |
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (4/15)
2ND — WHALE ROCK (Mineshaft) dueled through pressured splits, fought off a
stern test in early stretch, opened up a lead late and just got caught in a fine
try first time out. The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee stayed clear of third at the
wire and will graduate before long with any improvement off this one.
5TH — BLACKTYPE (Dunkerque) wore down a clear one late in posting a game
triumph in his first run since the fall. The four-year-old gelding made a big
run into a very soft early pace and should be even tougher next time if he has a
better target late for Christophe Clement.
Thursday (4/16)
2ND — PIQUANT (Arch) took a short lead in the lane and held off a foe that
we like a lot after a long battle, posting a game tally. The seven-year-old
gelding came home in a strong :24 1/5 and will be tough right back in a good
form cycle.
Friday (4/17)
2ND — Clement’s STELLAR PATH (Astronomer Royal) looked the part in her U.S.
debut, inching clear from a nice one in securing a tally under Luis Saez. We
have a hunch that this filly will be a good one throughout the spring and summer
on this circuit, with a stakes try coming soon.
7TH — NOBLE MOON (Malibu Moon) put in a fine run in his first try of 2015
and fell just shy at the wire for conditioner Leah Gyarmati. The four-year-old
colt performed like a horse who might have needed a race and will be tough next
time with expected improvement.
Saturday (4/18)
3RD — MARKET OUTLOOK (Lemon Drop Kid) was always well placed, was asked for
her in the lane and responded in a big way, powering home a superb winner for
conditioner Chad Brown. The five-year-old is clearly talented and we have to
think he will be a major factor in his subsequent outing.
5TH — VISION PERFECT (Pollard’s Vision) tracked in second to late stretch
and gradually wore down the early leader to get up by a neck in a sharp try in
his 2015 debut. The David Donk pupil is now a dual stakes winner who has been
first or second in each career run, and should be graded stakes bound next time.
Sunday (4/19)
1ST — McLaughlin unveiled a promising one in MRS. HUDSON (Street Cry) to
kick off this card, as the first timer overcame the rail and a poor break before
turning in a big late run to win going away. The sophomore miss looked like she
could have run a lot farther and could be almost any kind going forward.
A Look Ahead
There is no graded racing carded this week at Aqueduct.