AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK
APRIL 10, 2014
by John Mucciolo
A quartet of big graded races was held at Aqueduct on Saturday, which
included a fine showing by a budding Kentucky Derby contender in the feature.
Wood Memorial S. (G1): Centennial Farms’ WICKED STRONG (Hard Spun)
started picking up momentum in early stretch and powered home late in a
sensational closing performance for trainer Jimmy Jerkens. The sophomore colt
was 3 1/2 lengths clear under the line after running 1 1/8 miles in 1:49 1/5
with Rajiv Maragh.
Carter H. (G1): Vincent Scuderi’s homebred DADS CAPS (Discreet Cat)
sped to the lead at the start, put away his main face foe who pressed him to the
top of the lane, and then held off all comers in pulling off the upset for
trainer Rudy Rodriguez. The four-year-old colt won by 1 1/2 lengths under Luis
Contreras and finished off seven panels on the fast main surface in 1:22.
Gazelle S. (G2): Mathis Stable LLC’s MY MISS SOPHIA (Unbridled’s Song)
took control soon after the break and was never challenged throughout in posting
a facile 7 1/4-length romp beneath Javier Castellano. The unbeaten sophomore
filly was widening late and stopped the teletimer for nine furlongs in 1:50 2/5
for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Bay Shore S. (G3): Fox Hill Farm’s COUP DE GRACE (Tapit) geared up for
the stretch drive early in the lane and got the best of a close photo to pick up
his first stakes win for trainer Chad Brown. The sophomore colt clocked seven
panels on the fast main oval in 1:23 in winning by a nose under Javier
Castellano.
Track Stats
A total of 48 races were held over the main oval at the Jamaica, New York
venue, with favorites winning at a 33 percent rate and the top two betting
choices combining for 56 percent of the wins during the week. Fourteen races
were won in wire-to-wire fashion (29 percent). There was no turf racing this
week.
Speed on the main surface was surely much better in the early stages of the
week through Friday, with 10 wire-to-wire winners from 27 races. We thought the
oval changed and played differently on Saturday and Sunday, when horses a few
lengths off the rail seemed to have a decent advantage, in our view. Especially
on Sunday when two prohibitive favorites weakened after having clear leads along
the inside, tiring noticeably late.
A total of 26 of the 27 races from Wednesday-through-Friday were won by
horses with post positions from 1-to-6, but outside runners had a much better
chance over the weekend, bagging five races over those two days while traveling
wide throughout.
Meet Totals
| RACES: | 92 | |
| TURF: | 0 | |
| DIRT: | 92 | |
| FAVORITES: | 36 (45 percent) | |
| 2ND CHOICES: | 20 (20 percent) | |
| TURF WIRE: | 0 (0 percent) | |
| DIRT WIRE: | 28 (32 percent) |
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (4/2)
4TH — J TO THE CROFT (Curlin) shot to the lead soon after the break, was
hounded nearly every step of the way but never wavered in posting a courageous
head victory at first asking for Steve Klesaris. The sophomore colt beat his
elders in a useful final time and should be very tough right back with a trip
where he sees less pressure. He’s also bred to run longer.
Thursday (4/3)
4TH — MAGGIE’S LAD (Freud) was always in the mix from the start and took
command in the lane en route to a very nice tally off the layoff for trainer
Thomas Morley. The gelding, who hadn’t run since the fall, was claimed by David
Jacobson in what looks like a very bright claim.
6TH — PETER ISLAND (Tapit) came up just short of the win in his first with
winners, but the Shug McGaughey trainee still ran well enough to be considered
an interesting sophomore prospect going forward.
8TH — The Linda Rice-trained MARRIEDTOTHEMUSIC (Disco Rico) was awesome in
this endeavor, blowing this field out of the water soon after the start, The
four-year-old colt has been consistently good and should be stakes bound next
out after this performance, where he finished off six panels in a wicked 1:08
4/5.
Friday (4/4)
3RD — We always knew SALUTOS AMIGOS (Salute the Sarge) had some run in him
and he delivered in a big way in his debut for David Jacobson, rolling home a
daylight winner over starter allowance foes. The four-year-old surely responded
to the barn change in this dash and could be any kind going forward.
6TH — In his best race to date, EYE LUV LULU (Pollard’s Vision) swept to the
front in early stretch and never looked back in making pretty short work of a
very promising field under Jose Ortiz. The gelded sophomore has never been
better and should be stakes bound after this run for trainer Carlos Martin.
8TH — PARC MONCEAU (Giant’s Causeway) tracked the pace setter to early
stretch and simply overpowered that one in the lane en route to a superb
allowance tally for conditioner Michael Hushion. The four-year-old filly toppled
a pair we liked some coming into the race and appears to be rounding into a peak
form cycle.
Saturday (4/5)
10TH — SCHIVARELLI (Montbrook) attended the swift early pace and hung in
there well in his route and stakes debut for Eddie Kenneally. The lightly raced
sophomore colt appears to have a real nice future in front of him.
12TH — CAPTAIN SERIOUS (Successful Appeal) tracked the pace while wide,
moved into contention turning for home and ran down the clear early leader in
posting a fine debut tally for Hushion. The three-year-old gelding came home in
a solid time and after being behind an average early tempo, and this might be a
nice one with expected improvement.
Sunday (4/6)
8TH — Multiple Grade 1 vixen PRINCESS OF SYLMAR (Majestic Warrior) returned
to the races in a big way with this convincing stakes run for Todd Pletcher. The
exquisite four-year-old looks to have picked up where she left off last season
and is an exciting one to track in 2014.
WEDDING TOAST (Street Sense) also ran a nice one off the layoff for Kiaran
McLaughlin and was not shamed in bowing to a superstar, while finishing more
than four lengths clear of her nearest foe. The Grade 3 victress could also have
a nice year in front of her with expected progression.
A Look Ahead
There are no graded races carded for the upcoming week of racing at Aqueduct.