AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK
DECEMBER 1
by Bernard T. Moore
Aqueduct’s Thanksgiving weekend of racing got off to bit of a slow start on
Thursday when racing was canceled after just two races had been run. Jockeys
refused to ride after the 2ND race, deeming the track as unsafe for racing. The
3RD race was delayed more than 25 minutes as track maintenance crews worked
diligently to correct uneven spots in the track surface. They were unsuccessful
in their attempts to placate the riders, as they held to the belief that
problems with the track still existed. Management was left with little recourse
other than to cancel the remaining races, including the $100,00 Fall Highweight
H. (G3). Because the race had been postponed, entries for the race were reopened
to all of its original nominees on Friday, with the race rescheduled for Sunday.
Racing resumed on Friday without a hitch, with the focal point of the day
being the $150,000 Top Flight H. (G2) for fillies and mares at one mile.
DAYDREAMING (A.P. Indy) was bet down to even money favoritism in the race and
would not disappoint her supporters, but just barely. Ridden by Jerry Bailey,
she sat a perfect stalking trip down the backstretch while chasing a moderate
early pace. Upon entering the stretch, she was set her down in earnest for the
drive, as the eventual runner-up, Bending Strings (American Chance), began
lengthening her stride while racing outside of rivals. Daydreaming proceeded to
wrestle the lead away in midstretch from third-place finisher Roar Emotion
(Roar), but still had to deal with an oncoming Bending Strings, who was rallying
down the crown of the track.
Daydreaming fought gamely to fend off the
runner-up’s closing rally, winning by a scant nose as the finish line appeared
at a most opportune time for her. This was the first graded stakes success in
New York for the Phipps’ homebred, and it gave trainer Shug McGaughey his third
Top Flight victory. Bending Strings’ loss was a heartbreaker, and she probably
would have won had she not drifted out under pressure in the stretch.
Three graded stakes races were run as part of a special holiday card on
Saturday at the “Big A,” the first of which was the $200,000 Demoiselle S. (G2)
for two-year-old fillies. Once SIS CITY (Slew City Slew), the main part of the
prohibitive favored entry, shook free on the front end while setting modest
fractions, school was out. The lesson learned was that you simply cannot let a
quality filly such as her have everything her own way on the front end.
Salute
(Unbridled) gave futile chase to Sis City from the outset, but could not match
strides with the winner, barely saving the place over Winning Season (Lemon Drop
Kid). Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., the winner was haltered for $50,000 at
Saratoga this summer by her current connections and earned her first graded win.
In all likelihood, she is probably the claim of the year in New York.
The $200,000 Remsen S. (G2) came next and brought together two rivals who
were unbeaten and virtually untested. ROCKPORT HARBOR (Unbridled’s Song) and
Galloping Grocer (A.P Jet) reduced the Remsen to a virtual match race as they
began distancing themselves from the rest of the field on the far turn. These
talented juveniles were inseparable turning for home, setting the stage for a
memorable stretch battle. Both runners gave it everything they head, with
Rockport Harbor wanting it bit more, defeating Galloping Grocer by a desperate
neck in a race that didn’t deserve a loser. Killenaule (Fusaichi Pegasus) chased
the top two finishers for six furlongs before retreating to finish a distant
third.
Rockport Harbor came out of the race with a severely injured right hind leg
that was bleeding profusely. The injury occurred when another rival ran up on
his heels running into the clubhouse turn. While the injury may not be career
threatening, it will take a substantial amount of time to mend, and as a result,
he may not race again until March at Oaklawn Park, as his connections have
elected to take a wait and see attitude for the time being. Galloping Grocer,
who was valiant in defeat, demonstrated inexperience when feeling the sting of
the whip for the first time in the stretch. The New York-bred gelding switched
back to the wrong lead under pressure, and subsequently corrected that mistake
in deep stretch when finally switching back. Trainer Dominick Schettino has not
formalized future plans for his precocious New York-bred. To put it mildly, they
both proved their mettle under fire in what served as a great learning
experience.
When Kela (Numerous) was scratched form Saturday’s Cigar Mile H. (G1), the
race appeared on paper to be there for the taking for Pico Central (Brz) (Spend
A Buck). However, it did not unfold that way on the racetrack, where it counts.
The prohibitive favorite, pressured on the lead from the moment the gates
opened, set a mercurial pace on the front end. He maintained the lead until the
stretch before yielding grudgingly to a fresh LION TAMER (Will’s Way), the
primary beneficiary of the lively pace scenario.
With John Velazquez electing to
ride Purge (Pulpit) in the Cigar Mile, jockey Jose Santos picked up the mount on
Lion Tamer and was content to let him settle at the back of the pack. When the
four-year-old gave Santos his cue that he was ready to roll, Lion Tamer uncorked
a powerful wide rally to loop the field on the far turn and found himself at the
throat of the pacesetting Pico Central straightening for home. His late burst of
speed propelled him to the lead in the stretch, and he began to slowly edge away
late. Badge of Silver (Silver Deputy), a forward factor from the start, nosed
out a gutsy Pico Central for the place. Purge, the other Pletcher-trained runner
in field, disputed the pace for a half-mile before giving way.
Trainer Mike Mitchell was force to withdraw Kela, who would have been
generously supported at the windows in the Cigar Mile, when he spiked a fever on
Friday. Mitchell stated that the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) runner-up has
responded to treatment and will now be geared toward a campaign at Gulfstream
Park this winter.
The final day of racing on the main track was conducted on Sunday.
Originally, the Montauk H. for New York-bred fillies and mares was to be the
featured event. But, when racing was scrapped on Thursday due to track
conditions, the Fall Highweight got top billing, with the Montauk assuming a
supporting role.
The result of the Montauk held few surprises as BOARD ELLIGIBLE (Goldminers
Gold) looked to have her competition at her mercy, and it unfolded exactly that
way on the track. The James Ferraro-trained runner swept to a daylight lead in
the stretch and increased her advantage with every stride to win by five
lengths. South Wing (Dixie Brass), the second choice in the wagering, disputed
the early fractions from the start and was clearly second best, finishing nearly
three lengths ahead of Bundle of Roses (Gone for Real) who closed belatedly for
the show.
Unlike the Montauk, the rescheduled Fall Highweight was an extremely
contentious race. The speedy Medallist (Touch Gold), bet down to 2-1 favoritism,
was making his first start since an off-the-board finish in the Kings Bishop H.
(G1) at Saratoga. However, when the gates opened, it was 24-1 longshot Uncle
Camie (Abaginone) who was playing “catch me if you can” on the front end. The
pacesetter held a three-length advantage in the stretch before he began to
weaken from his early exploits in midstretch. THUNDER TOUCH (Gulch), with Rafael
Bejarano up, got to him first, with Papua (Louis Quatorze) in hot pursuit, as
the pair rallied together.
Javier Castellano, aboard Papua, was forced to check while attempting to
split rivals and was forced to alter course in deep stretch as Thunder Touch
seized the lead. Eavesdropper (Kingmambo) found his best stride too late,
checking in a close third, a quarter-length in front of a fatigued Uncle Camie.
The stewards conducted a drawn out inquiry into the stretch run and a claim of
foul was also lodged by Castellano. But, after much deliberation, the stewards
decided to let the original result stand. The winner is trained by Kiaran
McLaughlin, who saddled the third-place finisher as well in the last graded
stakes of the year in New York.
The main track appeared to be bias free for most of the week. On Sunday, the
track was labeled as sloppy for the entire card and early speed was prominent in
sprints. In route events, come from behind runners were definitely advantaged.
There was no path bias the entire week.
Dutrow leads all trainers with 19 victories, 10 more than runner-up Gary
Contessa. Mark Henning, Scott Lake, Todd Pletcher and Jennifer Pedersen are all
in a dead-heat for third place with eight victories each.
The final day of racing on the main track saw Edgar Prado and Cornelio
Velasquez finish on even terms to share the honor of leading rider at the meet.
Each jockey rode 22 winners, with Prado accepting far fewer mounts. Pablo
Fragoso had a solid meet to finish third, with Norberto Arroyo Jr. and
Castellano rounding out the top five.
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (11/24)
7TH – PRECISION PERFECT (Precise End) turned in a much improved third-place
finish dropping into a preliminary allowance contest off a brief rest. Held
gamely while stalking an ultra quick pace on the front end. Should show further
progress off this effort.
Friday (11/26)
7TH – RHUMJAR (Gold Token) simply never fired as the 3-1 second choice. Made
little impact late in a race that finished up well. Give him another chance,
especially over the inner track around two turns, the conditions of his only
victory against winners.
9TH – MAIDEZ (Preacherman) responded well to rating tactics to finish fourth.
Closing rally was hampered by bumping with a “drifting in” rival on several
occasions in the stretch. Definitely would have been second if not for those
occurrences.
Saturday (11/27)
5TH – BANK PRESIDENT (Boundary) gave a very sharp effort in career debut for
trainer Bill Mott, who usually does not “tighten the screws” with his debut
runners. Held gamely battling for the lead between rivals, a tough task for any
horse, let alone a two-year-old first timer. Surrendered the place in deep
stretch to a fresh closer. Might be seen next at Gulfstream Park.
6TH – KENNEL UP (Joyeux Danseur) is probably better suited to dirt despite
fourth-place finish here on main track. Pinned down along the inside on the
backstretch, the sophomore was forced to steady several times when in tight
quarters. Dropped back on the far turn prior coming again in the stretch and was
full of run when caught behind rivals once again in deep stretch. Galloped out
strongly past the wire in a race that was much better than it will look on
paper.
Sunday (11/28)
3RD – FLAGSTAFF (Thunder Gulch) was compromised by an attempt to rate from
off the pace. The juvenile lost all position racing down the backstretch when
shuffled back and forced to check, and he was caught in traffic in the stretch
behind rivals while attempting to improve his position.
3RD – MAILLOL (Ire) (Giant’s Causeway) obviously regressed over the moisture
laden track and was probably entered back much too quickly off a sharp
third-place finish in his well bet/well debut. Bred top and bottom for a
distance of ground, and may be better suited to a two-turn route.