AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK
December 22
by Bernard T. Moore
Aqueduct concluded its final weekend of racing for 2004 on Sunday, and the
track is scheduled to be dark until December 29, as it takes a well-deserved
vacation over the Christmas Holiday.
Prior to taking its break, the track conducted its final graded stakes races
of the year, beginning with Saturday’s Ladies H. (G3). For fillies and mares at
10 furlongs, the 1 1/4-mile contest did not appear to feature a lot of pace on
paper, and it unfolded exactly that way on the racetrack. Roar Emotion (Roar),
the most obvious pacesetter in the race, was in a bit tight breaking from the
gate. And when her jockey, Mike Luzzi, was content to stalk rather than dictate
the pace, the role of front-runner was assumed by RARE GIFT (Unbridled’s Song).
That was basically the ballgame.
Rare Gift was able to crawl on the lead, setting pedestrian fractions of
:25.05, :49.91 and 1:14.83 over a course playing favorably to inside speed. She
received only token pressure from race favorite Roar Emotion, and once she
disposed of that rival on the far turn, she was able to spurt away from the
field in the stretch to win by six widening lengths. Board Elligible (Goldminer’s
Gold), despite being hindered by the unflattering pace scenario, closed to be
second, a neck in front of Miss Fortunate (Deputy Minister). Roar Emotion tired
to finish fifth.
Rare Gift’s victory was the first win of the meet for trainer John Kimmel,
and the first stakes success for jockey Richard Migliore since he returned to
the saddle from an injury. A $330,000 purchase by her connections, this was the
three-year-old’s first graded stakes success, and her initial victory against
older runners.
Someone once coined the phrase, “I’d rather be lucky than good.” Well,
trainer Scott Lake is both, as DON SIX (Wild Escapade), making his first start
for his new trainer, went wire-to-wire to win Sunday’s Gravesend H. (G3) under
jockey Mike Luzzi. When the two other speed runners were withdrawn from the
race, that enabled the four-year-old to dictate a rather modest pace on the
lead. Don Six would never relinquish that advantage, winning by 1 1/4 lengths
over Mr. Whitestone (Dance Brightly), who finished well late to take down the
place.
The winner took full advantage of an inside speed biased track to register
consecutive wins in the Gravesend for the team of Lake and Luzzi, as they joined
forces to win last year’s running with Shake You Down (Montbrook) as well. Papua
(Louis Quartoze) raced evenly to finish third, a half-length behind the
runner-up. Gators N Bears (Stormy Atlantic), the 4-5 favorite, raced in a
perfect stalking position down the backstretch, but lacked the necessary
response when called upon and tired in the stretch to finish fourth.
The main track played favorably to off the pace runners in routes, while
sprints appeared to be bias free on the Wednesday card. As the week progressed,
speed began to dominate, and it was deadly over the weekend. The inside paths
got better and better each racing day, and the rail was gold over the weekend.
Richard Dutrow Jr. regained his familiar spot on top of the trainer
standings, and he enjoys a slim one-win lead over Lake, who holds down second
place. Tom Bush and Dominic Galluscio are tied for third with six winners each,
with Jennifer Pedersen just one victory back in fifth. Dutrow continues to excel
with layoff and maiden runners at the meet, while Lake has been extremely
proficient in claiming contests.
Rafael Bejarano’s impact on the local jockey colony since arriving from
Kentucky is old news, as he holds a comfortable seven-win edge over Norberto
Arroyo Jr. in second. Aaron T. Gryder who is in third place, trails Arroyo by
two wins, followed by Shaun Bridgmohan. Luzzi and Pablo Fragoso are tied for the
fifth spot.
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (12/15)
1ST – TWOOUTSINTHENINTH (Gold Token) turned in a much improved effort
stretching out to a route of ground for the first time in his career. Raced
outside of rivals to stalk the early fractions and held well for third as the
pace quickened noticeably late. His full brother, Bogota Bill, won on the NYRA
circuit, but not as a two-year-old for these connections.
4TH – MS. TIGER BEAT (Tiger Ridge) broke slowly from the rail in her career
debut and was unhurried early before finding her best stride on the far turn.
Closed well while racing wide into the stretch to gain the place behind an
impressive first timer.
Thursday (12/16)
1ST – HOLLY RAE (Marquetry) finished with good energy for second to an
odds-on favorite in a race that finished up well late. Should register that
elusive initial career win if kept sprinting at this level.
5TH – STAR OF TRIESTE (Old Trieste) gave a good effort off the shelf while
stepping up for Dutrow. Sophomore held well after setting a wicked and pestered
pace. Understandably weakened in the stretch to finish fourth, beaten less than
four lengths in a sharp performance.
7TH – DISTINCTIVE TRICK (Distinctive Pro) exhibited a much improved turn of
foot to chase a hot pace from an extreme outside post. Finished with interest in
the stretch to save the show.
Friday (12/17)
2ND – CRITICAL CHANT (War Chant) has encountered trouble breaking from the
gate in both career starts. Improved to fourth switching to dirt off a layoff
and closed sneaky well along the inside in the stretch after another terrible
beginning. Half-sister to the Grade 1 winner Critical Eye should really relish a
route of ground.
4TH – SPECTACULAR MOON (Migrating Moon), a Philly Park shipper, closed well
for third despite being hindered by a speed biased track. Finished with good
energy even though she dropped too far behind early.
Saturday (12/18)
5TH – L’ARGENTO (Concorde’s Tune) turned in a useful tune-up effort off a
long layoff. Finished with some interest late in a race he obviously needed.
Trainer owns anemic stats with this type of layoff runner and juvenile colt
should move forward off this race.
9TH – LETHIMTHINKHESBOSS (Demidoff) Closed strongly from far back against the
grain of a speed biased track in first start for trainer Carlos Martin. Probably
should have won as the wire-to-wire winner benefited by setting an uncontested
lead, and was helped along by the speed favoring nature of the course.
Sunday (12/19)
6TH – JUST GABI (Devil His Due) used wrong tactics disputing the pace of a
superior speed rival and hindered by an outside post as well. At her best when
able to sit and make one run. Saddled with tough posts in most recent starts at
Aqueduct. Both wins have come over the inner track.