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AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK NOVEMBER 13, 2009 by Albie Johnson Wonderful weather this past week helped make Breeder's Cup Saturday a successful one and NYRA put on a nice eight-race card with three graded stakes as the highlight. First up was the Nashua S. (G2) at one mile for two-year-olds, and although the six horse field was a very weak one for the level, it was won in very impressive fashion by BUDDY'S SAINT (Saint Liam). The bay colt won his debut at Belmont on September 26 but was disqualified for a bumping incident right before the wire. Trainer Bruce Levine decided to roll the dice a bit here in allowing his runner to skip the maiden condition and his confidence was rewarded. Buddy's Saint stalked the early pace of Maryland invader Toboggan Slide (Rock Slide), took over from that rival and drew off to win by an even dozen over Calder shipper Thank U Philippe (Proud Accolade), who rallied past the others to claim the place spot by 1 1/2 lengths over the early pacesetter. The final time on the fast main-track event was a more than respectable 1:35.67. Older runners faced off two races later in the Red Smith H. (G2) and it drew an interesting seven-horse field headed by multiple Grade 1 winner Grand Couturier (GB) (Grand Lodge). The 11-furlong contest on a course labeled firm featured a rather pedestrian pace that collapsed turning for home and led to a furious finish that saw longshot EXPANSION (Maria's Mon) rally widest to prove best by 1 1/4 lengths. The next three runners finished in a blanket photo for the place, with that position going to Grand Couturier by a head over Spice Route (GB) (King's Best), with Mr. Universo (Brz)(Roi Normand) and Jambalaya (Langfuhr) finishing a close-up fourth and fifth, respectively. Expansion was making his stakes debut and his first start off a trainer switch from Kiaran McLaughlin to Chad Brown. His new conditioner has made quite an impression this year with his ability with grass stock and looks to have a very bright future. Six juvenile fillies went a mile in the Tempted S. (G3) in the final stakes on the card and this field was a bit deeper on paper than the Nashua. As expected, the pace was set by Nonna Mia (Empire Maker) with eventual winner AILALEA (Pulpit) saving ground early while on the rail. Ailalea swung out midway on the turn, eventually wore down the pacesetter and drew off to win by 1 1/4 lengths over the rallying Mambo Fever (Stormin Fever), who easily proved second best. The bay Ailalea was facing both winners and stakes company for the first time, having broken her maiden at this distance on October 4 at Belmont Park. She's in the barn of Todd Pletcher and with stable rider John Velazquez at Santa Anita, Eibar Coa proved a more than competent replacement. TRACK STATS It was fast and good on Wednesday, and fast and firm the remainder of the week. The rail and inside paths were in general the place to be on the main surface, while the turf played fairly. HORSES TO WATCH Wednesday (11/4) 1ST -- Racing with blinkers on for the first time, the Linda Rice-trained AFRIKANER (Johannesburg) finished a solid second in this spot despite being bumped at the start and being taken out to the five-six path turning for home by another runner. He may not have won anyway, but the outcome certainly would have been much closer than the final margin of 5 3/4 lengths. 6TH -- REMARKABLE STORM (Stormy Atlantic) was running second back off a layoff and dropping to a new low in claiming price. He had some traffic issues early in this spot and rallied strongly in the last eighth to finish 3rd. Catch him in his next start if at the same $12.5K tag. 8TH -- It's about time that the connections of 2008 Belmont S. (G1) winner DA' TARA (Tiznow) retire this runner as he's now beginning to be an embarrassment . Winless since that upset in June of '08, he finished dead-last in this spot after setting the early pace. I'd like to remember him for that all important win and not what he is now. Thursday (11/5) 7TH -- Nice training job by Jim Day to have SPY IN THE SKY (Thunder Gulch) ready off a two-month break and switching from jumping to the flat. Winner of the New York Turf Writers Cup Steeplechase (NSA-G1) at Saratoga, he proved clearly best in this allowance/optional claimer traveling 1 3/8 miles. 8TH -- After needing eight starts to break his maiden, STAR OF NEW YORK (Five Star Day) finished second at the one-other-than allowance level for the second straight time. The winner of this contest was a deserving one, but Star of New York was a much the best second and shouldn't be long at this condition. Friday (11/6) 2ND -- After finishing a solid second in his debut at Belmont, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin gave MUHAASEB (Ghostzapper) a seven-week freshening and the colt responded with a nice-looking maiden win in this spot. He bobbled at the start, was patiently ridden on by Cornelia Velasquez despite the miscue and kicked in impressively in midstretch to prove best by 1 1/4 lengths. The final margin and time of 1:12 1/5 weren't indicative of how sharp a performance it was. 3RD -- Making his debut at a rough distance, 1 1/16 miles on the turf, and from a tough post, BEAU CHOIX (Elusive Quality) finished a rallying third in a very good debut. Barclay Tagg's good grass barn may have this colt headed to Gulfstream with the turf season around here ending soon. Sunday (11/8) 3RD -- Running second off a long layoff after relocating from California, VENTANA (Toccet) finished a strong rallying second in this spot to a much-the-best heavy favorite. He likes racing on conventional dirt and could still become a stakes performer with any further improvement. UPCOMING STAKES Six state-bred stakes are scheduled for Sunday as part of the New York Stallion S. series. Have a nice week!
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