|
|
AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK DECEMBER 4, 2009 by Albie Johnson The final week of the short fall meet on the main track came to an end with a flurry of graded events, which were headed by the Cigar Mile (G1). The $300,000 contest attracted a small field of six, including Met Mile (G1) winner Bribon (Fr) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]), Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G1) victor Vineyard Haven (Lido Palace [Chi]), and Vosburgh (G1) and Carter H. (G1) winner KODIAK KOWBOY (Posse). Vineyard Haven set the early pace and it was not a particularly fast one for the level. All the riders sensed it and no more than seven lengths separated the runners as they hit the far turn. Bribon moved toward the leader as they approached the quarter-pole with Kodiak Kowboy in a bit of a tight spot as they turned for home. The top pair were now engaged in a heated battle and jockey Shaun Bridgmohan on Kodiak Kowboy got his mount off the rail and in the clear. They closed resolutely on the outside of the dueling duo and surged past in the final yards to win by three parts of a length over Bribon, who had a head up on a very game Vineyard Haven. Kodiak Kowboy has had a solid career and this important win proved that he really is a middle distance specialist, as prior to this one seven furlongs was always his preferred trip. One race earlier on the big stakes program, three-year-old fillies were in the spotlight in the $300,000 Gazelle (G1), one of the older continuous run events on this circuit. The race was headed by last year's two-year-old filly champion, Stardom Bound (Tapit), who had not raced since this past spring at Keeneland; the lightly raced and improving Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled's Song); and FLASHING (A.P. Indy), who was racing on conventional dirt for the first time since taking the Test (G1) at Saratoga. The Gazelle had a nice betting angle to it as Flashing was the only entrant to have raced on the main track at Aqueduct and she was undefeated (two-for-twp) on it. Her recent work activity had been strong and jockey Richard Migliore took full advantage of her speed and put this Godolphin filly right on the lead. She was never seriously threatened on her way to a 4 1/4-length triumph over Unrivaled Belle, who chased throughout and gamely held down the place spot by 2 1/2 lengths on longshot Bon Jovi Girl (Malibu Moon). Flashing had been scheduled to go to the breeding shed next spring, but this impressive win has given her connections second thoughts as to whether that will be the case. Of the vanquished, Stardom Bound did not break well and after racing in hand offered nothing when rider Mike Smith asked her to respond. The other two stakes on the Saturday card featured two-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles, with seven juvenile fillies lining up in the Demoiselle S. (G2) headed by Protesting (A.P. Indy), who was coming off an impressive maiden win at Keeneland. Longshot Oh Diane (Stephen Got Even) set the pace, closely followed by TIZAHIT (Tiznow) and Fuzzy Britches (Pollard's Vision) with Protesting being rated early after breaking a step slowly. Tizahit had first run when the pacesetter stopped turning for home and jockey Edgar Prado successfully kept Ramon Dominguez on Fuzzy Britches pinned down on the rail turning into the stretch. After drawing clear, the lass had enough left to hold Protesting safe by a length as that runner made a race of it late. The entire field looked dead tired in the last furlong and the final time was a slow 1:53.09 over a track labeled fast. Tizahit had been successful in her debut and finished second in the Blue Hen S. at Delaware, giving her some valuable two-turn experience, before having a troubled trip in the Tempted S. (G3) last out on this surface. George Weaver trains this dark bay filly for longtime owners Jim and Susan Hill. One race later, juvenile colts were in the spotlight in the Remsen S. (G2), which in years gone by has been a major stepping stone for some legendary runners on the Triple Crown trail. The test was a two horse affair on paper, with recent Nashua S. (G2) winner BUDDY'S SAINT (Saint Liam) and Champagne (G1) hero Homeboykris (Roman Ruler) squaring off. Citrus Kid (Lemon Drop Kid) set the early pace with Homeboykris in close attendance and Buddy's Saint keeping a close eye on his main rival. When things quickened on the far turn, Buddy's Saint easily went by the top pair and it became evident at that point that Homeboykris had nothing to offer. Buddy cruised home to a 4 3/4-length score over Peppi Knows (Stephen Got Even), who passed some very tired runners for the place spot. Citrus Kid was dead tired but still managed to hold onto third. Buddy's Saint has been impressive in his last pair and you can't fault his connections, owner/trainer Bruce Levine, for getting a bit of Derby Fever. Homeboykris just did not fire in his first attempt around two turns, which often separates precocious individuals from the ones of quality. We'll see how he does at Gulfstream after he gets some badly needed time off. A couple of days earlier on the Thanksgiving holiday, the Fall Highweight H. (G3) had a field of 10 professional sprinters and middle-distance runners square off in the six-furlong sprint, and the public centered on Keeneland invader The Roundhouse (Fusaichi Pegasus) as the race favorite. Longshot Hatfield (Proud Citizen) set the early pace with a firing line right behind, which quickly moved as a team on the far turn to produce a rather heated pace battle into which eventual winner CHEROKEE COUNTRY (Yonaguska) and runner-up Greenspring (Orientate) would close into from far back. Cherokee Country reported home by a half-length over Greenspring, who had 1 1/4 lengths on third-placer Hatfield. Cherokee Country is based in the mid-Atlantic region and was rebounding in this spot after a poor effort last out on this surface in the Bold Ruler H. (G3). Ramon Preciado did the saddling for brother Guadalupe and Jose Lezcano contributed a well-timed ride. TRACK STATS Todd Pletcher won the trainer's title by a 13-to-eight margin over Mark Hennig, while Dominguez completed a sweep of the years meets with a 38-to-24 advantage over John Velazquez. Racing moved to the inner dirt on December 2 and will continue there until late March. HORSES TO WATCH Wednesday (11/25) 6TH -- IT'S THE BIG CAT (Kitten's Joy) ran a fine pacesetting second in this spot in her first race in more than three months and first with Lasix administered.. Lightly raced state-bred filly should win soon. 8TH -- Second-favorite QUALIA (Saarland) ran a big race for a filly making only her second start. She chased a solid pace and was getting to the wire-to-wire winner in the last 100 yards. She impressed in her winning debut and did so again in this spot. Friday (11/27) 2ND -- CHIMAYO (A.P. Indy). who cost $3.1 million, broke her maiden in this nine-furlong contest after shipping back from Keeneland where she disappointed as the favorite. The Darley runner may yet pan out to be a good one for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Saturday (11/28) 3RD -- The late Barbaro's full brother LENTENOR (Dynaformer) ran a very big race in this spot. After bobbling at the break, he saved ground on the inside, had some traffic on the far turn, and closed strongly once clear to miss by a half-length. This runner has talent. Sunday (11/29) 2ND -- Another expensive runner from the Darley Stable, KEEP THINKING (A.P. Indy) finished first in this maiden special weight but was taken down for drifting a bit late. The $2.4 million Keeneland September purchase is clearly better on conventional dirt than he is on synthetic tracks and should win next out. UPCOMING STAKES There are no scheduled graded events until December 12. Have a nice week!
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
