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AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK NOVEMBER 17, 2011 by John Mucciolo A single graded race headlined the second week at Aqueduct. Long Island H. (G3): Stuart Janney III's homebred HIT IT RICH pressed the pace to the top of the lane and inched clear to a 1 1/2-length score beneath jockey Javier Castellano. The improving Smart Strike filly clocked 1 1/2 miles on the firm lawn in 2:30 1/5 for conditioner Shug McGaughey. Track Stats A total of 45 races were held over the Jamaica, New York, venue, with favorites winning at a 33 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 47 percent of the wins during the opening weekend. From 28 races on the main oval, six animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (21 percent) and no runner led at every call on the lawn from 17 races. Speed continues to be at a somewhat disadvantage on the lawn here through two weeks, with no horses leading at every call from 27 races, thus far. We did see a few pressing the pace come through, but many have come from well back during the early stages. The main oval seemed to play much more fairly than it had during the opening week. All types of runners were successful on the dirt during the week. Horse breaking outside of the six post came through with just three wins on the main strip from 28 races. Meet Totals
HORSES TO WATCH Wednesday (11/9) 3RD -- MUCHO MACHO MAN made a sparkling return to the races with a 5 3/4-length romp for trainer Kathy Rivto. The Grade 2-winning son of Macho Uno, third in the Kentucky Derby, showed little rust in taking this field wire-to-wire in a snappy 1:34 3/5. 8TH -- MAHUBO made a fine debut on U.S. soil with a convincing late run to upend this field for conditioner Kiaran McLaughlin. The five-year-old gelding came home pretty quickly and should be in line for a class rise next out. Friday (11/11) 3RD -- BOYS AT TOSCONOVA wasn't as dominant as expected in here, but the Officer colt has now put in a pair of good runs following a long layoff and could be poised for a big one against stakes foes next time for conditioner Richard Dutrow. 8TH -- ASSOCIATE gave Dutrow another sharp winner on the day with an eight-length romp in here. The sophomore Wando colt came home well in this one under mild encouragement and has a lot of options going forward. Saturday (11/12) 7TH -- CONSORTIUM (Bernardini) is bred to be a good one and looked the part in a fine debut tally under Alan Garcia. The McLaughlin pupil took over readily in early stretch en route to a powerful 4 3/4-length victory. The sky could be the limit for the juvenile colt. 9TH -- SUMMER BREEZING fought back after being passed in midstretch to post a game victory at first call for trainer Christophe Clement. By Langfuhr, the well-bred juvenile colt has a promising future. A Look Ahead The Grade 3 Discovery Handicap for sophomores on Saturday is the lone graded event this weekend.
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