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AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK APRIL 18, 2013 by John Mucciolo A single graded race topped the weekend of racing at Aqueduct. Distaff H. (G2): Turtle Bird Stable's CLUSTER OF STARS (Greeley's Galaxy) remained unbeaten with a 2 3/4-length tally in this affair under Junior Alvarado. The Steve Asmussen pupil drove home six panels on the good main oval in 1:10. Track Stats A total of 46 races were held over the Jamaica, New York venue, with favorites winning at a 43 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 57 percent of the wins during the week. From 40 races on the main oval, 13 animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (32 percent), while a pair of runners led at every call from six turf outings (33 percent). While it is hard to get a gauge on the turf racing from this limited sample, we did see a pair of horses lead at every call and two more sit in second early en route to victory, from just six run on the lawn. We'll be keeping a close eye on speed on the turf going forward. The main oval was pretty fair we thought, but it is somewhat interesting that a lot of the wire-to-wire winners on the dirt came early in most cards. The first three races on Wednesday, and four early on the card Saturday, saw winners leading at every call. Favorites continue to do well here and have accounted for more than 45 percent of the winners through two weeks here. Meet Totals
HORSES TO WATCH Thursday (4/11) 2ND -- SAINT VIGEUR (Smart Strike) gradually wore down the pacesetting favorite in the final yards of a solid allowance score for conditioner Chad Brown. The sophomore colt was impressive in beating an elder on the square and could be stakes bound in the near future. 5TH -- CLEARLY CONFUSED (Successful Appeal) made the winning favorite work every step of the way in this one, and the Laurel import should be very tough right back in this good form cycle. 8TH -- GLORIOUS VIEW (Pleasant Tap) returns to this list following a facile wire-to-wire score for trainer Bill Mott. The four-year-old filly led at every call and was geared down late, but still got a final quarter-mile in :24 2/5. Friday (4/12) 7TH -- GARNET STREET (Silver Deputy), making her first start since the fall, made a big move approaching the turn for home and cruised clear to a decisive five-length win beneath Alvarado. The five-year-old mare could be poised for a nice spring and summer with expected progression. Saturday (4/13) 5TH -- First-time starter ALL THAT (Big Brown) showed solid early foot and closed well to be a big third here, more than five lengths clear of the fourth-place finisher. The sophomore colt will be a major player next time out for Brown. 8TH -- Cluster of Stars showed a lot of versatility when being passed on the turn for home before re-breaking to power past that runner in the lane to win her fourth straight this season. The Empire State-bred is a fine performer. 9TH -- INCOGNITO (A.P. Indy) had one of the more eventful trips you'll see a winner have in this spot for conditioner Kiaran McLaughlin. The well-bred sophomore colt broke slowly, was stopped at least twice in early stretch, dove to the inside late and got the decision in a decent final time. We see this one as a big player this summer, especially as the distances increase. Sunday (4/14) 2ND -- MAXIMOVA (Danehill Dancer) was quite professional at first asking in this debut turf win, and we liked how the filly handled this yielding ground. The Christophe Clement pupil has a fine grassy pedigree for a New York-bred, and could end up a stakes player. 7TH -- CAPE SONG (Unbridled's Song) was another good-looking first timer Clement's barn sent out on this day, making a fine late run to be a clear second in a fairly solid field on this occasion. Tab the sophomore filly for success in the very near future. A Look Ahead There are no graded races on tap this weekend at the Big A.
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