Aqueduct Notebook

AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK

JANUARY 30, 2014

by John Mucciolo

There was no graded action this week at Aqueduct.

Track Stats

A total of 36 races were held over the inner oval at the Jamaica, New York

venue, with favorites winning at a 28 percent rate and the top two betting

choices combining for 64 percent of the wins during the week. From 36 races on

the main oval, 18 animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (50 percent).

Speed was thoroughly dominant on Thursday and Saturday, and pretty good all

week, when 12 of the 18 races were won in wire-to-wire fashion (67 percent). In

addition, for the week in total, 25 of the 36 winners broke from posts 1-3 (69

percent).

Inner Meet Totals

RACES:		272
FAVORITES:		91 (34 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		78 (28 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		73 (23 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (1/23)

8TH -- In one of the more impressive performances of the week, PROHIBITION

(Lawyer Ron) led early and poured it on late in posting a superb 15 1/4-length

victory under Stewart Elliott. The Cathal Lynch-conditioned gelding came home

pretty fast under light encouragement and is very sharp right now.

Saturday (1/25)

2ND -- LEAGLLY BAY (Read the Footnotes) rallied big and just missed off the

layoff when a very close third for Marialice Coffey. The four-year-old received

a very questionable ride in our view and she could graduate next time while

being stronger second off the shelf.

6TH -- Trainer George Weaver unveiled a nice prospect in SATURDAY BLISS (Any

Given Saturday), who grabbed the lead soon after the break and left little doubt

in the lane with a facile 11 3/4-length tally under Chris DeCarlo. The sophomore

could be any type going forward.

Sunday (1/26)

4TH -- UNDERTAKER (Unbridled's Song) earned his second straight win for

conditioner John Servis and is vastly improved after his first few lifetime

runs. The sophomore colt didn't break best but was rushed up, opened up a

sizable edge and held off all comers in a nice tally. The peaking sophomore

could evolve into a stakes type with continued progression.

Monday (1/27)

3RD -- Eddie Kenneally's METRO DREAMER (Zensational) chased in second

throughout and nearly reeled in the wire-to-wire winner in a much improved race

under Cornelio Velasquez. The sophomore colt should be graduating soon on this

oval with another leap forward next time.

5TH -- FINN'S QUEST (Giant's Causeway) looked beaten in late stretch but

refused to be passed in posting a brave victory beneath Irad Ortiz Jr. We love

horses like this that simply have a nose for the wire and will not be denied

when challenged.

A Look Ahead

Saturday will play host to a quartet of stakes races at this venue, two of

which are graded. The Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes and the Grade 3, $150,000

Toboggan Stakes, are the headliners.