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AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK NOVEMBER 5, 2009 by Albie Johnson Aqueduct's meet began just as the fall Belmont session did, with heavy rain, a sloppy, sealed surface and races off the turf. The first grass race didn't take place until Friday's feature, but by the weekend things had cleared up considerably to allow all scheduled turf races to take place. First up on Saturday was the Bold Ruler S. (G3), a seven-furlong contest on the fast main track that attracted a small field of five. The betting public decided that Sing Baby Sing (Unbridled's Song), an invader who had raced at many different locales, deserved slight favoritism in this spot, with Past the Point (Indian Charlie), second in the 2008 Woodward S. (G1), the close second choice. The longest price in the wagering was LE GRAND CRU (Dynaformer), who was coming into this off a win in the Kelso H. (G3) at Belmont, a contest that was switched to the main track due to weather-related issues. Sing Baby Sing set the opening quarter but he quickly let Le Grand Cru by and never again was in front of that rival, who maintained a short lead the remainder of the race and held off a determined bid by Past the Point to win by a half-length at the wire with Sing Baby Sing another three parts of a length back in third. Le Grand Cru, like many of the Dynaformers, has improved with age and is in the barn of Allen Jerkens, who has had this colt alternating between turf and dirt all year. Later on Saturday's card, a field of eight older fillies and mares faced the starter in the Turnback the Alarm S. (G3) going nine furlongs on the main track. It was a rather watered down field except for the first two public choices, UNBRIDLED BELLE (Broken Vow) and Weathered (Key Contender), who made the running rather uneventful as they finished that way. Unbridled Belle, the 1-2 favorite, proved clearly best by four lengths over her state-bred rival. The six-year-old tracked the pace here while well in hand and looked the winner every step as she saved ground, swung out before the head of the stretch and had no difficulty in going by Weathered late. The dark bay mare, who captured the 2007 Beldame S. (G1) and was an 11-length winner of the Obeah H. (G3) earlier this season, was making her next to last start and her final one on this circuit as she's scheduled to be bred next spring. She is nearing $2 million in earnings and has been a runner of quality her entire career. Todd Pletcher continued his strong fall here and Ramon Dominguez had an easy time of it aloft. Sunday's program also featured a mare of some note as CRITICISM (GB) (Machiavellian) was making her final start and trying for a repeat victory in the Long Island H.(G3). The Darley homebred was heavily favored in this spot and did not disappoint. She assumed command after the quarter-mile and was never threatened at any point as jockey Javier Castellano doled out soft splits on the yielding course. The five-year-old mare coasted to a 2 1/4-length triumph over Lemonette (Lemon Drop Kid) with Bubbly Jane (Brz) (Yagli), who ran well despite leaping in the air at the start, another a half-length back in third. Criticism had done everything in this country except win a Grade 1, but finished a solid second in the Flower Bowl Invitational (G1) prior to her Long Island victory. Tom Albertrani trained this hard-knocking runner and I'm sure he'll miss her steady presence. The Poker Night S., an overnight stakes sending sophomore fillies seven furlongs on the good dirt, was also on the Sunday card. The lightly raced and talented CUVEE UNCORKED (Cuvee) was a nice looking winner of the event. She started her career earlier this year at Delaware Park and has now run strongly in all four starts, the last pair on this circuit. The three-year-old filly is trained by Tim Walters and was ridden by Dave Cohen, who will spend the winter here after running away with the title at Delaware. TRACK STATS The dirt was sloppy and sealed on opening day with no turf racing. Thursday saw muddy and sealed conditions, with no grass contests. Both surfaces were listed as good on Friday, with only the featured 8TH left on the grass. The dirt was fast and the turf good on Saturday, while Sunday saw a good main track and yielding turf. The inside was deep and to be avoided if possible for the first two days of the meet, with the remainder of the week seeing a dirt surface which played fairly. There were very few grass races run, but the infield played fairly with those that were contested. HORSES TO WATCH Wednesday (10/28) 3RD -- PRECURSOR (A.P. Indy) has improved considerably since last winter when he was a maiden. The $500,000 two-year-old purchase went wire-to-wire in this $65,000 overnight stakes and he may have a nice winter around here in features for older runners. 8TH -- Inside was to be avoided on this day and that's where race favorite DIGGER (Yonaguska) was forced to do his running. The speedball was heavily pressured early and after shaking clear in the stretch he tired late to finish third. Should run better next out. Thursday (10/29) 6TH -- After breaking awkwardly, race favorite IMMORTAL EYES (Greatness) was forced to rush up on the dead rail, stayed on until midstretch and backed up readily in the last eighth to be fourth. Deserves another chance. 8TH -- AUNT MABEL (Flatter) pressed the pace of the favorite and eventual winner in this spot before tiring badly at the head of the stretch. Not abused after that point, she should find a field she can boss soon. Friday (10/30) 5TH -- Making his first start in 2 1/2 months, HAVE YOU EVER (Van Nistelrooy) broke on top, set fast fractions and tired in the last sixteenth to finish fourth. Good tightener for him and he should find a spot soon enough. Saturday (10/31) 5TH -- Making his debut at a tough distance (1 1/16 miles) and from an outside post (12), CAFE DES ARTISTES (Distorted Humor) finished a very strong second and was no doubt the best. Forced five-wide from the half-mile marker to the finish, he was beaten a half-length after losing a lot of ground during the running. Next out. Sunday (11/1) 4TH -- Well-backed in this spot and with Dominguez aloft in her debut, PRETTY COZZY (Broken Vow) had a little traffic issue at the half, swung out turning for home and was gradually getting to the wire-to-wire winner in the late stages. Won't be long in getting her maiden win. UPCOMING STAKES On Saturday, older runners will go 1 3/8 miles on the turf in the Red Smith H. (G2). Juveniles will also be center stage on Saturday, as colts and geldings will contest the Nashua (G2) and fillies will be in the Tempted (G3), both at one mile. Have a nice week!
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