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AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK DECEMBER 11,2009 by Albie Johnson The previous week here did not have a graded stakes, but there were several races of note and on Wednesday the final grass race of the season took place; the next one around here won't be until mid-April. The week began with the Tate S., an overnight event for sophomore fillies that had a small but interesting field of five competing over six furlongs. BOLD UNION (Dixie Union), who earlier this year won the Endine (G3) at Delaware and finished second in the Victory Ride (G2) at Saratoga, proved best by sprinting clear early and repulsing a challenge by Boodles (Mr. Greeley), who "bobbled" slightly at the start, to win in wire-to-wire fashion by 1 3/4 lengths over Powder Princess (Gone West), who had a 1 1/4-length margin over the early pace-prompter. The fast and consistent winner is trained by Kelly Breen and was ridden by his main-jockey, Joe Bravo. Friday's card saw the undefeated and impressive state-bred CUFF ME (Officer) take on an open field of four rivals in the Silent Turn S., an overnight feature, and the juvenile filly once again left the impression that she has a lot more to offer down the line. She broke on top and after facing pressure on her outside through the turn, began to draw away once they turned for home, coming under some pressure to report home by two lengths over Touching Beauty (Tapit), who rallied for the place position. Winning filly has a lot of options and it will be interesting to see which way trainer Tony Dutrow goes with her. Saturday's card featured the Garland of Roses over a track labeled sloppy and sealed. It produced an exciting three-horse finish. As expected, the pace was set by Hold That Prospect (Hold That Tiger), who was tracked intently by Lady Alexander (Exchange Rate) and Distorted Passion (Distorted Humor). The pace battle intensified turning into the stretch with both pace-chasers going by the fading front-runner, but neither was able to withstand the furious late charge of AWESOME ASHLEY (Unbridled's Song), who had raced well-back early. After launching a five-wide bid turning for home, she got up in deep stretch to win by a neck over Lady Alexander, with Distorted Passion another half-length behind. The winning filly did some good things here last winter for the Todd Pletcher barn and looks to be at the top of her game entering the four months of racing on the inner-dirt. TRACK CONDITIONS Last grass race of the season came on Wednesday. The inner oval was listed as fast on Wednesday and Friday, with good being the order of the day on Thursday and Sunday, with sloppy conditions on Saturday. Very interesting stat jumped off the page for the first week of action on the inner-track. The inside post, a path to success in many previous years, was winless (zero-for-26) during the first five days of action, and the speed bias was also not as prevalent during opening week of the winter meet. The Pletcher barn remained red-hot as he saddled 10 runners and was successful with a half-dozen of them during week one. He holds a three-race win cushion over both Tony Dutrow and Steve Klesaris, who each won three from a small number of starters. Ramon Dominguez occupied the top spot amongst the jockey colony with a three-race lead over David Cohen (eight to five), who is spending the winter here for the first time. HORSES TO WATCH Wednesday (12/2) 3RD -- COME FROM BEHIND (Roaring Fever) started slowly for the second straight time, was quickly rushed up to set the pace and stayed on well to hang on for the place spot, a good effort under the circumstances. 6TH -- After placing in a pair of state-bred stakes races, EMBRACE CHANGE (Exchange Rate) found a return to the maiden ranks just what she needed as she easily won her first race by 8 1/2 widening lengths. Race was her first around two-turns and she could be a force in her division this winter. Thursday (12/3) 3RD -- The heavily-favored and speedy AFRICAN KING (Black Mambo) was beaten to the lead in the first furlong and had to steady briefly before taking back off the "dead rail" and being forced into a chasing mode. He continued on gamely to finish second while unable to cut into the wire-to-wire winners final margin of two lengths. Effort was a strong one. Friday (12/4) 4TH -- Making only her second start, PRETTY COZY (Broken Vow) was made a heavy favorite off a nice debut effort but raced a bit on the sluggish side early in this maiden sprint and could only manage to finish a rallying second. May get the job done when sent around two-turns here. Saturday (12/5) 2ND -- Very impressive debut here by AFLEET EXPRESS (Afleet Alex) as he had to be taken-up at the start and raced well back early on the sloppy and sealed surface. He put in a powerful rally while racing very wide and swept by them all by mid-stretch to win going away. Gainesway-owned colt must have put a big smile on trainer Jimmy Jerkens' face. Sunday (12/6) 3RD -- The lightly-raced and talented WELL POSITIONED (Awesome Again) made his second start back off a long layoff a winning one taking this first-level allowance in very easy style, stalking early, bidding when ready and drawing away to a seven-length win. Paul Pompa-owned colt looks like he'll have a nice winter here if he stays sound. UPCOMING STAKES The Queens County (G3), sending three-year-olds and up 1 3/16 miles, is scheduled for Saturday. Have a nice week!
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