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AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK JANUARY 6, 2010 by Albie Johnson First off, a very Happy New Year to all and hope that it will be a safe and healthy one. We've got a bit of catching-up to do so lets get started. We lost the card of Wednesday, December 9, so there were only four days leading up to the holiday vacation period with only the Queen's County H. (G3) as the only graded race that was contested. A field of seven was headed by the 2008 winner, Researcher (Two Smart). Recent sharp allowance winner RODMAN (Malibu Moon) broke in stride and was allowed to set slow early fractions of :24.73 and :49.61. He repulsed a mild bid by Researcher heading toward the top of the stretch and drew away to a very easy 5 3/4-length score over that Researcher, who had a head on More Than a Reason (More Than Ready), who raced well given that he was making his 24th start of the year. Winner has improved rapidly of late and hails from good connections, Mike Hushion, who has had a great season on this circuit. Longtime patron Barry K. Schwartz is the owner and Javier Castellano had a rather easy time of it aloft the chestnut colt. Earlier on the card, a field of eight fillies and mares went to the post in the Snit S, an overnight event that was run at 1 1/16 miles. Contested pace developed with LIFE AT TEN (Malibu Moon) shadowing the early leader and after putting that rival away on the far turn, she drew off turning for home and safely maintained her lead during the latter stages, winning by 1 3/4 lengths over Tidal Dance (Pleasant Tap), who had almost four on Charles Town invader Saxet Heights (Outflanker). Winner, who had spent the early part of her career running on synthetics, now has two wins and a pair of seconds in four tries since trainer Todd Pletcher moved her to conventional dirt. The annual break started with the conclusion of racing on December13, and we did not reopen until the day after Christmas. The December 26 feature was one of the older ones on this circuit, the six-furlong Gravesend for older runners. It looked like a two-horse event on paper and played out that way on the track. The much improved Pashito the Che (Flatter) who was attempting to win his fourth consecutive stakes at four different tracks, was favored and broke well on the "sloppy and sealed" surface, but conceded the early lead to the hard-hitting, upper-end claimer DIGGER (Yonaguska). That's the way they ran from start-to-finish, with Digger hanging on by a desperate nose, and Starforaday (Five Star Day) closed late to finish a length behind the top pair. Nice training job by Bruce Brown to have this veteran ready to roll off a two month layoff with Rosie Napravnik contributing a very strong ride. The following day marked the return of one of the better state-breds of recent years, WISHFUL TOMCAT (Tactical Cat). He was given a well-deserved rest by trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. this past June after winning a trio of stakes on this circuit, and he looked to have this field in the Alex M. Robb at his mercy from a tactical standpoint. After breaking well from the rail post, rider Ramon Dominguez was able to dole-out very slow fractions and only had to "shake the reins" a bit turning for home as Wishful Tomcat drew off to win by 2 3/4 lengths over veteran Naughty New Yorker (Quiet American), who had a neck on Pegasian (Fusaichi Pegasus). Believe he'll be aiming for "open" competition down the road here and he's done well in the past doing just that. The final stakes of 2009, the Gallant Fox, attracted a large field of 12 that was headed by a trio of runners from the Pletcher barn that raced as separate betting interests. The pace was a solid one for the 13-furlong distance with one of the Pletcher contingent, 2007 winner Nite Light (Thunder Gulch), stalking early and bidding to the front on the final turn. However, he was unable to hold off the late charge of barnmate TIGER'S ROCK (Giant’s Causeway), who had raced three-four lengths off the lead while well in-hand for jockey David Cohen. The improving colt (he turned four on New Year's Day) easily went by Nite Light to win by 4 1/2 lengths, with Giant Chieftan (Giant's Causeway) another length behind in third. Winner has been very lightly raced and it will be interesting to see what the barn does with him next. On Friday, Pletcher's barn dominated the first stakes of the new year in New York, the Interborough H. for fillies and mares. Making the final start of her career, DISTORTED PASSION (Distorted Humor) stalked the early pace, bid to a clear advantage turning for home, opened up a 2 1/2-length lead and had enough left to hold off her fast-closing stablemate, Awesome Ashley (Unbridled's Song), to win the six-furlong event by a half-length. East Breaks (Flatter) finished a well-beaten third. Winning mare has been a useful sort during her career and should be a good producer with her breeding. The first Saturday of the new year saw a field of seven sophomore males go a mile and 70 yards in the Count Fleet S. Group was headed by New York-bred Ibboyee (Medalist), who had won three stakes during the past year against fellow state-breds. Pace makes the race and recent Philadelphia Park maiden winner LAUS DEO (Medaglia d' Oro) broke running from his rail post and proceeded to go wire-to-wire to win a stakes in his first start vs. winners. Colt looked beaten in the last eighth but gutted out a three-quarter length win over Worth a Buck (Quiet American), who was also trying winners for the first time. Penn National invader Turbo Speed (Louis Quatorze), who entered undefeated, checked in third, with Ibboyee a no-excuse fourth after stalking the early pace. The winner has improved with each start and was well-prepared by trainer Tony Dutrow, and Cohen, who has impressed at this meet, saved just enough to get his mount home. HORSES TO WATCH Saturday (12/26) 2ND -- First-time starter OVERCOMMUNICATION (Unbridled's Song) pressed the pace early, took over from his entrymate when ready, and drew away to an impressive five-length score while never being asked to do much. Another good-looking colt from the Pletcher barn. 6TH -- In this state-bred maiden dash, YAWANNA TWIST (Yonaguska) was sharp in his debut. Colt stalked early while on the rail and, after swinging out turning for home, exploded in the last eighth to win by 5 1/4 lengths. Richard Dutrow-trained runner may move right into stakes competition. Sunday (12/27) 2ND -- Debuting on a muddy and sealed surface, DOES IT EVERY TIME (Southern Image) raced well-back early, swung out late on the turn and after reaching the front was out-gamed by a head by a more experienced rival. Filly won't be long in winning. Wednesday (12/30) 6TH -- Making his first start in almost two months and moving from turf to dirt, KID TORNADO (Lemon Drop Kid) ran impressively from a poor outside post. He raced a bit wide early while rating in mid-pack and finished strongly to finish third, beaten a "neck and a head." Next time. Thursday (12/31) 2ND -- Making her first start on the last day of her three-year-old season, NEFERTITI (Speightstown) a $330,000 weanling purchase rated just off the lead, took over from the pacesetter and was out-kicked late by a filly with experience. All in all, a nice debut. Friday (1/1) 2ND -- Making only his third start and first around two turns, EARLY ARGUMENT (Closing Argument) took the early lead and after a four-furlong battle around the far turn into the lane was passed by his outside rival but hung on gamely for the place spot. Nice effort. Upcoming stakes There are no graded stakes scheduled at this meet until March 6 when the Gotham (G3) and the Toboggan (G3) will be contested. We'll report on any overnight features of significance. Have a Nice Week!!
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