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AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK FEBRUARY 5, 2010 by Albie Johnson Time for a bit of a recap of action around here beginning on January 20 and ending on Sunday, with several days of the annual winter break sandwiched in-between. The Paumonock S., which for many years was the opening day feature in the spring following the end of racing in December, was contested on Saturday, January 23. The six-panel sprint attracted a half-dozen runners, headed by Driven By Success (Precise End) and WALL STREET WONDER (City Place). As with many of the races over the past two weeks, this one was over at the start when Wall Street Wonder out-broke his main rival, quickly established the rail, and after putting away a mild bid halfway through the turn was able to coast home by 8 1/2 lengths over Mt. Glittermore (Orientate), who had a length on Shoptate (Orientate) while "Success" checked home fifth while not under much pressure in the last furlong. Winning colt was stakes-placed on the West Coast synthetic tracks while in the Bob Baffert barn and was winning his second in a row since coming east and joining up with trainer J.P. Terranova. Fast forwarding to last Saturday, five older fillies and mares went to the post in the Correction S. And, as with the Paumonock, there was little drama involved as the heavy favorite and lone speed HOLD THAT PROSPECT (Hold That Tiger) broke running and was allowed to set pedestrian fractions :23.58 and :46.73. After that, it was only a question of how much she would win by. The answer was 7 1/2 lengths with a three-horse-photo for the place going to Heaven's Voice (Lion Hearted), who had a nose on Fascinatin' Rhythm (More Than Ready) with What Time It Is (Partner's Hero) another head back in fourth. Trainer Gary Gullo, who had a solid year on this circuit in '09, saddled the winning mare and Jorge Chavez, who only had to make sure she had a clean break, was the winning rider. As a note concerning this card, racing was cancelled right after the running of the Correction due to intense cold. The following day, the last one in January, the Coyote Lakes S., a 13-furlong marathon run exactly a month after the Gallant Fox S., was held. The distance was the same as the Gallant Fox and so was the result, with a pair of Todd Pletcher-trained runners , TIGER'S ROCK (Giant's Causeway) and Nite Light (Thunder Gulch), reporting home 1-2 as they did a month earlier. As in the previous race, Nite Light turned into the stretch with the lead but was unable to hold off his younger rival. Winning colt is very lightly raced and is now two for two on conventional dirt. Believe that they'll send him elsewhere (Gulfstream?) just to see how he'll fare against some better quality stock. Track Conditions Fast on all eight days of racing with a pronounced inside bias on Friday the 29th through Sunday the 31st, with that day's inside advantage the strongest of the whole meet. HORSES TO WATCH Wednesday(1/20) 4TH -- RAZZLEMEDAZZLEME (French Envoy) sprinted to the lead from her outside post but was unable to hold off a filly from the Kiaran McLaughlin barn that was dropping down from a maiden special. Next time at this $35-$25K tag. 8TH -- The lightly raced REREADTHEFOOTNOTES (Read the Footnotes) proved one again that when "right" he's capable of a very big effort. Gelding has his share of woes by witness of his many layoff lines, but he sprinted clear early from his inside post and increased his margin at every pole to report home by six lengths in this first-level allowance. May try a stakes sometime soon. 9TH -- Making only his second start since July 2008, HEAVENLY PURSUIT (Read the Footnotes) had a very wide trip and did well to finish a close-up third with a strong late rally. Would seem on the verge of winning soon. Thursday (1/21) 6TH -- Making his first start vs. winners, THOUSAND EXCUSES (Millennium Wind) had no choice but to swing five or six paths wide late through the final turn before flattening out in the last eighth. An inside post, like he had in his maiden win in his previous start, may be all he needs Friday (1/22) 2ND -- Making a belated debut, WICKED DIVA (Jump Start) trailed early and put in a strong late rally to finish secod. Heavily bet in this spot, the $125,000 sales yearling shouldn't be long in breaking her maiden. 8TH -- Racing first off a Tim Hills claim and first start outside of Florida, CRUZIN WITH CASH (Langfuhr) put in a strong late rally in this starter-allowance to finish second, beaten just under a length. Nice initial effort on this surface. Saturday (1/23) 2ND -- Making his career debut, DUKE OF NAPLES (Empire Maker) bid while three-wide before finishing a distant third to a much-the-best top pair who were involved in a virtual "match race." State-bred colt was a $210,000 Keeneland sales yearling and was debuting for a trainer (Bruce Levine) who likes to "give them one." Look for major improvement next out. Sunday (1/24) 7TH -- Favored in this first-level allowance for state-bred fillies and mares, PRETTY COZY (Broken Vow) was bumped and forced to check at the break and did well to finish fourth. Large filly may enjoy going two turns in her future. Sunday (1/31) 4TH -- AWESOME BULL (Holy Bull) impressed in her maiden win in this spot. She quickly sprinted clear despite a stumbling break and was never asked to do much other than keep a straight course as she reported home by seven lengths. State-bred may go right into a stakes off of this effort. Upcoming stakes No graded events are scheduled until March, but we'll continue to report on any and all races that we deem of interest. Have a nice week!
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