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AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK FEBRUARY 18, 2010 by Albie Johnson Time to catch-up on the past nine days of racing here. Two days last week, Wednesday and Thursday, were lost due to a the massive snowstorm that paralyzed the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. We'll take events in the order in which they were run starting with a wire-to-wire win by the state-bred mare MEESE ROCKS (Rock and Roll) in the Personal Girl S. on February 5. She won three in a row before a "stumbling" start in her most recent effort and rebounded here with an easy score, but the five-year-old was helped by immensely by a pair of late scratches that made her task that much easier. She broke running under jockey Jorge Chavez and was allowed to set soft fractions while reporting home by 2 3/4 lengths over What A Pear (E. Dubai), who chased from start-to-finish in her best race in a long time. Checking in third in the six-horse field was Sorority Sister (Include). The winning mare is trained by Ed Barker, who done very well over the last six months from his small barn. On the February 6, the Whirlaway S. featured a field of five sophomore runners, headed by the recent impressive maiden winner Eightyfiveinafifty (Forest Camp), who was bet down to 3-10 in his first start vs. winners and two-turn debut. He broke running from his inside post but when he began to bear out badly into the first turn, it was obvious that something was decidedly wrong. He veered to the outer rail and dumped his rider when crashing into it, and escaped the confines of the main track to run free in the stable area. The colt suffered a cut that required 11 stitches to close, and post-race reports indicate that broken equipment caused the mishap. There still was a race to run and it went to PEPPI KNOWS (Stephen Got Even), who tracked the early leader, bid to the front, and came home a length to the good of Afleet Again (Afleet Alex), who had a half-length on second-choice Three Day Rush (Harlan's Holiday), who was bothered severely by Eightyfiveinafifty's actions entering the first turn. The winning gelding has proven to be a solid runner, taking the Finger Lakes Juvenile and finishing second last fall on the Big A's main track in the Remsen (G2). He's trained by the Penn National-based Tim Kreiser and was ridden by Richard Migliore. Next up is the Busher S. for sophomore fillies run at a distance of 1 1/16 miles last Saturday (February 13). On paper, the field of seven was a bit light on talent and the race appeared wide open to this observer. It turned out that opinion was correct as the longest shot on the board, ROMAN CHESTNUT (Roman Ruler), proved best with a late rally to return $93.50. The Leah Gyamarti-trained filly was making her stakes and route debut off a second in a $25,000 claiming contest. Pacesetter Anchorage (Tapit) held for the place, one length behind the winner with race favorite Speightful Affair (Speightstown) another 5 1/2 lengths back in third. Three-year-old fillies were again in the spotlight on the following program with a field of five facing the starter in the six-furlong Dearly Precious S. on Sunday. The early pace was set by Wild News (Forest Wildcat), who was running with blinkers for the first time with eventual winner FUZZY BRITCHES (Pollard's Vision) saving ground on the rail about three lengths off the lead. Turning for home, jockey Ramon Dominguez angled Fuzzy Britches off the rail and she went after Wild News, but that runner held stubbornly as the early trailer Judge Sonya (Delaware Township) rallied strongly up the inside. In an exciting finish, Fuzzy Britches held off Judge Sonya by a half-length, with Wild News another head back in third. The winner had been a useful sort before picking-up her first stakes win in this spot, previously finishing second in both the Sorority and Busanda, and third in the Demoiselle (G2) and Miss Grillo. She's from the Richard Dutrow Jr. barn, and they seem to have a horse for just about every feature that's been run here this winter. TRACK CONDITIONS Fast for all nine days of racing with a strong inside bias on from February 3-February 6 (Wednesday through Sunday the previous week). That bias had disappeared by the time the first race was run on Friday, and the inner oval played fairly during the Holiday Weekend. HORSES TO WATCH Wednesday (2/3) 2ND -- Excellent debut by JAZZY JOHANN (Johannesburg), who broke running and increased his margin at every call before eventually reporting home by 5 1/2 lengths. Bargain-price ($15,000) gelding was bought as a two-year-old in May of 2009. Nice job by trainer Bill Badgett, who enjoyed a solid 2009 on this competitive circuit. 8TH -- Making his debut around two-turns after a solid career sprinting, DR. W (Cat Thief) took the early lead as expected and battled from the top of the stretch to the finish to come out on the short end of a three-horse-photo to a pair of highly seasoned veterans. Very encouraging effort. Thursday (2/4) 3RD -- After breaking her maiden in impressive fashion this past fall, SHINE UPON (Congaree) was even more eye-catching in this performance in her first vs. winners. State-bred sophomore filly looked the winner from the minute the gate opened eventually reporting home by 6 1/2 lengths. Believe she's headed for stakes against open company. Friday (2/5) 1ST -- Making his second start off a Dom Galluscio claim and a subsequent two month layoff, RICORIATOA (Smarty Jones) showed a much improved effort in setting a solid pace and staying on gamely for the place once displaced. He should win soon. Saturday (2/6) 9TH -- Visually impressive debut by IRONMAN JOHN (Mineshaft) as he blew this field of state-bred maidens away early and coasted home by five lengths. There wasn't a whole lot behind him, but this home-bred from Barry Schwartz's Stonewall Farm was never asked for much and won under a hand ride. May go right into a stakes next out. Sunday (2/7) 7TH -- Making her first start since November of 2008 and first for trainer Bruce Levine, CITY BROAD (City Zip) ran back to her works in winning this state-bred first level allowance with ease. She won with a very quick move at the quarter-pole and looked like a different animal than the one that last competed. Friday (2/12) 8TH -- The lightly raced ZAPHYRA (Victory Gallop) won her second in a row and did so with a flare in rating early and blowing by turning for home while Dominguez didn't ask her for much until midstretch. She's improved a ton since a trainer switch to Richard Dutrow, and the filly was making only her third start since September of 2008 and her fourth overall. UPCOMING STAKES The Gotham (G3) and Toboggan (G3) are only two weeks away from this Saturday. Have a nice week!
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