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AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK MARCH 7, 2013 by John Mucciolo A trio graded events took place over the weekend at the Big A. Top Flight H. (G2): Gillian Campbell et al's SUMMER APPLAUSE (Harlan's Holiday) swept to the front in early stretch and drove clear to a 2 3/4-length tally under the guidance of John Velazquez. The classy four-year-old endured 1 1/16 miles on the fast main oval in 1:44 for trainer Chad Brown. Gotham S. (G3): Pick Six Racing's VYJACK (Into Mischief) remained unbeaten with arguably his best race to date, rallying from last to post a convincing 2 1/4-length victory under Joel Rosario. The talented sophomore covered 1 1/16 miles on the fast dirt oval in 1:44 for conditioner Rudy Rodriguez. Tom Fool H. (G3): Gary Barber's West Coast invader COMMA TO THE TOP (Bwana Charlie) sped to the front early and was dead game in the stretch to post a nose tally in this dash for conditioner Peter Miller. The much-accomplished five-year-old stopped the teletimer for six panels on the fast main surface in 1:10 1/5 beneath Joel Rosario. Track Stats A total of 38 races were held at the Jamaica, New York venue, with favorites winning at a 37 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 66 percent of the wins during the week.Twelve races were won in wire-to-wire fashion (32 percent). Speed was once again the boss this week, with Saturday producing five wire-to-wire winners from 11 races. Friday saw eight of the nine winners break from the innermost three post positions. Meet Totals
HORSES TO WATCH Friday (3/1) 1ST -- BAIL OUT THE BANKS (Roman Ruler) followed up a nice tally with a big second in here, as the gelding fell just shy to a wire-to-wire winner while more than seven lengths clear of his nearest foe. Claimed by Nick Canani out of this one, the six-year-old will be tough in his comeback assignment and could easily move forward for his new connections. 8TH -- The Michael Hushion-trained VERBOSITY (Greeley's Galaxy) made a nice late run from off the pace here to be a sharp second, and the gelding is in good current form and should be tough next time. 9TH -- SHAUNNA ALEXANDRA (Go for Gin) made a huge move on the turn and powered her way to an impressive 3 1/4-length win at first asking under Mike Luzzi. The four-year-old filly came home in a strong :23 4/5 and could be any type going forward for conditioner Oscar Barrera. Saturday (3/2) 3RD -- LOVELY SYN (Freud) made pretty short work of a decent field of New York-bred runners in this one and could turn out to be a good one for trainer Dominic Schettino. The sophomore filly surely looked the part in her debut today, powering home in :24 1/5 en route to a daylight tally. 6TH -- COUSIN MICHAEL (Greeley's Galaxy) tracked the odds-on favorite throughout and slowly wore that one down in the stretch to post a game tally today for conditioner Chalrton Baker. The in-form four-year-old gelding has now bagged two races in succession and could make it three with proper placement next time. 9TH -- SATURDAY'S CHARM (Any Given Saturday) broke worst of all, was next to last early, but made a huge move into and through the lane and just missed in a fine runner-up showing here for Steve Asmussen. The four-year-old still has a lot of room for improvement and will be very tough next out with any type of improvement off of this race. 10TH -- Vyjack showed a new dimension in this one and it paid off, as the colt circled this field with a powerful late run. His final five-sixteenths was covered in a fantastic :30 flat suggesting he could handle more ground in the future. Sunday (3/3) 2ND -- WENT THE DAY WELL (Proud Citizen) didn't show all that much in his much anticipated return to racing for trainer Graham Motion, but the talented colt surely need one after the long break and we won't give up on him as of yet. 8TH -- GRAND MERE (Bob and John) was a touch unlucky not to have won this race after putting in a big late run from off the pace to fall a neck short today. The sophomore filly from the Rodriguez barn is going well right now and deserves another chance with stakes foes right back. A Look Ahead There are no graded races to be held at the winter meeting, which concludes on Sunday. The weekend feature at Aqueduct is the $100,000 Fred "Cappy" Caposella Stakes for sophomores going six furlongs.
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