|
|
AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK MARCH 28, 2013 by John Mucciolo A single graded event took place over the weekend at the Big A. Excelsior S. (G3): John Gunther's homebred LAST GUNFIGHTER (First Samurai) seized control in late stretch and powered clear to a two-length tally under pilot Rajiv Maragh. The four-year-old colt went nine furlongs on the fast main oval in 1:50 3/5 for trainer Chad Brown. Track Stats A total of 37 races were held over the Jamaica, New York, inner track, with favorites winning at a 49 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 73 percent of the wins during the week. Fourteen won in wire-to-wire fashion (38 percent). The inner meeting ended the way it began, with chalk and speed dominating the racing. A total of 14 runners led at every call this week with at least a handful of others tracking in second early on. Thursday was clearly best on the rail, with eight winners from nine races leading all the way on the front (89 percent). Meet Totals
HORSES TO WATCH Thursday (3/21) 3RD -- TWEET ME (First Samurai) ran a winning race in defeat here when second for conditioner Randi Persuad. The sophomore colt led for the opening half-mile, was passed in early stretch and battled gamely to the wire in a nice try under Kieber Coa. 7TH -- NEWBIE (Bernardini) put in one of her best outings in some time when winning the battle with the race favorite and staying on well to be a good third today for trainer John Kimmel. We'll keep an eye on the filly as she could be entering a nice form cycle. Friday (3/22) 4TH -- Parx invader NIGHT BRIGADE (Rockport Harbor) made a big move into and through the lane to finish a nice second in this spot behind a loose-on-the-lead winner, and the Dominic Galluscio trainee will be tough with any type of improvement off of this in the near future. The mare came home in a swift :23 3/5 today. 8TH -- The in-form AWESOME VISION (Awesome Again) made a huge late run to dead-heat for the win for trainer Tom Albertrani. The four-year-old was all heart in this one, in what we thought was a very nice field. Saturday (3/23) 3RD -- SILVERETTE (Street Sense) wore down the clear early leader and had enough left late to eclipse this field in a very nice outing beneath Maragh. The four-year-old filly, making her first run since June, could be set for a big 2013 campaign for conditioner Dale Romans. 6TH -- BRANDINI (E Dubai) ran as well as a debuter can in defeat in this one, barely missing while finishing more than 18 lengths clear of third place. The James Bond pupil came home pretty fast and should surely break her maiden before long. Sunday (3/24) 4TH -- Stakes winner BIG SCREEN (Speightstown) ran one of the swiftest mile races at the meeting in this one while dominating his foes for Albertrani. The four-year-old colt clocked the mile in 1:36 2/5 under light encouragement and should be headed for a stakes race next time out. A Look Ahead There are no graded races over the Holiday weekend at Aqueduct.
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
