Aqueduct Notebook

AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK

APRIL 10, 2009

by Albie Johnson

Racing returned to the main track on April 4 and was followed several days

later with what is traditionally one of the biggest days of the year on this

circuit, Wood Memorial (G1) Saturday.

The race itself over the years has proved to be an important stepping stone to

the Kentucky Derby (G1), and all eyes in this year's renewal were on recent Gotham(G3)

winner I WANT REVENGE (Stephen Got Even). Colt had been very impressive in that

win, his first race outside of California and his first on conventional dirt.

Off that performance, he was made the heavy choice as he faced seven rivals, several of whom only added to the size of the starting field. In what

can only be described as an awesome effort, he broke "in the air," needed two

strides to recover his footing and therefore was away dead last on this always

speed-favoring main track. To his credit, jockey Joe Talamo did not panic and

let runner do things on his own until asking him for some run just before the

half. He caught up to the field just before the head of the stretch, waited for

a seam, quickly accelerated splitting runners just past the eighth pole and

proved clearly best once reaching the front, reporting home by 1 1/2 lengths

stopping the clock in a respectable 1:49.49.

This observer has been around a long time in this game and the overall

performance would have to rank in my top 20 of all I've seen on this circuit

in the last 40 years. I've witnessed many runners win after breaking poorly, but

the way he "picked it up" turning for home and the ease with which he split

runners was truly impressive. Congratulations to his human connections (led by

trainer Jeff Mullins) for recognizing that he would do well on dirt and for

taking the chance on sending him here with other options clearly available.

The biggest disappointment of the race was Imperial Council (Empire Maker), who had acted up in the paddock and proved to be a

"handful" before being

saddled. As is often the case after expending nervous energy of this type,

the colt held good position but came up empty when the real running began. Deserves

another chance wherever they chose to run him next.

The undercard featured a trio of graded events with the prestigious Carter H. (G1)

positioned on the program right after the Wood. Like many seven-furlong contests,

the field was made up of sprinters, middle-distance specialists, and a couple of

runners who were more known for two-turn success.

KODIAK KOWBOY (Posse), who falls into the first two catagories, was nicely

set-up by trainer Larry Jones who recently brought the multiple graded stakes

winner back at the Fair Grounds off a 3 1/2-month layoff in the Duncan F. Kenner

S. Colt finished a solid second in that contest at a distance (six furlongs)

that's just a bit shy of his best. Race set him up perfectly for this event and

he was bet down to lukewarm favoritism over multiple graded sprint stakes winner

Fabulous Strike (Smart Strike).

The complexion of the contest changed at the start when expected pacesetter

True Quality (Elusive Quality) did not break sharply leaving Fabulous Strike

with what amounted to an uncontested lead. Interior fractions were fast but

reasonable, and Kodiak Kowboy, who was racing about seven-eight lengths off the lead on

the best part of the track began to launch a rally just past the half. He

circled wide turning for home, went after Fabulous Strike at the eighth pole, and was up in the last 50

yards over that stubborn opponent to win by a "head."

John Velazquez contributed a well-timed ride and the final clocking came in at

1:22.47, which was about as expected.

Tale of Ekati (Tale of the Cat), who was two for two on the main track, was a

major disappointment and did not beat a horse after a poor

break. It was his scond subpar effort in a row after coming back from a 2 1/2-month layoff earlier this year.

Earlier on the card, the Bay Shore (G3) for sophomores was run and attracted a

field of runners shipping in from all parts of the country. The promising CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN (Candy Ride

[Arg]) couldn't have been more impressive in

winning here. A stakes winner at two in the Iroquois (G3) at Churchill Downs and

earlier this year in the Hutcheson (G2) at Gulfstream, the colt was coming off a troubled

fourth-place finish in the Florida Derby (G1) and was cutting back in distance to

seven furlongs for this attempt.

Gelding broke sharply and rated nicely off the two leaders, moved at the same

time as eventual second finisher Taqarub (Aldebaran), and clearly bested that rival by

midstretch, reporting home by 3 3/4 lengths at the finish. Trainer Ian Wilkes

gave a leg up to Javier Castellano, who was riding this talented runner for the

first time, and I believe you'll hear more from this gelding as the year

progresses.

Older runners had the spotlight in the race between the three-year-old graded stakes, with the Excelsior (G3) being run at the same distance as the Wood (1

1/8

miles). Pace makes the race, and this race didn't have much on paper. That

proved to be true during the running as New York-bred GIANT MOON (Giant's

Causeway) broke well from his outside post and was content to let Cool Coal Man

(Mineshaft) set very pedestrian fractions :25.45 and :50.69 before beginning to

apply some pressure going into the far turn. He moved to challenge turning for

home and needed almost the length of the stretch before prevailing by a half-length

over the stubborn pacesetter . Lightly raced bay colt is a home-bred from the

quality operation of Al Fried Jr. and has been well handled by veteran trainer

Rich Schosberg. Edgar Prado, who was in from Gulfstream for the day, picked up

the mount and contributed a well judged ride.

His connections have many options to pursue with this colt and believe that

they'll try him on the grass somewhere down the line.

The favorite in this contest was multiple stakes winner Barrier Reef (Mizzen

Mast), a one-run type, and the very slow pace combined with a brief  "steady" made

his third-place finish a strong one given the circumstances.

Track Conditions

The first two days of action on the main-track produced a steady stream of

front-running winners on a surface labeled fast.

Heavy rains on Thursday night left the track in a "sloppy" condition, and the

maintenance crew "sealed" it before the start of the first race on Friday. Track

played fairly that day with a fine mix of speed, stalkers and closers getting

the job done.

Wood Day saw a fast main-track and no bias with a balanced mix of runners

proving successful.

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (4/1)

4TH -- Favored BEA BET (Snow Ridge) stumbled at the break and was forced

to play catch-up. After making a token bid while four-five wide on the turn, she was

wisely not pressured from the quarter-pole to the wire. Should fare better next out.

9TH -- Making his second start off a Steve Asmussen claim, SCOOTER RAT (Forest

Wildcat) chased a wire-to-wire winner from the start, made a strong bid turning

for home and flattened late to finish fourth, beaten a "head" and a half-length for the

place. He shouldn't be long in winning.

Thursday (4/2)

3RD -- Sophomore filly FLASHING (A.P. Indy) ran her record to three wins in

four starts with an easy wire-to-wire win going a mile in a snappy 1:35.95. Only

blemish on her slate was in her second start, when she tried a stakes (the Busanda)

in her first against winners. Darley representative has ability and it will be

interesting which path they choose to send her down.

9TH -- APPLE (Officer) ran too good to lose in this race, tracking the

early lead, bidding on the turn and opening up in midstretch, only to be nailed

right on the wire. Effort came second off a Bruce Brown claim, and she'll run next

out for Gary Contessa as he signed the slip for $15,000 before this contest.

Friday (4-3)

4TH -- Veteran claiming mare MUTAKAWAY (Mutakddim), who was a pretty

hard-hitter at one time, made a return to the winner's circle in this spot first

off a claim by Bruce Levine in late February and a subsequent five-week layoff.

This is her second time around with the trainer and she may be able to rise in

price on this surface, which is her favorite.

8TH -- After holding a nice early position, favored HAITIAN SENSATION

(Petionville) never picked it up when asked and believe his first effort on an

"off" track was clearly the culprit. Deserves another chance.

Saturday (4-4)

3RD -- The beautifully bred GONE ASTRAY (Dixie Union) signaled here that

he will be a force in the three-year-old ranks down the road with an impressive win

against an overmatched field in this entry-level allowance. Phipps' homebred

made the lead from his inside post just before the half-mile point and was under no pressure

after that, winning as the rider pleased. Bay colt had run well in both the

Futurity (G2) and the Champagne (G1) last fall after skipping his allowance

conditions following his maiden win at Saratoga. Looks like a major force as the

season goes on.

Upcoming stakes

The Comely S. (G2) for three-year-old fillies will be held Saturday.

Have a nice week!