Aqueduct Notebook 12-22

AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK

December 22

by Bernard T. Moore

Aqueduct concluded its final weekend of racing for 2004 on Sunday, and the

track is scheduled to be dark until December 29, as it takes a well-deserved

vacation over the Christmas Holiday.

Prior to taking its break, the track conducted its final graded stakes races

of the year, beginning with Saturday's Ladies H. (G3). For fillies and mares at

10 furlongs, the 1 1/4-mile contest did not appear to feature a lot of pace on

paper, and it unfolded exactly that way on the racetrack. Roar Emotion (Roar),

the most obvious pacesetter in the race, was in a bit tight breaking from the

gate. And when her jockey, Mike Luzzi, was content to stalk rather than dictate

the pace, the role of front-runner was assumed by RARE GIFT (Unbridled's Song).

That was basically the ballgame.

Rare Gift was able to crawl on the lead, setting pedestrian fractions of

:25.05, :49.91 and 1:14.83 over a course playing favorably to inside speed. She

received only token pressure from race favorite Roar Emotion, and once she

disposed of that rival on the far turn, she was able to spurt away from the

field in the stretch to win by six widening lengths. Board Elligible (Goldminer's

Gold), despite being hindered by the unflattering pace scenario, closed to be

second, a neck in front of Miss Fortunate (Deputy Minister). Roar Emotion tired

to finish fifth.

Rare Gift's victory was the first win of the meet for trainer John Kimmel,

and the first stakes success for jockey Richard Migliore since he returned to

the saddle from an injury. A $330,000 purchase by her connections, this was the

three-year-old's first graded stakes success, and her initial victory against

older runners.

Someone once coined the phrase, "I'd rather be lucky than good." Well,

trainer Scott Lake is both, as DON SIX (Wild Escapade), making his first start

for his new trainer, went wire-to-wire to win Sunday's Gravesend H. (G3) under

jockey Mike Luzzi. When the two other speed runners were withdrawn from the

race, that enabled the four-year-old to dictate a rather modest pace on the

lead. Don Six would never relinquish that advantage, winning by 1 1/4 lengths

over Mr. Whitestone (Dance Brightly), who finished well late to take down the

place.

The winner took full advantage of an inside speed biased track to register

consecutive wins in the Gravesend for the team of Lake and Luzzi, as they joined

forces to win last year's running with Shake You Down (Montbrook) as well. Papua

(Louis Quartoze) raced evenly to finish third, a half-length behind the

runner-up. Gators N Bears (Stormy Atlantic), the 4-5 favorite, raced in a

perfect stalking position down the backstretch, but lacked the necessary

response when called upon and tired in the stretch to finish fourth.

The main track played favorably to off the pace runners in routes, while

sprints appeared to be bias free on the Wednesday card. As the week progressed,

speed began to dominate, and it was deadly over the weekend. The inside paths

got better and better each racing day, and the rail was gold over the weekend.

Richard Dutrow Jr. regained his familiar spot on top of the trainer

standings, and he enjoys a slim one-win lead over Lake, who holds down second

place. Tom Bush and Dominic Galluscio are tied for third with six winners each,

with Jennifer Pedersen just one victory back in fifth. Dutrow continues to excel

with layoff and maiden runners at the meet, while Lake has been extremely

proficient in claiming contests.

Rafael Bejarano's impact on the local jockey colony since arriving from

Kentucky is old news, as he holds a comfortable seven-win edge over Norberto

Arroyo Jr. in second. Aaron T. Gryder who is in third place, trails Arroyo by

two wins, followed by Shaun Bridgmohan. Luzzi and Pablo Fragoso are tied for the

fifth spot.

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (12/15)

1ST – TWOOUTSINTHENINTH (Gold Token) turned in a much improved effort

stretching out to a route of ground for the first time in his career. Raced

outside of rivals to stalk the early fractions and held well for third as the

pace quickened noticeably late. His full brother, Bogota Bill, won on the NYRA

circuit, but not as a two-year-old for these connections.

4TH – MS. TIGER BEAT (Tiger Ridge) broke slowly from the rail in her career

debut and was unhurried early before finding her best stride on the far turn.

Closed well while racing wide into the stretch to gain the place behind an

impressive first timer.

Thursday (12/16)

1ST – HOLLY RAE (Marquetry) finished with good energy for second to an

odds-on favorite in a race that finished up well late. Should register that

elusive initial career win if kept sprinting at this level.

5TH – STAR OF TRIESTE (Old Trieste) gave a good effort off the shelf while

stepping up for Dutrow. Sophomore held well after setting a wicked and pestered

pace. Understandably weakened in the stretch to finish fourth, beaten less than

four lengths in a sharp performance.

7TH – DISTINCTIVE TRICK (Distinctive Pro) exhibited a much improved turn of

foot to chase a hot pace from an extreme outside post. Finished with interest in

the stretch to save the show.

Friday (12/17)

2ND - CRITICAL CHANT (War Chant) has encountered trouble breaking from the

gate in both career starts. Improved to fourth switching to dirt off a layoff

and closed sneaky well along the inside in the stretch after another terrible

beginning. Half-sister to the Grade 1 winner Critical Eye should really relish a

route of ground.

4TH – SPECTACULAR MOON (Migrating Moon), a Philly Park shipper, closed well

for third despite being hindered by a speed biased track. Finished with good

energy even though she dropped too far behind early.

Saturday (12/18)

5TH – L'ARGENTO (Concorde's Tune) turned in a useful tune-up effort off a

long layoff. Finished with some interest late in a race he obviously needed.

Trainer owns anemic stats with this type of layoff runner and juvenile colt

should move forward off this race.

9TH – LETHIMTHINKHESBOSS (Demidoff) Closed strongly from far back against the

grain of a speed biased track in first start for trainer Carlos Martin. Probably

should have won as the wire-to-wire winner benefited by setting an uncontested

lead, and was helped along by the speed favoring nature of the course.

Sunday (12/19)

6TH – JUST GABI (Devil His Due) used wrong tactics disputing the pace of a

superior speed rival and hindered by an outside post as well. At her best when

able to sit and make one run. Saddled with tough posts in most recent starts at

Aqueduct. Both wins have come over the inner track.