Aqueduct Notebook

AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK

NOVEMBER 17, 2011

by John Mucciolo

A single graded race headlined the second week at Aqueduct.

Long Island H. (G3): Stuart Janney III's homebred HIT IT RICH pressed

the pace to the top of the lane and inched clear to a 1 1/2-length score beneath

jockey Javier Castellano. The improving Smart Strike filly clocked 1 1/2 miles

on the firm lawn in 2:30 1/5 for conditioner Shug McGaughey.

Track Stats

A total of 45 races were held over the Jamaica, New York, venue, with

favorites winning at a 33 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining

for 47 percent of the wins during the opening weekend. From 28 races on the main

oval, six animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (21 percent) and no runner led at

every call on the lawn from 17 races.

Speed continues to be at a somewhat disadvantage on the lawn here through two

weeks, with no horses leading at every call from 27 races, thus far. We did see

a few pressing the pace come through, but many have come from well back during

the early stages.

The main oval seemed to play much more fairly than it had during the opening

week. All types of runners were successful on the dirt during the week.

Horse breaking outside of the six post came through with just three wins on

the main strip from 28 races.

Meet Totals

RACES:		70
DIRT:		43
TURF:		27
FAVORITES:		23 (33 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		14 (20 percent)
TURF WIRE:		0
DIRT WIRE:		11 (26 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (11/9)

3RD -- MUCHO MACHO MAN made a sparkling return to the races with a 5

3/4-length romp for trainer Kathy Rivto. The Grade 2-winning son of Macho Uno,

third in the Kentucky Derby, showed little rust in taking this field

wire-to-wire in a snappy 1:34 3/5.

8TH -- MAHUBO made a fine debut on U.S. soil with a convincing late run to

upend this field for conditioner Kiaran McLaughlin. The five-year-old gelding

came home pretty quickly and should be in line for a class rise next out.

Friday (11/11)

3RD -- BOYS AT TOSCONOVA wasn't as dominant as expected in here, but the

Officer colt has now put in a pair of good runs following a long layoff and

could be poised for a big one against stakes foes next time for conditioner

Richard Dutrow.

8TH -- ASSOCIATE gave Dutrow another sharp winner on the day with an

eight-length romp in here. The sophomore Wando colt came home well in this one

under mild encouragement and has a lot of options going forward.

Saturday (11/12)

7TH -- CONSORTIUM (Bernardini) is bred to be a good one and looked the part

in a fine debut tally under Alan Garcia. The McLaughlin pupil took over readily

in early stretch en route to a powerful 4 3/4-length victory. The sky could be

the limit for the juvenile colt.

9TH -- SUMMER BREEZING fought back after being passed in midstretch to post a

game victory at first call for trainer Christophe Clement. By Langfuhr, the

well-bred juvenile colt has a promising future.

A Look Ahead

The Grade 3 Discovery Handicap for sophomores on Saturday is the lone graded

event this weekend.