Aqueduct Notebook

AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK

DECEMBER 4, 2014

by John Mucciolo

Six graded races headlined the weekend of racing at the Big

A.

Cigar Mile H. (G1): Good Friends Stables' PRIVATE ZONE (Macho Uno) busted out

to the front as the gates opened from his rail position and left little doubt

there after on his way to a powerful five-length romp under Martin Pedroza. The

multiple Grade 1 winner sped a mile on the main oval in 1:34 1/5 for trainer

Alfredo Marquez.

Remsen S. (G2): Klaravich and Lawrence's LEAVE THE LIGHT ON (Horse Greeley)

dueled on the lead to the top of the lane, opened up an edge in the lane and

held on inside the final strides to notch the half-length victory. Piloted by

Jose Ortiz, the juvenile colt finished off nine furlongs on the fast dirt

surface in 1:51 for conditioner Rick Violette.

Demoiselle S. (G2): Michael Dubb et al's CONDO COMMANDO (Tiz Wonderful)

overcame her first defeat in fine fashion when wiring this field by 11 1/2 lengths

beneath Joel Rosario. The Rudy Rodriguez trainee poured it on in the lane in

completing the 1 1/8 miles on the fast main strip in 1:50 2/5.

Fall Highweight H. (G3): Trainer David Jacobson et al's SALUTOS AMIGOS (Salute the

Sarge) began his run approaching the turn for home and inched clear late to post

a 1 3/4-length triumph in this dash under Cornelio Velasquez. The four-year-old,

who toted a hefty 133 pounds, clocked six panels on the sloppy, sealed main oval

in 1:10 3/5.

Go For Wand H. (G3): Joseph V. Shields' homebred CLASSIC POINT (Flatter) tracked

close up early, led in midstretch and gamely held off a stern test late to post

a nose victory under Angel Arroyo. The in-form five-year-old mare traveled one

mile on the good main oval in 1:37 1/5 for trainer Jimmy Jerkens.

Comely S. (G3): Godolphin's homebred SNOWBELL (Tapit) earned the lead

shortly after the break and never looked back en route to a 2 1/4-length score

under the guidance of Luis Saez. Trained by Tom Albertrani, the three-year-old

filly clocked nine panels on the fast main oval in 1:52 2/5.

Track Stats

A total of 47 races were held over Long Island, New York,

venue, with favorites winning at a 36 percent rate and the top two betting

choices combining for 57 percent of the wins during the week. From 46 races on

the main oval, 21 animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (46 percent), while lone

race on the lawn was taken all the way on the front (100 percent).

The main track was good for front runners all week, but

ridiculously good over Saturday and Sunday. During those two afternoons of

racing, 13 of the 18 races were taken in wire-to-wire fashion. In total for the

week which pronounces the bias even more to us, of the 21 wire jobs, 14 of those

came in races at a mile or longer.

Meet Totals

RACES:		234
DIRT:		192
TURF:		42
FAVORITES:		81 (35 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		52 (22 percent)
TURF WIRE:		9 (21 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		51 (27 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (11/26)

3RD -- MAWTHOOQ (Distorted Humor) makes this list again

after graduating in style for conditioner Kiaran McLaughlin. The $850,000

juvenile colt left little doubt in drawing off by more than 10 lengths, and he

looks like a fine prospect going forward.

Thursday (11/27)

2ND -- OVERWARE (Awesome Again) showed speed, dropped back

in early stretch and came again in a spotty, but productive first offering for

conditioner Chad Brown. The juvenile colt should get a lot out of this one and

looms large next time -- on the main oval or the lawn.

5TH -- MOSLER (War Front) comes back to the watch list after

this strong allowance tally for trainer Bill Mott. The sophomore colt pressed

the pace, took a slight edge at the top of the lane and was mostly clear through

the lane under Joel Rosario.

Friday (11/28)

4TH -- Trainer Linda Rice may have made a nice claim of

RICHIE'S RICH (Forestry) out of this one as the juvenile colt was a fine

runner-up, clear of his nearest foe by more than eight lengths, in this dash.

Tab this one to graduate before long with some expected improvement.

9TH -- PRINCESS VIOLET (Officer) broke slowest of all and

had a wide trip for most of this affair, and still the Mike Hushion trainee fell

just a nose short while well clear of third. The sophomore filly could be a fine

performer heading into and through 2015.

10TH -- We're not exactly sure what was in this field, but

EVEN BETTE (Stephen Got Even) was last after the opening half mile and flew

home, drawing off by more than five lengths under the wire in a fine first-out

performance for conditioner Bruce Levine. The sophomore could be almost any kind

going forward.

Saturday (11/29)

9TH -- FROSTED (Tapit) may have run the best race in the

field against the speed bias and was eight lengths clear of third in a powerful

try for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. The colt has been improving all the time and

looks like a fine prospect heading into his sophomore campaign.

Sunday (11/30)

4TH -- DICKINSON (Medaglia d'Oro) was not very sharp early,

got put into contention approaching the turn for home and finished with very

good energy in being a clear runner-up for McLaughlin. The juvenile miss appears

to be one who could prosper going longer and is surely one to keep an eye on.

A Look Ahead

There is no graded racing this week at Aqueduct.