Aqueduct Notebook

AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK

JANUARY 1, 2015

by John Mucciolo

There was no graded action last week on the inner oval at Aqueduct.

Track Stats

A total of 27 races were held over the inner strip at the Long Island, New

York venue, with favorites winning at a 33 percent rate and the top two betting

choices combining for 52 percent of the wins during the week. Ten races were won

in wire-to-wire fashion (37 percent).

Speed took over on this main oval during the weekend, with five wire jobs on

Saturday and four more on Sunday (nine-for-18 overall). Inner posts were also

good as 15 of the 18 races were taken by horses breaking from the innermost

three post positions.

Meet Totals

RACES:		126
DIRT:		126
FAVORITES:		52 (43 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		18 (13 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		33 (23 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Friday (12/26)

2ND -- BEEN HERE BEFORE (Tapit) took the lead at the top of the lane and

cruised home a nice graduate for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. The well-bred filly

looked she could have kept going and rates as a sophomore to watch in 2015.

3RD -- SALUTOS AMIGOS (Salute the Sarge) capped off a fine year of racing

with a big late rally, drawing away from a pretty good field. The David Jacobson

trainee showed vast improvement since arriving to the East Coast and is one of

the better one-turn horses on the grounds.

Saturday (12/27)

5TH -- MAXIMUS MIKE (Tiz Wonderful) unleashed his best run approaching the

stretch and carried it to the wire, drawing off like a good thing. The sophomore

gelding was very impressive from a visual standpoint and will be tough right

back for trainer Gary Gullo.

6TH -- JOHN'S ISLAND (Posse) looked to have too much to do in the lane, but

steadily cut into the clear leader and gamely prevailed late under Angel Arroyo.

The three-year-old gelding has been going fairly well for a bit and should have

a productive four-year-old season with continued growth.

7TH -- SHOTGUN LOVE (Posse) sped from the gate and was clear inside the final

furlong, only to get run down late and finish in third in a good debut run. The

sophomore filly should be a player next time out and should graduate soon for

Dom Schettino.

8TH -- IRSAAL (More Than Ready) was last and wide for much of this one, but

did put in a fine late rally to just miss running down a horse that was well

clear inside the final panel. The McLaughlin trainee will be a major factor with

any type of improvement in his subsequent outing.

Sunday (12/28)

1ST -- We're not sure what she topped in this one, but ROSE QUARTZ (Rock Hard

Ten) surely put on a show in rolling home by more than 20 lengths to break her

maiden in style. The Joe Orseno trainee has to get a look next time following

this display.

3RD -- KATHY'S HUMOR (Justenuffhumor) had little chance running down a clear

winner who is on quite a roll, but the filly made a nice run to be a clear

second under Irad Ortiz Jr. The two-year-old miss could be moving into a nice

form cycle for trainer Richard Violette.

A Look Ahead

There is no graded racing this week at Aqueduct.