Aqueduct Notebook

AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK

FEBRUARY 15, 2007

by Bernard T. Moore

Just a brief reminder to all that Aqueduct will conduct a live racing

on Monday in celebration of the President's Day holiday. The

feature race will be the Fred "Cappy" Capossela S. for three-year-olds

at six furlongs. The track will be dark the following Wednesday, with live

racing scheduled to return on Thursday.

Jockey Mike Luzzi, taking full advantage of an inside speed bias that was

evident over the Aqueduct inner dirt track on Saturday, guided the Rick

Violette-trained SUMMER DOLDRUMS (Street Cry [Ire]) to a smashing 5 1/4 length

victory in the Whirlaway S. Breaking from the rail, Summer Doldrums vied for

command with Sports Town (Belong to Me) as the field made its way around the

first turn. The two rivals continued to battle heads apart for the lead down the

backstretch, with little to chose between the two runners as they turned into

the stretch. Eventually, Summer Doldrums began to edge away from his pace

nemesis nearing the furlong marker, and proceeded to add to his lead, crossing

the finish line more than five lengths in front in an impressive daylight score.

Sports Town lost the pace battle, and a runner-up finish as well, weakening

noticeably in the final yards as Sir Whimsey (Jump Start) closed belatedly to

take down the place. Lawrence the Roman (Point Given), who was pounded at the

mutuel windows from the opening bell, was merely a shell of his former self as

the odds-on 1-2 favorite. He was equipped with front bandages for the first time

as he flashed his usual early speed, remaining within striking distance of the

leaders until the far turn. Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., Lawrence the Roman

subsequently proceeded to give ground willingly, and wound up finishing a

well-beaten fifth in a puzzling showing.

BECKY'S FLUTE (Parade Ground) rallied determinedly in the final yards to post

a head decision in the Dat You Miz Blue S. on Sunday. Settling at the

back-pack-of the pack, the Bernardo Callejas trainee found her best stride

leaving the far turn. She was angled off the inside for her stretch bid and

closed strongly under apprentice rider to Jesus Ponce to annex her second

consecutive victory without blinkers. Cordilleran Ice (Silver Ghost), overcoming

traffic problems around the far turn, rallied strongly along the inside in the

stretch to just miss in a sharp effort. Love Cove (Not for Love), who broke her

maiden in her prior outing, was a forward factor from the outset. She continued

to finish willingly between runners in the stretch and was a close-up third.

City in the Clouds (Good and Tough) made a bid outside of runners around the far

turn, but lacked the necessary response when called upon and finished sixth as

the 9-5 betting favorite.

Also the on the Sunday card was the Correction H., which was originally

scheduled to be run on February 4. MAGNOLIA JACKSON (Cape Canaveral) set a

controlled pace along the inside after breaking from the rail and held on

gamely in the stretch to post a 1 3/4-length victory. Yolanda B. Too (Two Punch),

who was cutting back to a sprint, was forced to steady a bit approaching the far turn.

She closed widest and best of all in the stretch to take down the place, but was

never a threat to the winner. Towering Escape (Giant's Causeway) saved ground throughout, and

finished evenly late to get the show.

The inner dirt track was basically honest when racing returned on Wednesday.

Speed held a pronounced edge on Thursday, and it remained that way thru Sunday.

There was no detectable path bias to begin the week. That changed

dramatically on Thursday, as the inside paths were advantageous and continued to

be to hold a decided edge thru the weekend.

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (2/7)

6TH - MAJESTIC JOY (Raffie's Majesty) turned in a much-improved effort while dropping and

racing over a fast track. Chased a quick early pace and carried his speed much

farther while finishing third. This stamina-building effort should set him up

perfectly for his next start against $35,000 New York-bred maiden claimers.

9TH - SOUTHERN CREEK (Montbrook) recorded a good third-place finish adding blinkers for

a new barn. Set a quick and pressured pace, and subsequently gave ground

grudgingly to the odds-on winning favorite. Will need some time to recoup this

lifetime best effort.

Thursday (2/8)

1ST - LIGHTNING STRIPES (Candy Stripes) closed well against the grain of an

inside speed track while hampered by a modest pace scenario as well. This

nine-year-old gelding loves the inner dirt, and he needs only a better setup to

get back on the winning track.

6TH - MARITAL ASSET (A.P. Indy) was probably best in his two-turn debut

effort off a five-week rest. Raced wide virtually every step of the way.

Finished gamely to miss by just a scant nose to a wire-to-wire winner who saved

ground throughout on a "live" rail.

Friday (2/9)

3RD - HESABULLY (Hesabull) posted a useful comeback effort in a sprint, his

first start for

trainer Bruce Levine. Raced evenly chasing a modest pace over a speed-biased

track. Expect to see him stretch out in subsequent starts, as he was at his best

in middle distance contests in 2006.

6TH - WALK THE CATWALK (Tactical Cat) offered a much-improved effort facing $25,000

maiden claimers around two turns. Clearly second best chasing a wire-to-wire

winner who "freaked" over a speed-favoring track in a race that was fast

throughout. Should have gained useful conditioning from this race.

Saturday (2/10)

7TH - WALLY WORLD (Prime Timber) apparently regressed off a career best

effort in his prior start while facing winners for the first time. Raced over the

deeper part of the track while chasing a slow early pace and came up empty when

called upon. He is obviously capable of much better.

8TH - Sports Town registered a reditable third-place finish while

stepping up into a stakes contest, his initial effort beyond six furlongs.

Yielded the place in deep stretch after disputing fast fractions. Has a license

to move forward off his first race around two turns.

Sunday (2/11)

2ND - THE CITY (City Zip) was clearly second-best in his well bet/well meant

career debut. Held well chasing the early pace carved out by a more experienced

and "fitter" wire-to-wire winner. Should have derived beneficial conditioning

from this outing and is bred to win early in his career.

7TH - FAST AND FURIOUS (Artax) regressed badly off a career best effort in

his prior start while stretching out in distance. Sat in perfect stalking

position down the backstretch, but came up empty around the far turn. Her best

efforts thus far have been around one turn.