Aqueduct Notebook

AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK

NOVEMBER 16, 2005

by Bernard T. Moore

The Red Smith H. (G2) had a single question that begged to be answered. Which

KING'S DRAMA (Ire) (King's Theatre [Ire]) was going to show up on Saturday?

Following an abysmal effort at Woodbine in the Canadian International (Can-G1),

handicappers could not be certain which runner would emerge once the gates

opened. Regardless, the Bobby Frankel-trained runner was bet down to 3-5

favoritism and the five-year-old gelding did not disappoint, winning the

11-furlong marathon grass contest by a decisive 2 1/2 lengths.

With jockey Edgar Prado aboard, the pair stalked the early pace, assuming

command before six furlongs had been completed. King's Drama continued to hold a

tenuous advantage into the stretch, but drew clear late when put to pressure,

annexing his second graded stakes win in 2005. Rousing Victory (Victory Gallop)

closed with a purpose to take down the place by a length over Dreadnaught (Lac

Ouimet). The third-place finisher added blinkers for this event, and raced in

good stalking position down the backstretch. However, he lacked the necessary

response when called upon and could do no better than third.

In a race lacking much in the way of early pace, BANK AUDIT (Wild Rush)

responded well to hustling tactics by jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr. to wire the

field in the House Party S. at Aqueduct on Sunday. The 2-1 second choice in the

wagering, Bank Audit set a pressured early pace before shaking free in the

stretch. She amassed a daylight advantage in midstretch and continued to

increase that lead to score by 4 1/2 widening lengths. Baldomera (Doneraile

Court) was outrun early, but improved her position in the stretch to get second

money over Lilah (Defrere), who finished three parts of a length farther back in

third. The favorite, Ebony Breeze (Belong to Me), never got untracked and

finished a disappointing fourth.

SAINT DAIMON (Saint Ballado), tackling winners for the first time in his

career, cleared that hurdle easily as he defeated five other rivals to win the

Huntington S. Rating off a contentious early pace, the Allen Jerkens-trained

runner benefited from a ground saving trip and engaged the pacesetting Urban Guy

(Marquetry) in midstretch. He eventually slipped thru a narrow opening along the

rail to gain the lead and drew clear by 3 3/4 lengths at the wire. Urban Guy,

who was pressured from the outset while dictating the pace, barely held on for

second by a nose over Justawalkinthepark (Ecton Park), the 9-5 favorite.

Prado now has sole possession of first place in the jockey standings, leading

John Velasquez by three victories. Cornelio Velasquez, Channing Hill and Mike

Luzzi, are third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

Todd Pletcher maintains a single-victory lead over Richard Dutrow Jr. in the

trainer standings. Mike Hushion holds down the third spot with Christophe

Clement and Linda Rice completing the top five.

The main track was slightly speed favoring on Tuesday, and appeared to

continue to flatter runners with early speed when racing resumed on Thursday.

The track seemed to play uniformly on Friday and Saturday, with an edge to early

speed types on Sunday.

Closers did best over the turf course on Tuesday. However, the grass course

appeared basically bias free the rest of the week.

There did not appear to be any discernible path biases all week.

HORSES TO WATCH

Tuesday (11/8)

4TH – AL JOHNSTAN (Dixie Union) finished a troubled third off the layoff.

Stalked a very fast pace down the backstretch and was compromised by a lack of

racing room and an indecisive ride in the stretch. He probably would have been

second with clear sailing and has room to improve off this effort.

5TH – CHARLEVOIX (Boundary) was compromised by a wide trip from an outside

post. Closed gamely in the stretch to narrowly miss vs. a ground saving winning

favorite.

Thursday (11/10)

7TH – DOLL BABY (Citidancer) was caught a bit wide rallying around the far

turn off a layoff. Finished with good energy late to grab the place as the race

quickened late. Should have derived beneficial conditioning from this effort and

prefers to sit closer to the front end.

8TH – GENUINE TRUE (Yes It's True) squandered a daylight lead over a course

playing favorably to stalkers. Laid down lively fractions stretching out to

seven furlongs and just failed to last. May be better suited to shorter sprints

in subsequent starts off the layoff.

Friday (11/11)

4TH – HOSTESS (Chester House) outran her 20-1 odds making her career debut.

Overcame a wide trip and a outside post to finish with good energy in an

encouraging third-place finish. Lack of education was evident in the stretch and

the juvenile filly should definitely benefit from her initial career experience.

8TH – UPTURN (Distorted Humor) turned in an improved runner-up finish

dropping in for a tag and returning to New York for Dutrow. Clearly second best

chasing home a loose wire-to-wire winner in a race that was fast throughout. Can

progress further off this effort.

Saturday (11/12)

4TH – LAPTOP COMPUTER (Notebook) turned in a creditable fourth-place effort

in her career debut. Held well chasing a very strong pace only to tire slowly in

deep stretch. Hails from a winning family and is bred to win early in her

career.

6TH – CHESTERTOWN SLEW (Seattle Slew) actually "kissed the ground" shortly

after leaving the gate. Virtually eliminated with a very awkward start and raced

"bottled up" toward the inside behind runners against a very deliberate pace. He

was never able to use his fine tactical speed and this effort is a complete

throw out.

8TH – Dreadnaught finished an even third with the addition of blinkers. Sat

close to a pedestrian pace and was unable to sustain his rally in the stretch.

May have lost a step this year, but both graded stakes victories in 2004 came

without the hood on.

Sunday (11/13)

2nd – CALLA LILY (Pulpit) offered a much improved effort in second career

start. Closed willingly to get the place in a swiftly run race. Should continue

to move forward with added distance and may eventually be switched to grass, as

her dam was at her best on turf.

8TH – Justawalkinthepark finished a useful third stepping up and facing

winners off a freshening. Stalked fast fractions on the front end and continued

on well late. May prefer to rate a bit before being asked for his best. Remains

eligible for a preliminary allowance event.