Aqueduct Notebook

AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK

JANUARY 16, 2014

by John Mucciolo

There was no graded action this week at Aqueduct.

Track Stats

A total of 37 races were held over the inner oval at the Jamaica, New York

venue, with favorites winning at a 30 percent rate and the top two betting

choices combining for 59 percent of the wins during the week. From 37 races on

the main oval, 11 animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (30 percent).

Speed was pretty dominant through Thursday and Friday, with eight runners

leading at every call through 18 races (44 percent). The oval appeared to have

changed some over the final two days of racing, with more closers and horse

traveling wide coming home, some of them emphatically. We'd focus on stalkers

and closers early on this week to see if the trend continues.

This oval does get pretty streaky, so if speed is holding up early, it often

carries throughout the card. And the same could be said about late runners, if

they are dominating the running in the early races on any particular day.

Of the 11 wire jobs this past week -- eight were in sprint runs and the other

trio came at two turns.

Inner Meet Totals

RACES:		191
FAVORITES:		61 (32 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		53 (27 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		43 (21 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (1/9)

3RD -- S'MAVERLOUS (Tiz Wonderful) put in a big run from off the pace and

nearly got to the winner in a fine runner-up showing for conditioner Chad Brown.

The four-year-old colt came home in a swift :23 1/5 and should only improve

after having been unraced since the spring.

8TH -- HOT SPLASH (Sunriver) took command with a big move in early stretch

and poured it on late, posting a convincing 11-length romp today for trainer

Jason Servis. The five-year-old mare got her final five-sixteenths in a strong

:31 and will be very tough right back with anything close to this effort.

Friday (1/10)

2ND -- BARATTI (Medaglia d'Oro) led early and put this group away in the lane

in a fine maiden-breaking tally under Mike Luzzi. The sophomore colt came home

well under moderate urging and could develop into a good one with further

progression.

GOODNEWSISNONEWS (Giant's Causeway) had no chance with the winner but did run

best in the lane to be a clear second, and a step forward should see this one

graduate before long, especially when stretching out, for Todd Pletcher.

Sunday (1/12)

6TH -- RIVERESSED (Sunriver) had a tough post, a poor break and a somewhat

wide trip throughout, but the four-year-old filly was in the mix throughout in a

good second-place effort for Chris Englehart. We'll tab this one to get the job

done before long.

Monday (1/13)

2ND -- SCHIVARELLI (Montbrook) took aim at a clear leader in the lane and

gamely wore that one down to secure a fine debut score for conditioner Eddie

Kenneally. The sophomore colt also overcame a tough start and we like the

professional manner in which he closed in under Cornelio Velasquez.

6TH -- TAPITATION (Tapit) broke slowest of all from the rail and looked very

green in the early stages of this race, but the Kenneally pupil got into rhythm

approaching the turn for home and finished well to be second behind a dominant

winner, 2 1/2 lengths clear of his nearest foe. The three-year-old is bred to

run longer and we like him going forward.

A Look Ahead

There is no graded action this weekend at the "Big A."