Aqueduct Notebook

AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK

APRIL 10, 2014

by John Mucciolo

A quartet of big graded races was held at Aqueduct on Saturday, which

included a fine showing by a budding Kentucky Derby contender in the feature.

Wood Memorial S. (G1): Centennial Farms' WICKED STRONG (Hard Spun)

started picking up momentum in early stretch and powered home late in a

sensational closing performance for trainer Jimmy Jerkens. The sophomore colt

was 3 1/2 lengths clear under the line after running 1 1/8 miles in 1:49 1/5

with Rajiv Maragh.

Carter H. (G1): Vincent Scuderi's homebred DADS CAPS (Discreet Cat)

sped to the lead at the start, put away his main face foe who pressed him to the

top of the lane, and then held off all comers in pulling off the upset for

trainer Rudy Rodriguez. The four-year-old colt won by 1 1/2 lengths under Luis

Contreras and finished off seven panels on the fast main surface in 1:22.

Gazelle S. (G2): Mathis Stable LLC's MY MISS SOPHIA (Unbridled's Song)

took control soon after the break and was never challenged throughout in posting

a facile 7 1/4-length romp beneath Javier Castellano. The unbeaten sophomore

filly was widening late and stopped the teletimer for nine furlongs in 1:50 2/5

for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Bay Shore S. (G3): Fox Hill Farm's COUP DE GRACE (Tapit) geared up for

the stretch drive early in the lane and got the best of a close photo to pick up

his first stakes win for trainer Chad Brown. The sophomore colt clocked seven

panels on the fast main oval in 1:23 in winning by a nose under Javier

Castellano.

Track Stats

A total of 48 races were held over the main oval at the Jamaica, New York

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

choices combining for 56 percent of the wins during the week. Fourteen races

were won in wire-to-wire fashion (29 percent). There was no turf racing this

week.

Speed on the main surface was surely much better in the early stages of the

week through Friday, with 10 wire-to-wire winners from 27 races. We thought the

oval changed and played differently on Saturday and Sunday, when horses a few

lengths off the rail seemed to have a decent advantage, in our view. Especially

on Sunday when two prohibitive favorites weakened after having clear leads along

the inside, tiring noticeably late.

A total of 26 of the 27 races from Wednesday-through-Friday were won by

horses with post positions from 1-to-6, but outside runners had a much better

chance over the weekend, bagging five races over those two days while traveling

wide throughout.

Meet Totals

RACES:		92
TURF:		0
DIRT:		92
FAVORITES:		36 (45 percent)
2ND CHOICES:		20 (20 percent)
TURF WIRE:		0 (0 percent)
DIRT WIRE:		28 (32 percent)

HORSES TO WATCH

Wednesday (4/2)

4TH -- J TO THE CROFT (Curlin) shot to the lead soon after the break, was

hounded nearly every step of the way but never wavered in posting a courageous

head victory at first asking for Steve Klesaris. The sophomore colt beat his

elders in a useful final time and should be very tough right back with a trip

where he sees less pressure. He's also bred to run longer.

Thursday (4/3)

4TH -- MAGGIE'S LAD (Freud) was always in the mix from the start and took

command in the lane en route to a very nice tally off the layoff for trainer

Thomas Morley. The gelding, who hadn't run since the fall, was claimed by David

Jacobson in what looks like a very bright claim.

6TH -- PETER ISLAND (Tapit) came up just short of the win in his first with

winners, but the Shug McGaughey trainee still ran well enough to be considered

an interesting sophomore prospect going forward.

8TH -- The Linda Rice-trained MARRIEDTOTHEMUSIC (Disco Rico) was awesome in

this endeavor, blowing this field out of the water soon after the start, The

four-year-old colt has been consistently good and should be stakes bound next

out after this performance, where he finished off six panels in a wicked 1:08

4/5.

Friday (4/4)

3RD -- We always knew SALUTOS AMIGOS (Salute the Sarge) had some run in him

and he delivered in a big way in his debut for David Jacobson, rolling home a

daylight winner over starter allowance foes. The four-year-old surely responded

to the barn change in this dash and could be any kind going forward.

6TH -- In his best race to date, EYE LUV LULU (Pollard's Vision) swept to the

front in early stretch and never looked back in making pretty short work of a

very promising field under Jose Ortiz. The gelded sophomore has never been

better and should be stakes bound after this run for trainer Carlos Martin.

8TH -- PARC MONCEAU (Giant's Causeway) tracked the pace setter to early

stretch and simply overpowered that one in the lane en route to a superb

allowance tally for conditioner Michael Hushion. The four-year-old filly toppled

a pair we liked some coming into the race and appears to be rounding into a peak

form cycle.

Saturday (4/5)

10TH -- SCHIVARELLI (Montbrook) attended the swift early pace and hung in

there well in his route and stakes debut for Eddie Kenneally. The lightly raced

sophomore colt appears to have a real nice future in front of him.

12TH -- CAPTAIN SERIOUS (Successful Appeal) tracked the pace while wide,

moved into contention turning for home and ran down the clear early leader in

posting a fine debut tally for Hushion. The three-year-old gelding came home in

a solid time and after being behind an average early tempo, and this might be a

nice one with expected improvement.

Sunday (4/6)

8TH -- Multiple Grade 1 vixen PRINCESS OF SYLMAR (Majestic Warrior) returned

to the races in a big way with this convincing stakes run for Todd Pletcher. The

exquisite four-year-old looks to have picked up where she left off last season

and is an exciting one to track in 2014.

WEDDING TOAST (Street Sense) also ran a nice one off the layoff for Kiaran

McLaughlin and was not shamed in bowing to a superstar, while finishing more

than four lengths clear of her nearest foe. The Grade 3 victress could also have

a nice year in front of her with expected progression.

A Look Ahead

There are no graded races carded for the upcoming week of racing at Aqueduct.