With turf racing now out of the way for a while, Aqueduct focus on the main track for the remainder of the year and then some. A total of nine races are scheduled to be run on this Saturday, headlined by the six furlong New York Stallion Series, for two year old fillies.
1st race: 1 Mile. ™‘MC 25000 FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE:
Dynamite Kitten (#7) – That last race was just too bad to be completely accurate, but just two weeks after, trainer Kimmel drops him to the bottom, looking for some salvage value. Cohen still is up his saddle, somewhat of a confidence booster for those playing him.
Youmakemeblush (#10) – 0 for 7 and four second place finishes are not what you call numbers you can rely on when betting, this is why I relegated him to second choice. Jockey Luis Reyes is starting to figure out things in the Big A, and should win consistently in this meeting.
Got the Gist (#9) – He is coming back from a long layoff (a year to be exact). Has been working consistently since September and the group is weak enough that he can be a force to be reckoned with, despite the long stay in the bench.
2nd race: 1 Mile. Clm 20000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
It’s All Relevant (#8) – Climbing up the ladder after a solid win is one of my favorite angles, and trainer Domenic Schettino scores at a 44% with claim repeaters. He should be forwardly placed from the bell and Dylan Davis stays on him.
Zabaione (#2) – Not much of a winning machine, with just 3 wins in 26 lifetime starts. Nevertheless, he has been facing much tougher horses, and now, coming back from a six-month rest, drops to the claimer ranks. He is been working steadily since October, so at least we know he is fit enough to withstand the works. Reylu Gutierrez hits at a 24% clip paired with H. James Bond.
Daddy D T (#3) – That last race was pretty bad and now Linda Rice drops him to more than half of the price he was risked for, and half of what she paid for him. Not good signals at all, but she excels at this kind of movement (33%), and chooses to stay with Junior Alvarado, and they hit together at a 29% clip.
3rd race: 6 Furlongs. NYStlnSrsB150K New York Stallion Series S. Purse $150,000 FOR FILLIES TWO YEARS OLD ELIGIBLE FOR THE NEW YORK STALLION STAKES.
Sassy Agnes (#4) – Three straight wins, all of them in stakes races, and she has shown she does not need the lead at all costs to be effective. She reminds me a lil bit about another great filly trained by Linda Rice, La Verdad. Junior Alvarado takes over from Jose Ortiz, who is campaigning at Gulfstream.
Forgotten Hero (#5) – Sharp debut win, she was much the best against a very tough group of maidens. Now climbs the ladder, and, although she needs to improve on that debut run, there is still upside potential with this filly.
L.A. Page (#2) – She has had problems at the start in both of her races, but she is talented, and if she can have a clean start, she can be dangerous coming from off the pace. You know there will be a hot pace in this race, so she will have the table set for her run.
4th race: 6 Furlongs. MC 30000 FOR MAIDENS, TWO YEARS OLD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Marble Moon (#10) – In these kind of races, any modification you made can be the difference maker. This horse debuted just two weeks ago, and didn’t run that bad. Now his trainer puts blinkers on him, looking for a more focused animal from the gate, and Dylan Davis repeats in the saddle.
Bret’s Legacy (#4) – That debut run on July 27 is more than enough to win in this soft group. However, there are questions lingering with him, and after some just average breezes, he drops to the maiden claiming ranks. Franco keeps the assignment for trainer Michelle Nevin.
Oh K Funnybone (#6) – Beat my favorite in his most recent start, and he can be long gone from that number six post. Michael Luzzi will be trying to go wire to wire, and, as I always tell you, there are no big late rallies in these races.
5th race: 6 Furlongs. Clm 40000n2L FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD
Parlapiano (#4) – I like the steady progression from this filly, who drew the outside post in her last arce and was wide all over the race. Reylu Gutierrez is on a hot streak lately and I expect him to send her to a garden spot trip, which enables her to inhale them late in the stretch.
Votre Coeur (#6) – She lost an impossible race in her most recent start, should be tough to beat if she repetas that effort. The problem is that a 1 for 20 lifetime record is not something we can rely on for consistency.
New Year’s Wish (#3) – The speediest of this bunch, now dropping to her lowest level ever, if she can have a clear lead of the blocks, she can be a tough cookie to chew. Linda Rice on the drop is deadly, but a very slow work in preparation leaves us wanting more.
6th race: 6 Furlongs. Mdn 68k FOR MAIDENS, TWO YEARS OLD.
Haikal (#5) – Got off two steps slow in his debut and flew on the outside in the stretch to just miss a nearly impossible win. Jose Ortiz was riding him on that race, now is Rajiv Maragh who takes the call, and he and Mc Laughlin pair at a 27% clip.
Mine the Coin (#3) – Showed nice zip out of the gate in his debut and stayed well until 50 yeards from home, in which the winner and my favorite engulfed him. Now gets Lasix, a better post and that race under his belt.
American Mandate (#2) – Two second place finishes in three starts, and the winner of that last race was gamely defeated in an allowance event at Gulfstream last week. Has three breezes in preparation and will operate from the always-coveted garden spot.
7th race: 6 Furlongs. OC 40000b FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Benevolence (#10) – Extremely consistent hard knocker, with a win, a second and a third in his last three efforts in this same group. Cancel knows him well and will make his presence felt on the stretch. Two of his four wins have come at the Big A.
Morning Breez (#9) – Of the speedsters in the race, he is the one that I like most. Was a step slow in his next to last race, against similar company, and his last one was on the turf, which should help him getting fitter for this one. Manny Franco takes the call back.
Candid Desire (#6) – Returns to where he belongs after a failed try at a state bred stakes race. Now Servis drops him back to run against horses in which he has been very competitive. Before that last effort, had been claimed three times in a row, so trainers have liked what they have seen from him.
8th race: 6½ Furlongs. Alw 70000n1x FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Cerretalto (#4) – Its encouraging to see him race relatively close to his last effort. This horse has been subject to many rests, apparently, he is not a completely healthy individual, but talent is there, and that last race puts him right in the thick of it for all the marbles. Should get a very live pace to run at.
Aveenu Malcainu (#11) – Returning to where he feels more comfortable running, he had no business competing against Audible. In this group, and at six and a half furlongs, close to his preferred seven-furlong trip, he is a main threat for the win.
Bon Raison (#1) – He is also getting a dose of reality, getting back to a group in which he should be competitive. The rail has not been the place to be lately, but he does not have to go to the lead, as he is able to attack from just off the pace. Comes from firing a bullet last week in preparation for this race.
9th race: 6½ Furlongs. Clm 12500 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
Dancetrack (#11) – Finger Lakes shipper, easy winner of his last race up north. At one moment, this horse was well thought off, as one of his trainers was Bill Mott. Obviously, things did not pan out as expected, but in this group, you don’t need to be a world beater to be successful, so let’s roll the dice at the finale.
Real Creel (#7) – Doesn’t show on the past performances that he has run in the dirt, but judging from his record, he should fit right into this group. Is interesting that leading jockey Manny Franco choses to ride him instead of the probable favorite.
Avast Matey (#8) – Returning from a seven month hiatus, he takes a cutback to a distance much more suitable for his means. He should be in contention from the start and Ryerson scores high first off the claim (28%, +0.78 ROI).