Ten races are scheduled for Sunday at the Big A, and two stakes races are set to go; The Grade II Fall Highweight, who was suspended last Sunday, and the Garland of Roses. Let’s go immediately to the comments:
1st race: 6 ½ furlongs. MSW for Fillies, Two year olds.
4-3-1
As I use to do, when I find a race in which the experienced runners haven’t shown much talent, I will gravitate to the first time starters, and this race is no exception. Please (4) debuts with a very solid work tab and she is a daughter of Liam’s Map, who has been doing better with his 2 year olds as time passes. Mark Hennig hits at a 15% clip with 2 year olds and she comes from working a bullet last week. Vigilantes Way (3) seems to be a filly that will be better as the distance increases, being a daughter of Medaglia d’ Oro with Unbridled as a dam sire. But the group she is facing is not that strong, so she can perform nicely in this her first run, for trainer Shug Mc Gaughey. Halo City (1) completes the selection. She didn’t do that bad in her first run, but know she is taking step up in class, lets see what she can do, but she will have to bring up her game to have a chance against the two firsters.
2nd race: 6 furlongs. Claiming $12,500. For Three year olds and upward.
4-6-5
Javelin (4) is a Big A lover, with four of his five wins coming over this track, and now returns to sprint, in which he has performed much better than routing. Julio Correa is a solid jockey and he should try to get good stalking position and from there pounce late. Bootlegger (6) has not run in the main track since March, but his races at that time were good enough to win in better groups. He is not the same horse, but now he has been gelded and the pace scenario should favor him. Manny Franco will be doing the honors for trainer Rudy Rodriguez. The Forty Factor (5) is probably the main speed in this race, and he improved dramatically last time out, carving testing fractions before relinquishing the win. Jockey Declan Carroll will try to go wire to wire with him. The six furlongs is maybe a tad long for him, but with an easy lead, he is dangerous.
3rd race: 1 1/16 Mile (Inner Turf). MSW for Two year olds.
2-3-11
This I’ll Defend’s (2) first grass experience was much better than anticipated. He was part of a hot pace and stayed to lose by a mere three lengths. Now he will stretch to 8.5 furlongs, but the way he ran makes you think he will have no problem with the added real estate. He is one of the quickest in here and from that inside position he should be at or near the lead. Sanctuary City (3) closed very nicely in his bow run, now he will stretch to 8.5 and if he keeps going forward, he is a top contender here. Gets Lasix for the first time. Voliero (11) had some trouble at the start on his debut and then had to close into a moderate pace, falling short by two lengths at 33-1. He will not be near that in this race, and Franco repeats the assignment, although he will have to deal with a very tough starting post.
4th race: The Garland of Roses. 6 furlongs. For Fillies, three year olds and upward.
1-7-2
Pauseforthecause (1) has a definite class edge against this field and she will be watching from close range how the speed duel develops. She is looking for her third win in a row and the six furlongs is right up her alley. Our Circle of Love (7) is the main speed here and will try to clear the field from that very advantageous seven post. She fired a bullet in preparation and Joel Rosario acquires the mount for trainer Michelle Nevin. The big upset in here can be Wildcat Combat (2), a Parx shipper that has been running against very good fillies, Watch out, generally Parx shippers do good at Aqueduct, and her jockey comes from Pennsylvania to ride her.
5th race: 6 furlongs. MSW. For fillies, two year olds.
7-3-4
Dancing Kiki (7) receives a substantial jockey upgrade, from Davis to Rosario. Apart f that, he improved significantly from her debut to her follow up race, and more improvement is likely because of her new jockey and by just being in her third race lifetime. Makingcents (3) is a first time starter from the Jeremiah Englehart barn, who scores at a 22 % rate with debut runners. No world beaters in this race, so if she has some talent, she can score right off the bench. Aubrey Tate (4) has the experience chip in her pocket, with four races already. She has burned some money lately, but Carmouche asks for the mount once again and fired a bullet in preparation.
6th race: OC 62,500. For three year olds and upward (Outer Turf)
7-3-9
I will take a chance with Fortune’s Fool (7). He is making his first intent in the grass, but he is by Arch, a very creditable turf sire and h should be dictating the lace from the gitgo. Carmouche is very good with speedy horses. Morning Breez (3) drops for a tag after failing as the favorite in his two most recent starts. Group now should be somewhat easier and should be part of that first flight, just behind my favorite. If a scorching pace develops, look for Pulsate (9) to come flying late, now with a much better post position that in his last race. Franco up again.
7th race: 6 furlongs. Allowance $75000 1X. For fillies and mares three yea olds and upward.
6-8-4
There is a lot of speed signed in here, so I will look to beat the prohibitive favorite with Lifetime Memory (6), a filly that won at first asking showing good potential. Then she flunked at Keeneland, but that was after a rough start. Christophe Clement’s runners are better with experience, so I will roll the dice in here. Bridlewood Cat (8) won like a champion in her most recent, and the question here is, can she rate and win off the pace? The second place finisher of that race hasn’t won yet, so there is some skepticisms of that race. Newly Minted (4) was soundly beaten as the favorite in her last effort and now drops to this allowance, in a distance more suitable to her style. Cant be overlooked at all.
8th race: 1 1/8 mile. OC 40K/N2X. For three year olds and upward
5-2-7
Rapt (5) has been facing much tougher horses than these, and already has a win at the nine furlong trip. The 10-1 price is juicy enough to take a chance with him, and the relief in class is notable. Should be coming from mid pack on. Control Group (2) was practically eased last time out, but Jason Servis claimed him and he hits at 35% first claim. Returns to the group in which he had been competitive and should be part of that early fray. The nine furlongs is no problem for him, he has five wins in this trip already. Doups Point (7) is a great underneath horse, with five seconds and three thirds in twelve starts, and there is where I put him. Joel Rosario knows him pretty well and will come late in the scene.
9th race: The Grade III Fall Highweight Handicap. 6 furlongs. For three year olds and upward.
4-3-5
Strike Power (4) experimented on the grass, and we pretty much can assure it was hello and goodbye. He just never lifter a hoof. Now returns from a three and a half month layoff with at east six breezes, including a bullet two weeks ago. Should be dictating the pace or very close to it and Franco rides him for the first time. Recruiting Ready (3) is a grizzled old veteran that always gives a good account of himself. With Gaffalione, he has run very well and being inside of my favorite will probably mean that he will be the one commanding the lot on the initial stages. Dangerous of going in a easy lead. Wonderful Light (5) can be the sleeper in here, shipping from Laurel in which he ran well enough in a stakes race and now returns to his preferred trip. Rosario rides.
10th race: 6 ½ furlongs. Maiden Claiming $40,000. For fillies, two year olds.
12-7-3Cazilda Fortytales (12) has been drawing very bad posts in her three lifetime races, now gets an outside post and Lasix for the first time. She should be on a garden spot position to be ready to pounce late. Welsh Gold (7) improved in her most recent, was close to go wire to wire against a similar group. With further improvement, she can get it done here. Cruising Strong (3) completes the selection, she fell just short last time out. Let’s see if the added half a furlong does the trick for her.