AQUEDUCT 3/12/23
RACE 1
3- DASHING DALLA- Broke sluggishly, was a bit head strong coming out of the mile chute, before settling and never factoring in an overall even 4th in a 3 year old filly 40k state bred maiden claimer going this one mile trip in latest 2/12. She wore blinkers for the first time in that race and they’ll leave them on her once again for this state bred 25k maiden claimer for 3 and older fillies. Can definitely improve off that run and any forward move makes her a danger in here. 1- SARAH’S PRIDE- Got bothered at the start which left her trailing, before she put in a mild rally to finish 2nd at this level going 7 furlongs two races back. Took money off that race and didn’t fare well when finishing a well back 6th in an open 20k maiden claimer in latest. Gets back with state breds here and these Persaud trained horses are inconsistent, but have a way of running big in the winter, regardless of what their form looks like. 5- K D KAKES- Has been the beaten favorite in latest two in straight 3 year old filly 25k state bred maiden claimers and did improve when 2nd in latest when stretched out to this one mile trip with blinkers added.
RACE 2
2- GLORY ROAD- Didn’t do a whole lot of running when 5th as the favorite in a 40k claimer at this 7 furlong trip in latest 2/9. Was claimed by Rice out of that race and he was in career form in his 3 prior races to that clunker he threw in last time out. Drops a bit off the claim into a 32k claimer for his new trainer and is in a good spot here to rebound with one of his better races. 3- RISK PROFILE- Was a well beaten 3rd in that same 2/9 race as the top pick in his latest, but ran well when beaten a head in his last try at this 32k claiming level three races back in December. Should be very competitive in this spot today. 4- SEVIER- Comes in from the Mid-Atlantic for Ness and this 26 time winning nine year old knows his way to the winners circle. Obviously, he cannot be ignored.
RACE 3
2- KNOW IT ALL AUDREY- This 4 year old state bred filly has been a different horse since being claimed by Barrera III in September. Finished a nice 2nd behind the solid Venti Valentine in the Bay Ridge for state bred fillies and mares at this one mile distance three races back, before she took a state bred 2x optional claimer at this trip two back. Tracked the leader, took over a brief lead in upper stretch and then weakened in the final furlong to finish 4th when shortened up to 7 furlongs in the Broadway in latest. Stretches back out to one mile for today’s Biogio’s Rose for state bred fillies and mares and that last race should have tightened her up nicely for the move back to one mile. Should be involved from the get go and I expect a big race out of her in here. 3- TIMELESS JOURNEY- Has been strong in her three starts since returning to the dirt three races back in November, which includes scores in a 1x allowance and a 2x optional claimer against open company fillies and mares. Shortens back up to one mile off her win going 1 1/8 miles in her latest and she’s going to be the one to beat in her return to state bred company. 1- MIA BEA STAR- Has held solid form throughout the fall and winter and she’s right in this with one of her top races.
RACE 4
4- CAPTIVATING CARA- Easily wired a field of 16k NW2L claimers going 6 furlongs in her latest 2/11. Has run her best races when involved early and while there is plenty of speed entered here, she doesn’t necessarily have to be in front from the bell. Opts to run in this 25k NW3L claimer, rather than the starter allowance she was scratched out of on Saturday and will go first off the Atras claim in here. Can improve in her first start for the new trainer, should be somewhere close early on with the aggressive Carmouche riding and can run big against these. 3- ICY STARE DOWN- After taking a 1x allowance at Laurel three races back, she found 2x optional claimers a little too tough in her latest two. Comes to NY for Russell for this 25k NW3L claimer and she obviously is a good fit in this softer spot. 2- FANTAIL- Was claimed out of a tiring 5th at this level by a trainer who does well with claims. Backs up a furlong to 6 today and might sit a nice trip just off the speeds on the cutback.
RACE 5
5- ANILEATE- She’s been just kind of spinning her wheels in her latest two down at Laurel, where she was a no threat 4th in a 40k NW2L at 1 1/16 miles in the slop two back in December, before adding blinkers for another ho-hum 4th place finish in a 25k NW2L claimer going one mile in latest. I like that there’s no drop in class by Russell with this filly and it’s quite possible that this filly didn’t care for the off tracks or maybe the surface itself at Laurel. Keeps the blinkers on, should get enough of a pace set up with some stretch out horses expected to be pace factors and she can seriously threaten in here. 3- TIMED OUT- Fought it out gamely down to the wire when beaten a neck in a 25k NW2L claimer going 7 furlongs in latest 2/19. Was claimed by Jeffrey Englehart out of that race and he stretches her out to one mile in this 40k NW2L claimer. She ran well in a nose defeat against tougher 1x allowance runners in her lone try at this one mile trip last winter and though that came on an off track, I don’t see why she won’t handle the added distance on a dry track should that be the case. Should be involved from the start on the stretch out and is a factor today. 7- DESERT DALLIANCE- Drops into this restricted claimer off a tiring 4th against 1x optional claimers going a two turn mile at Parx in her latest, but does have some races on her record that make her a strong threat should she run back to them.
RACE 6
5- THERE BE DRAGONS- Ran two respectable 3rd’s against Sp. Wts. in his first two career starts at Gulfstream in November and Tampa in December, before getting crushed in a Sp. Wt. when brought here for his latest 2/18. Takes a plunge down to this one mile, 20k maiden claimer and while there are always red flags with these types of drops, this is not something Pletcher hasn’t done a bunch of times over the years. Not crazy about him, but this colt should be able to handle this group. 7- PROVEN HOPE- Was a decent 2nd at this 20k maiden claiming level going this one mile distance two races back in January. Got caught in the shadow of the wire when 2nd at this level going 1 1/8 miles in latest 2/12. Will appreciate cutting back to the one mile here and he appears to be the main threat to the heavy favorite. 6- OLD POINT- Came from well out of it to get up for 2nd at this level going 7 furlongs in first run off the Atras claim in his most recent and should be around to get at least a piece of this.
RACE 7
2- WARRIORS REVENGE- Had a minor issue when the rider lost his iron for a few strides shortly after the start, but would go on to win off as much the best against 1x state bred allowance runners going this 6 furlong distance two races back 1/8. Followed that up with a 3rd place finish in his first try at this state bred 2x optional claiming level, where he raced close to the pace, but lacked the needed finishing kick in latest. With a lot of speed entered in this race, the inner draw should allow this horse to sit a nice trip behind any potential pace duel and this consistent gelding can rebound with a big race today. 5- SCILLY CAY- Put in a late rail run to just miss behind his stablemate at this state bred 2x optional claiming number over a sloppy track two back 2/17. Came with a mild outside run for 3rd in an open 2x optional claimer one week ago. Gets back with state breds here and any expected hot pace makes this late runner a serious threat. 3- WRITER’S REGRET- A sharp winner of a state bred 1x allowance on 2/5, he returned to chase and fade when 7th in the slop at this level in latest. Should be better over the expected drier track he’ll get today and can be a part of this.
RACE 8
2- SHASI- Fought it out down the stretch when prevailing narrowly in first career start against 3 year old filly 40k state bred maiden claimers going 6 1/2 furlongs 1/12. Finished mildly when 4th, again going 6 1/2 furlongs, at this 3 year old filly starter allowance condition in first try with winners 2/2. Stretches out to one mile for her third career start and her pedigree suggests that the one mile shouldn’t be an issue. Should be tightened up nicely with the two sprints under her belt and expected improvement makes her a danger in this spot. 6- FRIGID LADY- Was solid in her first two off the Maker claim when taking a 150k maiden claimer going 7 furlongs at Keeneland in October, before she finished a close 2nd in a 2 year old filly starter allowance going 6 furlongs at Churchill in her next start. Those were the last two times she ran on dirt, as she now comes in here off a respectable 2nd and a modest 5th in a pair of 3 year old filly 1x optional claimers on synthetic at Turfway. Should appreciate getting back on the dirt in this 3 year old filly starter allowance at one mile and she is clearly the one to beat. 8- PEBBLE LANE- Comes out of the same starter allowance on 2/2 as the top pick, where she was a decent 2nd in her first start for Duggan. Not convinced the mile distance is what she wants, but if she stays the trip she can factor.
RACE 9
10- PAUCILOQUENT- Broke slowly and was a bit green in her first start when finishing 4th in a 3 year old filly state bred 40k maiden claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs in January. This is likely a little tougher 40k state bred maiden claimer than her first start for the simple fact that this is open to 3 and older fillies, while the debut was restricted to 3 year olds. Nonetheless, this is still a soft spot and any expected improvement out of this filly off that debut run puts her squarely in this. 5- LAOCHI- Just missed at this level two back, before leading for a half mile and sputtering through the stretch in a state bred filly Sp. Wt. at 7 furlongs when going first time off the Rice claim in latest. The drop back down and the cutback to 6 furlongs makes her an obvious strong contender in here. 1- QUEENS OVER THREES- Tired badly when tried in a state bred Sp. Wt. last time out. Drops back down today and could very well be the speed from the inside. If she runs back to her game 2nd place finish two races back when at the 3 year old filly 40k state bred maiden claiming level then she could be dangerous. 11- SUPER PRINCESS- Makes career debut for Barrow, who can have them ready at first asking. Obviously, she isn’t facing much in here and she need not be a star to factor right away in this spot.
