AQUEDUCT 4/8/23
RACE 2- TURF ONLY
10- CENTRAL SPEED- Ran well when 3rd in first career start at the state bred filly Sp. Wt. level in October. Showed speed and faltered inside the final furlong as the favorite in second start at the same level three weeks later. Tried the seven furlong, NY Stallion Stakes over a muddy track in third career start, where she was involved in a contested pace until the five-sixteenths, before stopping abruptly and being essentially eased through the stretch when last raced 12/17. Moves to the turf in this six furlong state bred filly Sp. Wt. for her first start in nearly four months and this filly has a solid turf sprint pedigree. Should get a good jump out of there with her outer post and expected marked improvement makes her a serious danger in here.
Exotics with-
A- 6- Loon Cry, 7- Lady Laoban
1- Mz Big Bucks, 4- Stolen Future
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RACE 3
1- CAPELLA- Passed the two turn test in first two career starts when taking career debut as the favorite in a filly Sp. Wt. going one mile on Turfway’s synthetic in December, followed by a game score over 1x optional claimers at the same track and trip at odds on in second start in February. Came to NY for the Busher going the one turn flat mile here in March, where she tracked inside, came under a ride on the turn and would put in a solid inside run in the final furlong to finish a decent 3rd. In that race, she never appeared to be completely comfortable with the muddy surface or racing on the inside, while surrounded by horses, and taking kickback. Although she continued inside into the stretch to make a nice inside rally, she was clear of other horses in the stretch run, which was not the case for the first four and a half furlongs when in and behind horses. Will stretch back out to two turns for today’s 1 1/8 miles Gazelle and a dry track will help. The rail draw should have her forwardly placed out of the gate by Carmouche and she is a strong threat in here.
Exotics with-
A- 5- Occult, 6- Shidabhuti
B- 3- Frosty O Toole
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RACE 5- TURF ONLY
3- BILOXI BLUES- Finished a well beaten 3rd in a filly Sp. Wt. going six furlongs in first career outing here in November. Made her second start in Florida and had a tough go into the first turn when she was in tight, while also carried wide into the first turn, before she put in a late outside run to finish a close 3rd in a 3 year old filly Sp. Wt. going 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream in January. Raced outside and came up empty in a 5th place run at the same level and distance in third start in latest 2/26. Returns to NY for McGaughey and she will go on the grass for the first time in this one mile Sp. Wt. for 3 and up fillies. Feels like she’s been turf meant all along and the one mile should be right in her wheelhouse. With those three dirt races under her, she now has the seasoning for the switch to turf and she should run big in this spot.
Exotics with-
A- 1Entry- Monetize It/Utilization Rate, 4- Zappera
B- 2- Bollinger
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RACE 6
2- GILMORE- Cruised home an easy winner against Sp. Wts. going one mile at Los Alamitos in second career start when last raced on dirt in December. Has since run 2nd in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate and had nothing when it mattered in a 6th place finish in the Battaglia at Turfway in most recent. Both those races were routes run over synthetic surfaces and this colt will get back to a dirt surface today for the first time since that maiden win. Will appreciate getting back on his preferred surface and the seven furlongs he’ll go in here is likely his sweet spot. Should be sitting on a big race in his second start for Walsh, who took over from Baffert after the El Camino, doesn’t appear to be facing any world beaters in here and he should be tough in the Bay Shore.
A- 5- Joey Freshwater, 7- Prove Right
B- 6- Expected Value
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RACE 9- TURF ONLY
3- CAIRONI- Started her career with promise as a 2 year old in 2021 when winning her debut over Sp. Wts. going seven furlongs on the turf, before narrowly missing in a good 2nd place run in the Chelsey Flower at 1 1/16 miles on the grass in second career start. Wasn’t awful to close out that 2 year old season when running on late for 4th as the favorite in the slow paced 1 1/16 miles, Tepin, before going on the shelf for six months. Wasn’t the same horse when she returned off that break, as she was well beaten in five straight at this first level allowance condition, while both routing and sprinting on the turf. Finally came back to life when showing significant improvement in a rallying close 4th going this one mile distance on this course in October, but then was run too long in a 1 3/8 miles turf marathon in last turf try here in November. Her two races on dirt here in January are throw away races and were nothing to lose runs to see if she handled the dirt before putting her away until turf season. Fits well with this field on her best, draws a nice post and she can factor strongly in her return off the freshening, while getting back on the grass today.
Exotics with-
A- 4- Candle, 6- Veronica Greene
B- 2- Expand the Map
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RACE 10- TURF ONLY
6- SNOWY EVENING- Ran a good 2nd behind the winning favorite when going five furlongs on the turf in state bred filly Sp. Wt. company in first career start back in July. Was a non factor in her follow up race at the same level in a turf sprint at Saratoga and was subsequently laid up for six months. Ran for the Pletcher barn in those first two runs and was switched over to Donk at some point during that six month break, who gave her two maintenance runs on the dirt in her first two starts back. Should be tightened up nicely for her return to the turf in this state bred filly Sp. Wt. at six furlongs and if she can get back to that debut run she’ll be a serious threat in here.
Exotics with-
A- 4- Lakeside Getaway, 5- Strictly Taboo
B- 9- Limani, 10- Practical Julia
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RACE 11
13- HIT SHOW- Improving three year old got the ideal trip in winning the Grade 3 Withers over a modest bunch here in February. Although he didn’t beat much that day, he kicked away from the field convincingly going this 1 1/8 miles distance over this track and I think there’s still some room for improvement in this colt. Obviously, the far outside draw is a concern and he’s going to have to work out a trip against a tougher field than he last faced. That said, there still doesn’t appear to be any superstars in here and he’s been training very well out of town for this. Is coming into this amped up and if he overcomes his difficult post he should take care of business in the Wood Memorial.
Exotics with-
A- 5- Slip Mahoney, 9- Crupi
B- 1- Dreamlike, 11- Classic Catch
