AQUEDUCT 3/25/23
RACE 3
5- BASIC TRUTH- Made easy work of a soft field of 3 year old, 20k maiden claimers going this one mile trip when wiring them in the slop two races back 1/5. Attended the pace from the outside, before tiring badly after five furlongs against 3 year old, 32k claimers going seven furlongs in first try with winners in follow up race 2/9. Stretches back out to one mile and will face some older runners for the first time in this 16k NW2L claimer for 3’s & up. While I think we’ve seen the best of the older horses in here, this lightly raced gelding might have a little room to improve and can rebound from his latest with a big race in this spot today.
Exotics with-
A- 2,6
B- 7
RACE 8
7- DURKIN’S CALL- Has been going well in his latest seven starts, going back to Saratoga. Has retained that good form in his latest four races since being claimed by Baker in November and although he hasn’t won in any of those four starts, he has been consistently putting in solid runs. Likes this 6 1/2 furlong distance and with this gelding being eligible for a few other races on today’s card, this starter allowance for horses who have started for 20k or less in ’22 & ’23 is the spot Baker chooses, likely because of the distance. Should get some pace to run at and he should be moving in the right direction in the final furlong.
Exotics with-
A- 5,10
B- 2,8
RACE 10
7- DUST DEVIL- Tracked inside, moved outside coming to the quarter pole, changed leads at the three-sixteenths and kicked away nicely in a good looking score against 10k claimers going this one mile distance two back 1/22. Was claimed by Noda out of that race, who moved him up to a 20k claimer going seven furlongs, where he would finish with outside mild interest while never changing leads until very late in a ho-hum 5th place finish. Got claimed again out of his latest by G. Rodriguez and he’ll stretch him back out to his best trip at the one turn mile in this starter allowance for horses who have started for 16k or less over the past two years. Appears to be doing well since the claim and if he can improve enough to get back to one of his better races, he’ll factor in the finale.
Exotics with-
A- 4,11
B- 5,10
