AQUEDUCT – 10/14/22
RACE 1: 6-2-1/1A-3
#6 INFLATIONARY went for 425k at auction, mainly because of his sire, Into Mischief, given the modest dam side pedigree. He draws an ideal outside post position and is apparently training forwardly for Chad Brown. The experienced runners are hardly dominant and that makes this colt’s task that much easier.
RACE 2: 2-1-7-4
#2 SHE’S A BLACK BELT is dangerous given her early speed and the likelihood there will still be some moisture in the surface. She has been good on both dry and wet surfaces and gets some needed class relief here after facing 25k sellers last time out. Look for aggressive tactics to be employed today.
RACE 3: 5-4-2-8
While there’s no doubt that #4 FRANK’S ART is the one to beat on paper, the interesting entrant is #5 SHINSUN. He ran a bang-up race on debut to break his maiden and followed it up with two solid runs upstate. The pace was slow in his last start, and he made a prolonged outside move during a time when saving ground was important. OFF THE TURF: TBD
RACE 4: 1-6-5-2
When the experienced runners fail to excite, it’s the right time to try a first time starter. That is #1 CICCIOBELLO,who debuts for Derek Ryan after training actively at Monmouth. He is by 9% debut sire Bellamy Road and is the 2ndfoal to race out of a dam who won on debut. There’s reason to believe he can be ready and he’ll be a square price.
RACE 5: 6-1-9-5
The pace scenario in here should really work in the favor of #6 SPACE LAUNCH. He exits a good runner-up finish going 11 panels where he stalked from the outset, and a similar forwardly placed trip seems likely today. He clearly has some affinity for this oval too, given his 3-3 record in the exacta.
RACE 6: 6-4-8-1
#6 INTERPOLATE ran into eventual Grade I winner Chocolate Gelato on debut when this daughter of Into Mischief wound up 4th after encountering some traffic trouble. She should be dangerous with a cleaner trip and there’s no doubt she’ll benefit from having experience. The rivals in here will have to step up if this gal improves.
RACE 7: 10-9-6-1
The class drop for #10 ZUZUDINI makes him interesting, as he has faced significantly better competition in recent starts. This is the proper class level, and he gets a useful weight break as well with the bug boy astride. The quicker they go early, the better for this late-running son of Bernardini.
RACE 8: 8-4-1-10
The workout report on #8 ZELDA makes her very interesting. She has been training very strongly with a variety of runners from the Christophe Clement barn and is clearly benefitting from being in North America. She is going to have a late kick based on prior outings overseas and there’s some pace signed up in here.
RACE 9: 4-1-12-8
#4 LADY FIREFOOT is the one to catch as she gets back to the lawn for Pat Reynolds. She received an abysmal ride two starts back when 6th at 9/2 against much tougher competition. You had to save ground that week on the inner turf and Javier Castellano had her 3-4 wide the entire trip. If she can get the lead today, she is a major threat to go the distance.