AQUEDUCT – 4/23/22
RACE 1: 3-5-1-2
It is always tough to figure out how to handle horses like #3 FORWARDLY, who get horribly over bet because of their trainer. This son of Twirling Candy was given an incredibly passive ride last time out and was rolling late. He gets Lasix here and a more forwardly placed trip would help his cause.
RACE 2: 1-6-7-5
If the same racetrack is in play Saturday afternoon that we had Thursday and Friday, then #1 AWESOME INDRA will be impossible to beat. It was a very strong inside each of those two days and that carried speed in each and every race. This mare is in top form and should be loose early in here.
RACE 3: 8-3-1-6
#8 BARKIN was bet down to 4/5 in the Ticonderoga last year at Belmont and wound up coming up short. This is a great spot to knock some rust off for her 2022 debut and she should be a strong late player today. The competition she meets here is considerably weaker than what she did last fall across town.
RACE 4: 7-3-4-1
It seemed to take #7 SNICKET forever to break her maiden, then to get her second win and she now bids for two straight scores. She has been in very good form since relocating to the barn of Dave Duggan and she drew favorably outside the other pace types. The concern is whether the rail will be as strong as it was in recent days.
RACE 5: 4-3-9-1
Jockey Eric Cancel put on a master class in how not to ride a turf sprinter aboard #4 COTTON last time out. He dragged this gelding back early and found repeated trouble around the half-mile pole. The key to turf sprints is being forwardly placed, especially with horses who have speed. Look for a more alert beginning under the bug boy today.
RACE 6: 4-6-8-9
#4 EDDIE THE GREAT has a terrific dam side pedigree for turf being out of Freudie Anne, a 6x turf winner who was stakes caliber. This colt is by Munnings, a 11% turf debut sire and looks to have the speed to be involved early. This race is crying out for a price type and this guy looks like the right one to try.
RACE 7: 3-6-5-7
#3 LIBERTY FLAME has run two very solid races to begin her career and appears to be headed for graduation today. She had the misfortune of running into a buzz saw on debut in Cupid’s Heart and wound up a game second before racing along a slow rail last time off the bench.
RACE 8: 2-1-4-7
It appears as if #2 BARESE will be tough to handle here on the quick return, class drop and cutback in distance. This Mike Maker trainee is a perfect 3-3 against NY breds and should be hard to hold off late. There’ senough pace to set things up for him late.
RACE 9: 7-4-6-2
After getting a poor ride on debut, #7 MASETA put it all together to win his next start then fared well enough against stakes company here at Aqueduct. He gets a massive rider change and should be forwardly placed in a race with confirmed speed. That might give him the jump on the later runners.
RACE 10: 5-4-1-7
What to do in a race with no turf form? #4 SHARP SENSATION at least has some dam side turf pedigree in the second family and was entered for the green on debut. He is by a negative turf influence, but it may not take much to contend for top honors in this field.
