AQUEDUCT – 9/25/22
RACE 1: 4-1/1A-6-7
Few clues on offer in the opener, but #4 BLANCHIMENT got off to a poor start on debut and made a middle move before flattening out late. She should improve with experience and comes out of a key race common amongst a few rivals in here.
RACE 2: 1/1A-7-5-6
#1 LAFITTE’S FLEET is the better half of the Kantarmaci entry in this spot as this son of More Than Ready goes 2ndoff a layoff. He drops in class down to the 32k level from a try for 50k and he should be a late player. His stablemate is likely to stay closer and keep things moving on the front end.
RACE 3: 9-6-2-1
#9 MASTEROF THE TUNES got into a heap of trouble last time out getting carried out wide on the first turn. She ended up making up some ground while wide on a surface where saving ground was essential. She should get some pace to run at here and will offer value as the right alternative to the runners from the 7th race on August 14.
RACE 4: 4-5-2-1
#4 RUVIES IN TIME is back against NY breds and finds a way into an ideal spot here. She has been most effective over this oval and should get a fair pace setup this afternoon. While its easy to hold her recent string of defeats against her, the majority of those races came against much tougher, so that’s a viable excuse.
RACE 5: 10-1-6-7
The 12th race from Travers day featured multiple runners in this field, none of which offer much appeal. Thus, #10 RACEY TYPE is interesting as he moves to the care of Steve Asmussen. The dam here was a winner on dirt, but she dropped a turf winner, and the second dam was a turf winner as well. The outside post is perfect given that he’ll try to stalk and pounce.
RACE 6: 9-1-10-5
The pedigree for #9 PALACE GATE looks a bit worse than that of his rival one door to the inside. The difference comes in workouts, where this colt is reportedly going better than #8 KAW LIGA. No trainer has won with more subpar pedigrees on the lawn than Chad Brown. The alternative on the inside is #1 BAIE LONGUE, who ran a game race on debut.
RACE 7: 8-11-5-1
The last race from #8 LUNI SIMA was very strong given the pace of that race. This son of Keen Ice stayed on gamely to the finish and bids to clear this condition going back to a one mile trip. He can handle this distance without issue and is the one to beat given his tactical advantage on #11 ENDOWED.
RACE 8: 3-1-2-8
#3 THISMIGHTBETHEONE is an interesting alternative to the 2-3 finishers from the 3rd race on August 28. This filly was out of the gate poorly then made up some late ground under a terrific ride by Flavien Prat. It was an improved effort for a barn that has heated up as the year has gone on in 2022.
RACE 9: 5-1-2
#5 KIMARI is clearly the one to beat. She was a game winner of the Honorable Miss last time out then skipped the Ballerina. She is drawn ideally on the outside with the pilot under whom she has had the most success throughout her career. Trainer Wesley Ward has her on a path to a BC try at their home base of Keeneland, where she has long run her best races.
RACE 10: 6-2-5-8
#6 MYRISKYAFFAIR faces winners for the first time off a good third place finish last time out at Saratoga. She was in range from the start that day and nearly landed in the exacta. The extra ground should be no issue and she has the tactical speed to stay close. That’s always an advantage going long on the lawn.
