AQUEDUCT – 3/17/23
RACE 1: 2-5-4-1
#2 HERECOMES SCARLETT is in for a tag for the first time after showing some life in two prior starts against better. She loses the blinkers today after racing more towards the back of the pack in the lone try with them. Her speed is a weapon and she becomes a major threat to go the distance with a reasonable early lead.
RACE 2: 1-2-3-4
#1 SARATOGA BEAUTY has been squarely against the grain of the racetrack in recent starts and now gets an opportunity to race in stalk and pounce range for Jeff Englehart. This is an enormous class drop and this mare loves the Big A. If the pace materializes outside of her, that affords her the opportunity at a nice trip today.
RACE 3: 1-2-5-7
The stronger half of the entry here is #1 RAFFINITY, who enters off a 4th place finish after tracking the pace. She fits nicely at this class level and should be stalking the early pace today. Her best races would make her tough to handle for the rest of this field.
RACE 4: 4-5-2-1
#4 RISK FREE arguably ran better than #5 SPELTERINI when they met up on Februrary 17. That’s why the former is the better bet today given there’s another speedster in here to set the table for her late run. The price will be better too given the unpopular connections represented.
RACE 5: 1-3-6-8
#1 PRESSURE goes 2nd off a trainer change and drops in class after getting involved in a hot tempo last time out before weakening late. He is the one to catch today on the stretchout, and the 7 lb weight break surely doesn’t hurt. There’s still some upside here given the good recent effort and brief time with the new barn.
RACE 6: 7-4-6-1
#7 I’MHAVINGAMOMENT had a couple of them last time out when well beaten here at the Big A. She adds blinkers and Lasix after running in spots in her last start. She should be tough to handle with even a modest step forward. Trainer Bill Mott is a solid 33% with 3YO dirt routers being switched to being treated with Lasix. He
RACE 7: 3-5-6-2
#3 MOMMASGOTTARUN is the one to beat here off a troubled trip second-place finish against similar foes late in January. She was in a tight spot inside in that affair and was badly shuffled back just before the real running started. A less eventful trip today helps her make amends.
RACE 7: 6-1-5-4
#6 SUPERB SURPRISE is a firster by Central Banker out of a mare who won 7x during her career. She has dropped 6 winners from 7 to race and this gelding appears to be training forwardly all winter.