AQUEDUCT ANALYSIS – 12/28/2024
RACE 1: 2-3-9-6
#2 ATLAL ran into a buzz saw at second asking when he faced Rookie Card, who had an experience edge. The third place finisher from there has already come back to break his maiden impressively and this Bill Mott trainee seems poised to do so here. He has to overcome an inside draw but has shown enough on the track thus far to be made a solid favorite.
RACE 2: 4-2-5-7
The well-bred #4 SAINT GAUDENS comes back from a layoff today in search of a second win for Chad Brown. The potential this colt showed early in his career has not been reached, but he found the right kind of field off the bench today. This barn does very well with layoff returnees and he should be in a good spot just off the pace today.
RACE 3: 4-3-6-5
#4 MAXIMUS MERIDIUS is a consistent son of Maximus Mischief who seems to fire every time he goes to the post. He’ll get the right setup today given the pace signed up in here and he exits a good runner-up effort in a tough rendition of the Steel Valley Sprint at Mahoning Valley. The wet track does him no harm either, as he has performed well here on wet surfaces before.
RACE 4: 6-4-3-8
It is becoming increasingly difficult to trust #6 YORK TAVERN, but there’s reason to believe today could be the day for win #2. He was wide while making a huge move last time out and ended up finishing a distant second. The rail was the place to be that day for the most part and he was squarely up against that profile. Now that he’s sprinting he can lay back and make one run.
RACE 5: 8-9-3-2
The pace that #8 FOREVER TO GO set last time out was robust, and it obviously took a toll late when she tired in the lane. What was proven in that effort is that she can handle dirt without issue. It’s clear she has a great deal of speed and should be able to get the lead in here. The worry is which first timer might be set for a big effort.
RACE 6: 5-9-3-10
To say the placement of #5 VINSANITY in the Cigar Mile was a tad ambitious is an all-time understatement. He’s now back where he belongs from a class perspective and should be able to rate just off the pace. His best races put him in range of the top performers in here, as his 10/25 win was fast enough on every speed figure to be given consideration.
RACE 7: 3-11-10-9
With the way the quality of dirt racing in Kentucky has risen, horses like #3 TRUST ISSUES garner more consideration when they come to NY than ever before. He broke his maiden two back in fine fashion, then came back to face a tough N1X field where he checked in a solid third. His inside post is no bargain, but he should be able to rate just off the pace and pounce.
RACE 8: 3-5-7-2
The only blemish #3 EL GRANDE O has against NY breds was a narrow miss to The Wine Steward, a Grade I placed colt who bested him in the Funny Cide back in 2023. He now comes into this affair red-hot having won two in a row off the bench. The lead is his for the taking in here, he has no issues with wet tracks and is the boss of this division moving forward.
RACE 9: 4-13-5-9
#4 MONOMOY BEACH should improve with experience after debuting against similar here in late November. He debuted on a racetrack that played kindly to runners on the inside and this son of Mr. Monomoy was wide the entire trip. He meets a rather soft field that should have a big favorite who failed at 1-2 last time out.
