Aqueduct oval speedy but fair as inner track season comes to a close

AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK

There was no graded racing at Aqueduct this past week.

Track Stats

A total of 36 races were held over the inner strip at the Long Island, New York, venue, with favorites winning at a 36 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 58 percent of the wins during the week. From 36 races on the dirt, 11 animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (31 percent).

We thought the inner oval played fairly to all types in the penultimate week of racing on the surface despite the high number of wire-to-wire winners. Speed was best on Friday and Saturday with a combined seven winners leading throughout. For the week, eight wire jobs came in sprints and the other trio occurred in route races.

Meet Totals

Races:		506
Dirt:		506
Favorites:		197 (39%)
2nd Choices:		98 (19%)
Dirt Wire:		147 (29%)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (3/17)

3RD – Grade 1 queen ANGELA RENEE (Bernardini) was not overly impressive in this allowance score, but the Chad Brown trainee had to need a race off the long break and this was a nice start to the 2016 season for her.

4TH – PRINCE RAY (Freud) came up short in this debut run but impressed, nonetheless, with a huge second while more than 11 lengths clear of third. The gelded three-year-old makes a lot of sense right back for trainer Jeff Englehart.

6TH – Gulfstream import MAGNIFIER (Awesome Again) broke through in this graduating run and did so in a big way, driving home a 14 1/2-length winner while posting a sharp final time in the process. The Ralph Nicks-trained four-year-old could be any kind going forward.

Friday (3/18)

7TH – SARATOGA WILDCAT (D'wildcat) could not reel in the loose-on-the-lead winner in this spot, but the Rudy Rodriguez pupil ran a good one in finishing a clear second. The four-year-old gelding will be a factor next time with even slight improvement.

Saturday (3/19)

4TH – BENEVOLENCE (Here Comes Ben) was gaining on the top pair late in a very good debut run under Eric Cancel. The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee might have a nice future ahead of him and we expect the gelding to graduate before long.

Sunday (3/20)

4TH – LANGFIRST (Langfuhr) put in a determined run in the lane to get up late in a win that might have been a bit better than it appears on paper. The sophomore filly rallied into a slow pace on an oval that was kind to speed and still prevailed while wide in the lane.

6TH – MY GIRL COREY (Warrior's Reward) took the lead soon after the break and never looked back en route to a sharp debut tally for conditioner Chad Brown. The three-year-old filly looked strong late and is bred to go longer, so she will be interesting to watch as she develops.

8TH – SAM SPARKLE (Too Much Bling) made a fine late try in missing by a half-length and a neck while facing no pace to run into. The eight-year-old fits well at this level and will be super tough in his comeback with a better scenario to work with.

A Look Ahead

There is no graded racing during the final week of racing on the inner oval.