Constellation appears poised to stretch out; middle-to-outside posts best last week at Aqueduct
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January 20th, 2016
AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK
There was no graded racing this past week at Aqueduct.
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 53 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 72 percent of the wins during the week. Ten races were won in wire-to-wire fashion (28 percent).
Speed was best on Thursday and Sunday, when four winners led at every call on each of those days. With that said, the favorites dominated this past week so we are not so quick to call the oval biased by any means.
Horses breaking from post 4 and wider accounted for wins in 23 of 36 races (63 percent) this past week.
Meet Totals
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Races: |
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222 |
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Dirt: |
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222 |
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Favorites: |
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86 (39%) |
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2nd Choices: |
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40 (18%) |
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Dirt Wire: |
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63 (28%) |
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|
|
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HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (1/14)
3RD – BLITHELY (Exchange Rate) tracked the leader each step of the way and got up late in a determined showing for trainer Mark Hennig. The five-year-old mare showed big improvement off her latest showing and could be productive going forward.
7TH –POWER NAP (Smart Strike) could turn out to be a nice claim for Thomas Morley after dominating this field in fine fashion, which included a final quarter-mile in a swift :23 3/5. The four-year-old colt appears in line for a class rise after this run.
Friday (1/15)
3RD – The Todd Pletcher-trained AWESOME GENT (Awesome Again) made it two straight big runs in succession after this strong score under Manny Franco. The New York-bred sophomore looks headed to the stakes ranks in the near future.
6TH – SAY CIN CIN (Mineshaft) was last after the opening half-mile but came home with very good energy to finish third, beaten less than a length beneath Dylan Davis. The four-year-old filly will not be a maiden for long if she moves forward off this one and gets a bit closer in the lane.
Saturday (1/16)
1ST – GOOD LAUGH (Posse) couldn’t reel in the winner but showed a lot in the debut run, laying close and finishing well clear of third. The three-year-old filly didn’t face the best field of all time but performed like a runner who can graduate next time.
8TH – NUBIN RIDGE (Gold Tribute) collared a clear one in the lane and rolled home a going-away winner with Franco in the irons. The six-year-old gelding came home with very good energy and might be tough right back for trainer Chris Englehart.
Sunday (1/17)
3RD – CONSTELLATION (Bellamy Road) did what she was supposed to as the 1-5 choice, recording a most facile score in this stakes run, and for the second straight time we will say she has the impression of a filly who can stretch out. We loved the way the Steve Asmussen pupil rated on the lead and pulled away with ease.
A Look Ahead
There is no graded racing this week at Aqueduct.
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