Gander winner Governor Malibu among horses to watch from three-day race week at Aqueduct

AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK

There was no stakes action at Aqueduct during a three-day race week that included a Friday cancellation.

Track Stats

A total of 28 races were held over the inner strip at the Long Island, New York venue, with favorites winning at a 43 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 64 percent of the wins during the week. Five races were won in wire-to-wire fashion (18 percent).

Speed did not dominate by any means this week, though we did have five leaders go all the way on the front and a bevy of others who were in the first or second flight to the top of the lane and came home best. Of the five, four of the wire jobs came in route events.

Favorites continue to win along at a nice clip (40 percent), which gives an indication that the main oval has played fairly on a lot of occasions this meet.

Meet Totals

Races:		297
Dirt:		297
Favorites:		118 (40%)
2nd Choices:		54 (18%)
Dirt Wire:		83 (28%)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (2/4)

4^TH – MEMORY KEEPER (Freud) was close to a moderate early pace before drawing off to a nice maiden tally for trainer Thomas Morley. The four-year-old gelding had a great trip and didn’t beat all that much, but we love how he came home in :24 1/5 and give him a chance with winners next time out.

Saturday (2/6)

3RD – GOVERNOR MALIBU (Malibu Moon) tracked the leader from the opening bell and showed some class getting away from that one late in a solid stakes score for trainer Christophe Clement. The sophomore colt showed no rust from the layoff and is a nice prospect with continued improvement surely possible.

5^TH – WINE NOT (First Dude) couldn’t reel in the loose-on-the-lead winner in this maiden run, but the gelding had a tricky trip while wide and still finished more than four lengths clear of his nearest foe in second. The Tom Albertrani trainee will be graduating before long with any kind of improvement.

6^TH – EASY COMPARISON (Street Sense) took over from the pacesetter in early stretch and rolled home a most facile winner beneath Jose Ortiz. The winner finished up pretty well for the level and might be a nice claim for trainer Oscar Barrera.

Sunday (2/7)

5^TH – SUPER PSYCHE (Super Saver) rallied from behind a very slow pace and fell just short in a sharp try under Junior Alvarado. The Bill Mott-trained four-year-old has been second in two straight and seems to be knocking on the door of a winning run before long.

8^TH – BUST ANOTHER (Bustin Stones) was always well placed, took a short lead in early stretch and rolled home with great energy en route to a dominant tally for conditioner Michael Pino. The sophomore gelding has now scored in three straight since an unplaced debut and we see no reason why he won’t be a big-time player next time out if properly placed.

9^TH – FIRE ALARM (Fusaichi Pegasus) was last after a half-mile but put in a spirited late rush to just miss behind a leader who was well clear in a good runner-up showing. The Bruce Levine pupil will be a major player in his comeback with any improvement, especially if able to show a little early foot so there will be less to do in the lane.

A Look Ahead

There is no graded racing this week at Aqueduct.