Inner track plays fairly; Gorelli, Wine Not among horses to watch at Aqueduct
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January 13th, 2016
AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK
There was no graded racing this past week at Aqueduct.
Track Stats
A total of 34 races were held over the inner strip at the Long Island, New York venue, with favorites winning at a 35 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 56 percent of the wins during the week. Seven races were won in wire-to-wire fashion (20 percent).
We thought the main oval played fairly for the duration of the racing week. From seven winners to lead at every call, three came in route races and the other four occurred in sprint runs.
The bettors had a good start to the week when seven of the top two betting options came home in first on Thursday, four of which broke from the rail, but we witnessed a bit of everything for the trio of days that followed.
Meet Totals
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Races: |
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186 |
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Dirt: |
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186 |
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Favorites: |
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67 (36 |
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2nd Choices: |
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33 (18%) |
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Dirt Wire: |
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53 (28%) |
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|
|
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HORSES TO WATCH
Thursday (1/7)
1ST – MISS SWISHER (Trappe Shot) got off to a poor start but did show some life in the lane to get up for second over a 1-5 shot in third. The three-year-old filly came home in :24 and change while wide and could be live next time after getting some experience in this spot.
6TH – LIBERTY FIRST (Pulpit) was six-wide into the lane but still finished five lengths clear of third in a solid runner-up try. The Danny Gargan trainee will be tough for sure next time with a forward move off this run.
Friday (1/8)
2ND – GORELLI (Posse) showed improvement in this run when battling on late in a good second-place effort, and tab this one as a graduate before long. The gelding from the barn of James Bond could benefit from a post off the rail next time for a barn going well here.
Saturday (1/9)
2ND – SARATOGA WILDCAT (D’wildcat) burned some money in this one, but the four-year-old ran on well late behind a top pair that performed well in their own right, and improvement is surely possible after being claimed by Rudy Rodriguez.
3RD – The splendid LA VERDAD (Yes It’s True) dropped back in with state-bred foes and left little doubt in leading at every call over this field for conditioner Linda Rice. The six-year-old mare was never under duress and is clearly among the top in her craft.
6TH – Trainer Tom Albertrani rarely wins first time out, so when WINE NOT (First Dude) came from way back to just miss by a neck in this dash in his debut, we have to take notice and tab this one a big contender next time with a likely move forward.
Sunday (1/10)
5TH – The Todd Pletcher-trained INSIDE STRAIGHT (Super Saver) took a short lead at the top of the lane, shrugged off a stern test in the lane and pulled away late to secure an open-length tally with Jose Ortiz in the silks. The sophomore colt made a good move forward off of his latest effort and still looks like an interesting prospect to us on his best days.
6TH – CHOCOLATE SMOOTHIE (Ghostzapper) had no chance with the winner but was easily second best in this debut dash and makes a lot of sense in her comeback try for conditioner Bruce Levine. The New York-bred filly broke slowest in that run and will be even stronger with a cleaner exit from the gate.
A Look Ahead
Monday’s $100,000 Toboggan S. (G3) leads the way for the graded action this week at Aqueduct.
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