Speed rules the last weekend over the inner track at Aqueduct

AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK

There was no graded racing on the inner surface at Aqueduct last week.

Track Stats

A total of 27 races were held over the inner strip at the Long Island, New York venue, with favorites winning at a 41 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 59 percent of the wins during the week. From the 27 dirt races, nine animals won in wire-to-wire fashion (33 percent).

The main oval got speed friendly at the close of the racing week here at Aqueduct. We saw just one horse lead at every call through Thursday and the first six races on Friday, but circumstances changed as eight of the next 12 races were won in wire-to-wire fashion, with five on Saturday.

Racing will now move from the inner to the main strip at the “Big A” and the return to turf is something we look forward to on this circuit.

Meet Totals

Races:		533
Dirt:		533
Favorites:		208 (39%)
2nd Choices:		103 (19%)
Dirt Wire:		156 (29%)

HORSES TO WATCH

Thursday (3/24)

3RD – KATNISS THE VICTOR (Midnight Lute) returns to this list after a facile allowance tally at very short odds and the sophomore filly will be back with stakes foes next time we’d imagine. The Rudy Rodriguez trainee has never run a bad one and could be ready to vault forward off this confidence-builder.

6^TH – INVESTIGATOR (Super Saver) surrendered the lead near midstretch but fought valiantly to the wire, just missing under the guidance of Jose Ortiz. The Jason Servis-trained sophomore should be graduating before long with any kind of improvement.

Friday (3/25)

7TH – BLUEGRASS PREVAILS (Bluegrass Cat) was certainly on his toes in this sprint, recording a commanding nine-length win beneath Jose Ortiz. The gelded sophomore was never seriously challenged for conditioner Gary Gullo.

Saturday (3/26)

3RD – LOST RAVEN (Uncle Mo) first fought off the odds-on favorite and then withstood a serious late challenge, posting a game stakes score for Todd Pletcher. The capable three-year-old filly could be improving at the right time for a barn that knows how to handle a nice horse.

6^TH – DARK AS MIDNIGHT (Midnight Lute) had little chance late with a sharp winner but finished a clear second in his debut run, a performance that bodes well for the future. The Jimmy Ryerson trainee will not be a maiden for long with any improvement off a nice effort.

A Look Ahead

Racing moves to the main oval at Aqueduct this week. The weekend spotlight is fillies and mares going 1 1/18 miles on the dirt in Sunday’s $200,000 Top Flight H. (G3).