AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK
DECEMBER 20, 2012
by John Mucciolo
There were no graded events over the weekend at the Big A.
Track Stats
A total of 45 races were held over the inner track at the Jamaica, New York venue, with favorites winning at a 47 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 60 percent of the wins during the week. Ten races were won in wire-to-wire fashion (22 percent).
Thursday was best for speed horses, with four winners leading all the way around the oval from nine races. Overall, we did think the main oval played consistently and fair to all types.
Meet Totals
| RACES: | 279 | |
| DIRT: | 224 | |
| TURF: | 55 | |
| FAVORITES: | 106 (38 percent) | |
| 2ND CHOICES: | 57 (20 percent) | |
| TURF WIRE: | 10 (18 percent) | |
| DIRT WIRE: | 47 (21 percent) |
HORSES TO WATCH
Wednesday (12/12)
1ST -- BASALT (Giant's Causeway) was a very sharp winner and avoided being claimed out of this dash for trainer Rudy Rodriguez. The well-bred sophomore colt came home in a swift :23 4/5 and should be very live next out, even with a minor class rise.
2ND -- GRAZIE MILLE (Bernardini) showed good ability when a clear second behind a more experienced winner, and the Chad Brown first timer appears to have a bright future if she builds on this one.
Thursday (12/13)
3RD -- PRINCESS OF SYLMAR (Majestic Warrior) was very powerful late in dusting this field in the stretch and is surely on the upswing for conditioner Todd Pletcher. The juvenile filly could be stakes bound in her next outing.
4TH -- OMEGA STAR (Candy Ride) had little chance with the 1-5 winner in this spot, but the debuting gelding was more than 10 lengths clear of third and hails from a Jimmy Jerkens barn that is dynamite with second time runners. Tab him for a victory next out.
Saturday (12/15)
2ND -- The Bill Mott-conditioned MR PALMER (Pulpit) gave the overwhelming favorite all he can handle when clearly second best today, and the juvenile colt appears to be sitting on a win after showing nice improvement in this maiden voyage.
8TH -- The superb SAGINAW (Peruvian) wore down a real nice one in the lane and inched clear to a one-length victory today under Junior Alvarado. The six-year-old gelding picked up his 10th win of 2012 and continues to fire nearly every time for trainer David Jacobson.
Sunday (12/16)
8TH -- Jacobson may have made a superb claim in this race in plucking out the winning HE'S SO CHIC (Jump Start), who flew home from well back to dominate this field going away. The eight-year-old has some back class and proved that he still has some run left in him, evidenced by his :23 flat closing half-mile.
A Look Ahead
No racing this week as the Big A takes a break until December 26.
