An abbreviated week at Aqueduct due to the weather

AQUEDUCT NOTEBOOK

There was no graded racing this past week at Aqueduct, which was abbreviated with winter weather causing a pair of cancellations.

Track Stats

A total of nine races were held over the inner strip at the Long Island, New York venue, with favorites winning at a 67 percent rate and the top two betting choices combining for 78 percent of the wins during the week. Three races were won in wire-to-wire fashion (33 percent).

We saw a bit of everything on the course Friday, with a trio of winners leading throughout and a pair who came from well back in the early going. Two of the wire jobs came in a sprint and the other in a two-turn route race.

Meet Totals

Races:		231
Dirt:		231
Favorites:		92 (39%)
2^nd Choices:		41 (18%)
Dirt Wire:		66 (28%)

HORSES TO WATCH

Friday (1/22)

1ST – LUCKY BOOTS (Lookin at Lucky) showed little rust off the 10-month layoff, driving home a pretty solid winner in her return for trainer Tony Dutrow. The four-year-old filly held off a determined challenge in the lane and might even improve next time in her second off the shelf.

6^TH – LITTLE POPSIE (Spring At Last) overcame a tardy break, rushing straight to the front, and was never challenged thereafter in a smart showing under Jose Ortiz. The four-year-old colt came home in a solid :24 2/5 for trainer Bruce Levine and might be a tough customer in his next outing with even slight improvement.

7^TH – MR PALMER (Pulpit) is too good for the starter allowance ranks on his best days and proved why in this spot, recording a facile 3 ½-length romp for trainer Rudy Rodriguez. The six-year-old gelding earned a hefty 97 BRIS Speed figure for his work and showed no rust off the short layoff with Irad Ortiz Jr.

9^TH – IDEAL QUALITY (Elusive Quality) was far back with just a single horse behind him turning for home but the five-year-old proved to be full of run late, rolling home to win going away in nice fashion. The Danny Gargan pupil clocked a final quarter-mile in a sharp :23 2/5 and might be capable of getting more ground going forward.

A Look Ahead

Saturday will play host to a pair of graded runs at Aqueduct. The $250,000 Withers S. (G3) will be joined by the $150,000 Toboggan S. (G3), which was rescheduled after being cancelled last weekend.

Racing