Teach
01-01-2017, 12:03 PM
I want to wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.
Race One:
:2: Gasconade, a ML medium-longshot, catches my attention as I scan the PP’s in Aqueduct’s first race, the first race of the new year (all horses are now one year older). I’m always looking for value, or at least what I believe is potential value. I feel that this A.P. Indy-bred colt might just fit the bill. This Empire Maker-bred (think American Pharoah) has been racing across the border in Canada at Woodbine. This 4 year-old bay colt now tries his equine speed and endurance at “The Big A”. I’m particularly impressed with this colt’s last race. He just faded to second at 6 and ½ panels. The colt now shortens up a half-furlong. That may make a world of difference. The colt’s trainer, Jeremiah Englehart, does well both with shippers and first starts with a trainer. The colt’s pilot, “The Louisiana Kid” and “King of Philadelphia,” Kendrick Carmouche, is a sold reinsman. Others: :6: , :7: , :3:
Race Two:
:2: Majestic Island gets my nod in this n2L claimer. This 4 year-old filly is dropping down the class ladder and returning to the main. This A.P. Indy-bred earned his only win on the grass; yet I believe she can handle the dirt as well. If there’s any residual moisture (thawing) on the “Big A” main then I believe this distaffer moves up. Antonio Gallardo - I believe he either won or finished near the top in the 2016 U.S. jockeys win standings – is in the irons. The filly’s trainer is the most capable Nick Easler. Easler does well with horses that have been on the shelf. Others: :7: , :5: , :3:
Race Three:
:4: Mabrouk is my selection in the Lost In The Fog non-graded sprint. This A.P. Indy-bred gelding got caught up in a speed duel in his most recent start; he faded to last. Yet, in the gelding’s prior race, he quickly jumped out into the lead and was never headed. If this 3 year-old runs back to that race, it should be Katy-Bar-The-Door. There doesn’t appear to be much early speed here; that will most definitely benefit this gelding’s chances. Add to the mix the riding skills of one of NYRA’s finest, Irad Ortiz, Jr. The gelding’s trainer is the very capable John Terranova II. Terranova does well with horses entered in non-graded stakes and making their second start off a layoff. Others: :5: , :2: , :3:
Race Four:
:2: Ransom Note ran into all kinds of trouble coming out of the gate in his only pari-mutuel try. Those early troubles seemed to compromise any chance of this 4 year-old chestnut gelding winning. He ended up finishing fourth as a 9/2 shot. A cleaner trip would do wonders for this gelding’s chances. Cornelio Velasquez, who had taken his tack down to Gulfstream, has returned to “The Big A”. He gets the call for trainer Linda Rice. Rice does exceptionally well with horses making their second career start. Others: :6: , :5: , :7:
Race Five:
In this n3L claiming sprint, I’m going with :5: Police Escort. This bay ridgling got caught up in a speed duel at Pen in his last – after being fractious in the gate – and faded out of the money. Prior to that, this ridgling won in allowance company at Parx. With proper handling, this horse can win here. Antonio Gallardo is in the irons for trainer Jason Servis. Servis does well with shippers and first-time claiming entrants. Others: :6: , :1: , :8:
Race Six:
In this allowance route, n1x, I’m picking :4: Fire Key. This 4 year-old A.P. Indy-bred filly just missed in this same company in her last. The slightest of improvements would put this distaffer in the winner’s circle. It’ll be up to Rajiv Maragh to ration out this filly’s speed. Trainer Pat Kelly is looking to “get off the schneid.” This may well be the race that does it. Others: :2: , :8: , :6:
Race Seven:
My top choice here is a “no-brainer”. :4: Blameiton Brooklyn. This highly-priced Arch-bred gelding looks like a stick-out. It would seem that all that’s necessary is for the ever-improving “Double-A,” Angel Arroyo to parcel out this gelding’s speed. This gelding does move up in class after winning his last. There doesn’t – at least on paper – to be much competition. Gary Gullo trains this Forest Wildcat-bred gelding. Others: :1: , :3: , :7:
Race Eight:
In this New York state-bred optional claiming sprint, I’m going with the rail horse, :1: Championofthenile (There’s that American Pharoah breeding, again). This 4 year-old gelding has been racing against state-bred non-graded stakes company and, I might add, doing quite well. This appears to be the kind of field that this Mineshaft-bred should have his way with. It’s Cornelio in the irons for Linda Rice. Rice does exceptionally well with horses who were beaten favorites in their last start. Others: :9: , :5: , :3:
Race Nine:
In the finale, a 6-panels maiden-claiming state-bred sprint, my choice is: :8: Melodramatic Miss. This grey filly is making a huge class drop from MSW, in which she showed little in her only start, to 25k company. I believe this filly is now in with the caliber of company that she should handle. You can add the services of jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. to the mix. And for good measure, the outstanding training skills of Linda Rice. Rice does very well with horses making their second career start. Others: :7: , :4: , :3:
Race One:
:2: Gasconade, a ML medium-longshot, catches my attention as I scan the PP’s in Aqueduct’s first race, the first race of the new year (all horses are now one year older). I’m always looking for value, or at least what I believe is potential value. I feel that this A.P. Indy-bred colt might just fit the bill. This Empire Maker-bred (think American Pharoah) has been racing across the border in Canada at Woodbine. This 4 year-old bay colt now tries his equine speed and endurance at “The Big A”. I’m particularly impressed with this colt’s last race. He just faded to second at 6 and ½ panels. The colt now shortens up a half-furlong. That may make a world of difference. The colt’s trainer, Jeremiah Englehart, does well both with shippers and first starts with a trainer. The colt’s pilot, “The Louisiana Kid” and “King of Philadelphia,” Kendrick Carmouche, is a sold reinsman. Others: :6: , :7: , :3:
Race Two:
:2: Majestic Island gets my nod in this n2L claimer. This 4 year-old filly is dropping down the class ladder and returning to the main. This A.P. Indy-bred earned his only win on the grass; yet I believe she can handle the dirt as well. If there’s any residual moisture (thawing) on the “Big A” main then I believe this distaffer moves up. Antonio Gallardo - I believe he either won or finished near the top in the 2016 U.S. jockeys win standings – is in the irons. The filly’s trainer is the most capable Nick Easler. Easler does well with horses that have been on the shelf. Others: :7: , :5: , :3:
Race Three:
:4: Mabrouk is my selection in the Lost In The Fog non-graded sprint. This A.P. Indy-bred gelding got caught up in a speed duel in his most recent start; he faded to last. Yet, in the gelding’s prior race, he quickly jumped out into the lead and was never headed. If this 3 year-old runs back to that race, it should be Katy-Bar-The-Door. There doesn’t appear to be much early speed here; that will most definitely benefit this gelding’s chances. Add to the mix the riding skills of one of NYRA’s finest, Irad Ortiz, Jr. The gelding’s trainer is the very capable John Terranova II. Terranova does well with horses entered in non-graded stakes and making their second start off a layoff. Others: :5: , :2: , :3:
Race Four:
:2: Ransom Note ran into all kinds of trouble coming out of the gate in his only pari-mutuel try. Those early troubles seemed to compromise any chance of this 4 year-old chestnut gelding winning. He ended up finishing fourth as a 9/2 shot. A cleaner trip would do wonders for this gelding’s chances. Cornelio Velasquez, who had taken his tack down to Gulfstream, has returned to “The Big A”. He gets the call for trainer Linda Rice. Rice does exceptionally well with horses making their second career start. Others: :6: , :5: , :7:
Race Five:
In this n3L claiming sprint, I’m going with :5: Police Escort. This bay ridgling got caught up in a speed duel at Pen in his last – after being fractious in the gate – and faded out of the money. Prior to that, this ridgling won in allowance company at Parx. With proper handling, this horse can win here. Antonio Gallardo is in the irons for trainer Jason Servis. Servis does well with shippers and first-time claiming entrants. Others: :6: , :1: , :8:
Race Six:
In this allowance route, n1x, I’m picking :4: Fire Key. This 4 year-old A.P. Indy-bred filly just missed in this same company in her last. The slightest of improvements would put this distaffer in the winner’s circle. It’ll be up to Rajiv Maragh to ration out this filly’s speed. Trainer Pat Kelly is looking to “get off the schneid.” This may well be the race that does it. Others: :2: , :8: , :6:
Race Seven:
My top choice here is a “no-brainer”. :4: Blameiton Brooklyn. This highly-priced Arch-bred gelding looks like a stick-out. It would seem that all that’s necessary is for the ever-improving “Double-A,” Angel Arroyo to parcel out this gelding’s speed. This gelding does move up in class after winning his last. There doesn’t – at least on paper – to be much competition. Gary Gullo trains this Forest Wildcat-bred gelding. Others: :1: , :3: , :7:
Race Eight:
In this New York state-bred optional claiming sprint, I’m going with the rail horse, :1: Championofthenile (There’s that American Pharoah breeding, again). This 4 year-old gelding has been racing against state-bred non-graded stakes company and, I might add, doing quite well. This appears to be the kind of field that this Mineshaft-bred should have his way with. It’s Cornelio in the irons for Linda Rice. Rice does exceptionally well with horses who were beaten favorites in their last start. Others: :9: , :5: , :3:
Race Nine:
In the finale, a 6-panels maiden-claiming state-bred sprint, my choice is: :8: Melodramatic Miss. This grey filly is making a huge class drop from MSW, in which she showed little in her only start, to 25k company. I believe this filly is now in with the caliber of company that she should handle. You can add the services of jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. to the mix. And for good measure, the outstanding training skills of Linda Rice. Rice does very well with horses making their second career start. Others: :7: , :4: , :3: