ANALYSIS

BEST BET: RACE 5, ABRAXAN

FIRST RACE

TATTERAZZI chased a fast pace before making a stretch lead when dropped to this level last time, only to fall to closers at the end; cuts back to six and switches to Rosario in her second try for the $40k tag. J J JEN back to turf for the first time since making her first three career starts on this surface, all vs. MSW rivals; drops for the first time and has the speed to be a forward factor from the start. ABBY NORMAL has already had too many chances at this level to get too excited about but she tends to show up every time and will be running late if the pace develops in front of her.

SECOND RACE

Distance is a big question for MA MEATLOAF but she does have the speed to put herself into the right kind of trip in this race and she ran well last time when getting the best of things on a contested pace, before proving to be no match for an odds-on winner late. HANDLE WITH CARE took 14 tries to break his maiden, which he managed last time when getting to race over a fast track for the first time in nearly five months; distance doesn’t appear to be as big an issue for him and he also has some speed. TRUE PROSPERITY a new face stretching back out after breaking slowly and winding up outrun at Laurel last time; he was racing on late in that spot in a race that held together in front, but his lack of speed could work against him here.

THIRD RACE

ZABAVA won two of three upon being dropped in class by Maker soon after arriving in NY and she has held her form since then while trying some tougher spots; tough with her good race and she is tactical enough to get the right trip. KINGDOM’S QUEEN would be more interesting if this race were to be moved to dirt but can see her handling the switch back to grass, a surface she has raced sparingly over since beginning her career vs. some better horses early last year. FIVE ALARM ROBIN required the drop to break through but did so easily and she had been running races on this circuit vs. better that suggest she fits in this spot;

was close to a solid pace in a race that went to closers when last seen on this circuit.

FOURTH RACE

TAN AND TIGHT has earned three figures in a tight range in her three turf starts to date and any one of those will make her a major player in this spot; won’t be much price, and at the end of the day she likely just isn’t that good, but the races are getting easier for her at this time of year. SPIN CONTROL the interesting new face being by Hard Spun and a half-sister to the talented turf sprinter Goldwood, a five-time stakes winner sprinting on grass this year. BYE BYE NICKY has disappointed a bit since beginning her career with a trio of solid efforts; the cut back to six helps but she is running out of time.

FIFTH RACE

ABRAXAN is making her third start back from the layoff and is dropping in class for the first time as she nears the end of her 3yo year; goes turf to dirt and has the speed to involved from the start. SOLITARY GEM has run some of the fastest races in this field but she is also 1 for 21 overall and has hit the board in six straight dirt races without winning; distance no issue and she can keep close to the pace if she has to. LEM ME HAVE IT broke her maiden easily over this course and distance as a 2yo then tried better in her next two starts, including the East View; only three dirt starts so far this year and she may appreciate getting this added distance.

SIXTH RACE

LEAVEEMATTHEGATE is dropping for the first time as he nears the end of his 6yo campaign, during which he has managed only three starts, all vs. much better horses; tough post but his good race makes him competitive and he appreciates cut in the ground, which he seems likely to get. WHATAWONDERFLWORLD missed a lot of time prior to returning last month with an even effort; dod a little better while making a late run last time and he has the back races to be hard on a field like this. CLOONTIA has been back in form recently at around this level and his new found forward running style appears to serve him well. CATCH A CAB got a nice trip from his outside post and did his best with it while settling for second best as this level five days ago; back quickly with the right running style for this race.

SEVENTH RACE

NEW YEAR’S WISH has been at his best over the Aqueduct main track, something she proved again when returned from the layoff last time to easily handle allowance rivals with an 85 Beyer; tough in here is this race is forced to the main track. DREAM PASSAGE has been in the best form of her career as a 5yo and has shown that she can handle distance after starting out a confirmed sprinter; softer turf no issue for her. CHIPOLATA just 1 for 6 since arriving stateside but she has been facing some much tougher fields along the way and though she ran well without winning both two and three starts back; best spot she has found herself in in quite a while.

EIGHTH RACE

CENTRAL EXIT was away to the back of that field on debut at Laurel and was outrun early, before racing on well through the stretch without threat to a front-running winner; ships in to face NY-breds while dropping in class for her second start. OFFICER HUTCHY is by Boys at Toscanova, who is just 2 for 26 with 2yo first time starters, but he is a solid sire overall and this filly is a half to Schwardertown, a three-time dirt sprint winner who missed by a nose in her maiden claiming debut, also for this trainer. MARU debuted vs. better and had good speed in that spot, before tiring in the stretch and settling for 3rd; was vanned off after that race and now returns for the price but she is a threat if all is well.