Notes on the Saturday Program
January 18th, 2008By Jude T. Feld
Among Leading Freshman Sires in 2007 – Empire Maker
Juddmonte Farms Photo
The weather outside is frightful but the racing Saturday afternoon is sure to heat things up a bit. Keep an eye on track conditions throughout the day as freezing temperatures often promote speed horses.
The Aqueduct Handicap is AQUEDUCT’s 8TH RACE. If the usual inside speed bias is in play on the inner track, PINK VIPER looks like the horse to beat. The son of Smoke Glacken has the best pace figures by far, comes off a big win over the track and came back to work a “best of the morning†half-mile on Wednesday, indicating that he retains his sharpness.
Juddmonte Farm stallion Empire Maker has proven he is the real deal. His daughter, MISS RED DELICIOUS, was one of the first runners to put the Belmont Stakes (G1) winner in the freshman sire stats with her win in the Anna M Fisher Stakes at Ellis Park last summer. Her :57 4/5 workout at Keeneland on New Year’s Eve stands out in the past performances. The Mark Hubley trainee seems to have too much class for the gals entered in the Cincinnati Trophy Stakes, TURFWAY PARK’s 11TH RACE.
A glacial pace hindered PRIVATE BANKING in her last race, the Intercontinental Stakes at Hollywood Park. The daughter of top Euro sire Anabaa needs a speed duel to set up her patented closing charge. The Tuzla (G3), SANTA ANITA’s 5TH RACE, has four early speed types to ding-dong on the front end. That should help the Ron McAnally-trained miss to be along in time under Alex Solis.
The San Marcos (G2) is SANTA ANITA’s 9TH RACE. To say CHAMPS ELYSEES had a troubled trip in the Hollywood Turf Cup (G1) is a gross understatement. The son of Danehill had more traffic woes than Paris Hilton and had to settle for second behind Sunriver. Hot-riding Garrett Gomez dons the Juddmonte mint and pink this afternoon, replacing Julien Leparoux, who has moved his tack to Fair Grounds. If Gomez finds a clear path, the race should be over at the eighth pole.
