The major racing season in New York winds down this weekend. We’ve been spoiled by this wonderful November weather and it won’t be long until the Aqueduct “Inner-track” opens and the snow begins to fly. But, today we have four graded races on the card and it will be probably the last time we see these type runners until the spring. So with that said, here’s my look at the Aqueduct’s Holiday-fest card for today. We had two year old runners pointing for bigger things “down the road”, three year old fillies and the older handicap runners in grade I action.
First up are the two year old fillies in the grade I – Demoiselle Stakes going the mile & an eighth route distance. I’m going with the “regal” breeding here and taking the Shug McGaughey trainee; Protesting. Her dam; On Parade was the first foal from My Flag and has the Phipps “blue blood” breeding. She recently broke her maiden at Keeneland on their “polytrack” quite easily. Her previous starts here in New York were even at best. Even though she is bred to be a “good one”, it’s highly doubtful that she’ll be the favorite here. The favorism will be on the Kelly Breen entry; In the Rough & Profiteroles. Both recent broke their maidens out of town and will be tough off those efforts.
The “boys” are next up in the Remsen Stakes at the same distance. It comes down to three very impressive young two year old runners here. Buddy’s Saint nearly wired the field in the most recently run, Nashua Stakes going a mile here on Breeder’s Cup day. Winning off by over 12 lengths, he’ll get the favorism here. Homeboykris was also impressive by winning the Champagne Stakes at Belmont a few weeks back. He’s been working well and will now try two turns. But for my top pick, I’m going with Citrus Kid. This son of Lemon Drop Kid recently won a stake race at Delaware Park after breaking his maiden there impressively. He’ll be the bigger price over the two above horses and could be equally good.
Three year old fillies go in the Gazelle Handicap, a race that has never been run this time of the year in the past. I’m taking a shot with a filly that was on “top of the world” a little bit over a year ago. She has never raced on “real dirt” and hasn't raced in six months. Stardom Bound was more regarded than Rachel Alexandra was as a two year old. The Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Filly winner was last seen running third at Keeneland in the Ashland Stakes. Now, she returns for new connections, but gets her regular rider aboard; Mike Smith. For second, Flashing returns to a route distance and “real dirt”. She ran well over the Aqueduct main track last spring. Milwaukee Appeal and Unrivaled Belle will round out my triple and superfecta plays.
In the last grade I stake of 2009, older males will be going the “flat” mile in the Cigar Mile. We only get six entered, but it is an evenly matched field of top quality runners. This race screams out for a “true” miler and that horse is my top pick; Bribon. A grade I winner on both dirt and turf, he is the definite class of this group. For second; speed is always dangerous and the “main speed” will be from the rail in Driven By Success. This statebred is very tough with his speed and is definitely the one to catch. Rounding out this good edition of the Cigar Mile is Pyro who is making his final career start and returning to a dirt surface.
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