AQUEDUCT 3/12/10 

Aqueduct has cancelled Saturday's card  due to rain and high winds.

While it did rain Friday at Aqueduct, it wasn't the heavy rain that is on the way for Saturday. With high winds also in the forecast, whether the Big A actually gets their scheduled ten race card in on Saturday, is yet to be determined.

I got my Friday started in the opener with, Indy's Forum (2-1). She broke well and raced inside of leader, Calling My Colors, before Joe Musarro had to slightly tap on the brakes heading into the turn.

Musarro stayed cool however and held his position without getting shuffled completely out of it. Turning for home, Indy's Forum, hugged the rail and when an opening presented itself just outside the eighth pole, it was all Musarro needed. He sent, Indy's Forum, on through and she drew off nicely in the final furlong for the easy score over, Gattinara, and favorite, Fashion Queen.

BOTTOM LINE: Indy's Forum has been in good form since late November. She was in the right spot on Friday to once again fire a big race and got a good set up while receiving a nice ride by Musarro to get the job done.

I thought that if, Stylish Tiger (5-1), could get to the front in race five, he could wire the field. He got outsprinted from the gate and Jorge Chavez went to the whip in the first few jumps in a futile attempt to get him to the lead.

He couldn't get there and then was squeezed and forced wide by, Packer, going into the first turn. Chavez then sent, Stylish Tiger, up wide heading up the backstretch to chase pace setter and eventual winner, Nkosi Reigns.

After chasing the pace for five furlongs, Stylish Tiger, willingly retreated and would go on to tire badly to finish well back.

BOTTOM LINE: Stylish Tiger only runs well when put on the lead and if he was going to win here, it would have to be from gate to wire. Chavez tried to motivate him from the gate, but didn't get the speed from Stylish Tiger that he wanted. When he didn't, any chance that Stylish Tiger had at competing for the win spot went out the window. 

My final play for Friday was, Hopeforthebest (25-1) in race seven. He raced in close attendance in third while three wide just off the dueling leaders, Khan of Khans and R Little Nugget.

He continued wide rounding the far turn and drifted out another path or so before he turned for home right there with the leaders. Racing out in about the five path, he was in contention at the three-sixteenths but weakened in the final eighth to finish fourth.

BOTTOM LINE: Hopeforthebest ran an overall decent race here and definitely was overlooked at 25-1. He hasn't done his best running on off tracks and maybe if the track were fast, he would have fared a bit better. I'm by no means saying he would have won if the track were dry, but I would be willing to give him another shot in a similar spot over a fast track. 

Friday's claims

Race 6- My Forest Baby- Linda Rice

Race 7- Rocketing Returns- Rudy Rodriguez

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