AQU: An 'Inner' Preview

[Kasept]

horseplayers get a surprise Inner Track preview this weekend as NYRA wisely utilizes the third oval today, tomorrow and Sunday with the main track waterlogged. A group meeting of track management, trainers and squacking jocks resulted in the logical decision Thursday after the third race to move racing to the winter surface while maintainence works on the main.

Racing will return to the outer Wednesday-Sunday next week before the Inner is again employed for the rest of the long winter portion of the meet starting November 29. The move throws a bit of a curveball to punters, many playing in weekend handicapping tourneys, as the Inner plays differently than any other surface on the NYRA circuit.

The Inner Track is frequently compared to the inner turf course at Saratoga in terms of running style. The Inner also cannot run races between 6.5-8 furlongs, so elongated sprints are reduced to 6f or stretched to a mile or mile and 70 yards. Inside speed has long dominated the Aqueduct Inner, though that was less true for the first half of last year's Big A congregation before rearing its' head around February '06.

The focus is the late P4 today, and comes on the heels of Wednesday's long afternoon of P6 mayhem. We fared OK in the 18 races, starting torpidly at Aqueduct before warmning at Churchill and catching fire at Hollywood. Failing to single Harvard Avenue, long a favorite horse of ours, in the Inglewood 7th, was all that stood between the $192 play bring home the $11,000 pot... Uggh. The 5 of 6 conso got you back $144. Churchill's sloppy main didn't adversely impact our view of that six getting 4 of the sextet and a number of exotics.

In all, 14 of the day's 18 winners were among our top 4's, while 11 exactas, 4 triples and 2 superfectas were sprinkled in. It was a fun day.. Hope you did well...


SELECTIONS -- Aqueduct Inner, 11/17/06 (R6-9, Late P4, DD's, Late P3)

RED race numbers = Superfecta events

6th: NYB-MDN CLM, F&M-3+, 6f (P4, DD)

1. #1e Schettino entry 10-1: #1 Where's Whitey debuted on AQI in Feb.
2. #9 Raisin' Silver 3-1: Domino grey has chased some OK state-breds 3rd
A. #3 Sumannonymoushoss 15-1: Cedano pulls tricks on Cape Town gal
B. #7 Today's Charmer 6-1: Respect Hernandez always; Bay gets Corny 4th


7th: CLM, F&M-3+, 6f (P3)

1. #7 Darby Haven 3-1: 44/8-10-11 7yo is one tough race mare WON
2. #1 Glittering Racket 5-1: Gets rail; Edgar sticks; 2/1-1-0 on AQI
A. #9 The End is Clear 10-1: Hough drops in from NYB ALW efforts 4th
B. #4 Sweet Nicole 9-2: Imperio grey fits as MED runners like this course

LONGSHOT ALERT/SUPER ADD: #2 Soft Expression 15-1: Liked Inner; Comes late.. 2nd


8th: NYB-OC/N2X, 3+, 9f (DD)

1. #3 Notadroptodrink 8-1: Last win came on Inner in December '05 4th
2. #6 Stellianos 12-1: Old pal LOVES, LOVES, LOVES this surface
A. #1 Dreamin of Victory 2-1: Parisella bay saves ground, 4th in stake last WON
B. #2 Couth 3-1: Hernandez soph could nurse front end in paceless affair 2nd

LONGSHOT ALERT/SUPER ADD: #5 Hunter's Tale 20-1: Half his earnings this strip in one third of his starts..


9th: NYB-OC/N2X, 3+, 1m

1. #8 R Clear Victory 5-1: Wire threat but Edgar will need to clear
2. #7 Wave the Baton 9-2: Velasquez exacta player 5 of 6 times aboard
A. #4 Shuffling Madnes 3-1: From our pal Joe Gioia; Running late WON
B. #10 Questioning 4-1: Lerman grey bounced last; Reunites with Coa

LONGSHOT ALERT/SUPER ADD: #9 Boysik 12-1: Barbara bay a threat with repeat of last..


<50 P4 Play:

6: 1-3-9
7: 1-7
8: 1-2-3-6
9: 7-8

3x2x4x2 = $48


Good luck..!
Steve