“Off the Charts” Trip Notes

Horses to Watch for AGameofSkill.com Visitors

Keep your eyes peeled for some runners who may offer up value next time to the races.

Aqueduct

Gorelli (AQU Race #4 – 4/17/16 – #7 – 6 1/2f on the dirt)  – Jockey Kendrick Carmouche in the saddle as he had his mount in full flight when  riders got their whips caught up in a cross-fire tangle forcing Carmouche to lose his baton late in the lane. He was rolling nicely and was beaten a little over a length, and that may have been the little distraction to get him off task. Maybe a cleaner trip has him getting his picture taken next out.

Pussy Willow (AQU Race #5 – 4/14/16 – #12 – 1 1/16 on the turf) – top rider Irad Ortiz broke his mount quickly from the #12 post and established the lead. He kept his filly to task and tried to put the field to sleep, slowing down the fractions from 24 to 49.1 to 1:14.4.  A perfect model on how to keep speed alive, but all of the hard work had her a bridesmaid this day getting run down in the final stages.  She’ll give them fits with a better post draw next out. Catch her if you can!

Tizzelle (AQU Race #6 – 4/17/16 – #4 – 1 1/16 on the turf) –  Kendrick Carmouche in the irons, and his mount was bumped soundly at the start by a runner breaking inward.  The rider settled his mount, and saved ground the entire race to show good energy trying in vain to run down the wire-to-wire winner. Maybe a little less “gate break pinball” has him running into the winner’s circle next time out.

Keeneland

Cite (KEE Race #7 – 4/13/16 – #1 – 1 1/16 on the turf) –  Jose Lezcano and Bill Mott teamed up to bring a very nice closer to the races. Lezcano saved ground the entire race, and when the real running began he rushed up to find a seem and the hole collapsed forcing him to check back and wait for a spot.   He was on hold for four or five strides, and made a solid bid with ease for minor awards. He looked like a big truck hauling coal uphill. Once you stop a big runner, it is almost impossible to get them back to full speed. CITE will swing out of traffic next out, and wear down the leaders in the lane.

One More Round (KEE Race #9 – 4/16/16 – #1 – G3 Lexington Stakes 1 1/16) – Jose Lezcano had the call for sneaky trainer A.C. Avila, and this speedy maiden made a pretty good showing. Lezcano tried to pull the shocker going gate to wire for a barn who knows how to bring a horse to the races, and loves to make a solid wager. They seldom venture outside of California, but when they do it is usually with good intent.   He’ll be a nice runner to follow, but I doubt you’ll get that (40-1) in a maiden affair as his odds showed in this stakes race.