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Monday, October 23, 2006

Parking Scarce at Big A

- It looks like parking will be a major issue at Aqueduct, and it ain't because of overflow crowds packing the racino. Or even because of simply decent crowds coming for the racing. There's just not going to be many parking spaces.

Parking will be at a premium as the 1,500-space lot on the clubhouse side of the track has been taken over by the Port Authority and fenced off. Fans now must park on the grandstand side. NYRA has gone as far as to terminate its popular flea market that operated three days a week in the grandstand parking lot. [Daily Racing Form]
I recall coming late one day last year and having a problem parking; and now, it sounds like they'll be far less space. I thought that my owners' parking sticker was invaluable at Saratoga; it could be my saving grace at the Big A. If there still is an owners' parking lot.

Hopefully, I'll still have a horse racing there when my owners' license comes up for renewal at the end of the year. Highland Cat is still down on the farm recuperating and we haven't heard any news; but Just Zip It continued to work her way towards a hoped-for November start with a half-mile breeze in 49.37 (11/28).

It's amazing that it's come to this. I can't tell you how expansive the parking lot there used to be. There was an auxiliary lot and we would moan when we were sent there on crowded days, which was any day on the weekend. It was far enough away that you had to take the shuttle bus. Now, they have had to ditch the popular Aqueduct Flea Market in an attempt to open up as many spots as possible, much to the chagrin of the Head Chef. It would just take one day of people being turned away from the parking lot to ensure that they never try to come to the track again. Until the slots come anyway.

- After briefly hedging after his sparkling win in the Jamaica at Belmont, Barclay Tagg confirmed that Showing Up will not run on Breeders Cup day. He'll instead be pointed to the Hollywood Derby (G1) on November 26. [Thoroughbred Times]

- A lot of workouts on Monday, and you can read about them all at Brisnet. Pegasus Wind worked a mile at Churchill for Wayne Lukas in preparation for the Juvenile. Lukas ran the colt in the Champagne after prepping at Keeneland for the Breeders Futurity, but he apparently did not care for Polytrack.
"I just didn't think he looked real good.....He looked good for the first part of the work, but then he seemed like his head got lower and lower, and he was struggling with it. He was blowing, and I know he's fit, so I said let's go to the Champagne. Then he caught a loose, sandy track in the Champagne that I don't think he cared for."
He ran very well in the Champagne, and may like the two turns of the Juvenile, as Lukas insists he will.

1 Comment:

Anonymous said...

I agree, i thought Pegasus Wind looked very sharp in the Champagne. Can't say i was surprised either, we've known for a while that he's a good horse. It's also interesting that Lukas has been on record for quite some time as saying he expects the horse to prosper going long. Tough spot to make your two-turn debut, but Lukas tends to have his good juveniles spot-on for the Breeders Cup, and i don't have any doubt that Pegasus Wind will be ready for the challenge. I don't like him to win (i like Principle Secret, who may go off @ 5/1 or better), but i do think Pegasus Wind will likely offer more value than anyone else in the race. I wouldn't be shocked to see him @ 15/1 or even higher, and i do think he has a chance to win.