Aqueduct Notes

Northern Buster ($7.40) won the first at Aqueduct on Wednesday, moving up off the claim for trainer Bernardo Callejas, who took him for $7500 from trainer Sal Iorio, Jr. The son of Northern Trend won by six, and was claimed back by Iorio for 10K. So, for owner PZ Racing Stable, a $12,000 winning share, plus the profit from the quick sale, and not a bad payday for a three week investment.

In the 3rd, Jenay Benay ($7) won first off the claim for trainer Scott Volk, who continues to impress here at the Big A. And first off the claim, this guy has won with nine of his last 14. Five of those times, including today, the horse was moving up at least 50% in claiming price; that out of seven in that category. He claimed this three-year old daughter of Smoke Glacken for 20K from Anthony Dutrow, who was dropping her in class off a win. I would have been suspicious of that (and she ran 4th at 8-5). But Volk took her, moved her up all the way to 35K here, perhaps confided his confidence to close associates as suggested by her going off as the 5-2 choice, and saddled her to an easy two length win. You gotta love this game.

In the 4th, Tartan Plaid, a distant 6th last month when bet to 2-1 from 8-1 morning line in her debut, for trainer Carlos Martin, was in for a 25K tag. Sent off as the 9-10 choice, she faded to 9th after an early pace duel. A horse to put on the beware list.

Trainer John Terranova broke an 0 for 45 streak with first timers with bombshell Daily Star ($59.50) in the 6th, and then took the featured Get Lucky Stakes for Sovereign Stable with Awesome Again ($8.10). That's the second stakes win in a row, both at a mile and 70 yards, for this four-year old daughter of Awesome Again; this filly really loves two turns.