Aqueduct Saturday

In the second, Wall Street Wonder (4-1) makes just his second career start on dirt, and his first for trainer John Terranova (44% in the turf to dirt category). His one dirt effort was a 12 length defeat; his next biggest margin of defeat in his ten race career was four. But he could hold a speed and class edge in an interesting entry-level open allowance. His one dirt race was in a Grade 2 stakes at Calder, where he flashed excellent speed with Moss pace figures that far outrank his competitors here; and that after a stumble at the start. He succumbed after dueling on the front end with Prince Joshua, who won the Select Stakes at Monmouth in his next start, and then, after two throwouts in the slop at Saratoga, ran a close second in a FL-bred stakes at Calder with a Beyer of 103.

Wall Street Wonder is by City Place, a Storm Cat sire (remember when they were all the rage?) standing in Florida. Though the stallion stands for just $5,000, this colt sold for $325,000 at the Barretts sale in March 2008. So I surmise that he must have been pretty impressive over the dirt surface at Fairplex Park. Looking for him to outbreak and outclass a field featuring three NY-breds out of state-bred conditions (one off a 21 month layoff) and a maiden graduate from Philly Park.

- The Toddster keeps rolling along; another winner on Friday - Every Little Thing ($5.20) in the finale - gives him a three in a row here; and he's been in the money with his last 12 (8-3-1)!