Aqueduct March 12

Race 1.     7-1-3

Possetano  Prince wired a field breaking his maiden, came back in a tougher optional claimer where he had a little trouble at the break. The jockey is a bit of a concern, but if he breaks he will be the one to catch. The Great Whiteway has five wins in eight starts and has taken well to the inner. Certainly fits the conditions. Text me comes out of a statebred stakes where he had no chance after the start. He’s been gelded since and should give a better accounting today.

Race 2.     6-2-4

Storm Pursuit has three wins in a row and has only been out of the money once on the inner. He fits the conditions and seems to have a strong early speed advantage. Despite the low odds, he’s hard to make a case against. War Academy was claimed last out by RuRod who is 33% first off the claim. His last race can be discounted given the trouble he had at the start. Prior to that his figures are competitive with this field. Great Lou is an angle horse I like. He stumbled at the start, rushed to the front and faded. Prior to that race he showed good ability to press and close. Watch the odds – he may be the value.

Race 3.     3-6-4

Hey Bro has two seconds in a row on the inner and really isn’t taking much of a step up here. His figures are not quite as high as some others, but he is hard trying and likely to go off at good odds. Power Nap ran well first time on the inner but threw in a clunker when moved to this level. He stays at the level which is a positive. Looks like a good spot and is another that may go off at good odds. Knuckle Curve has been off since August but showed good speed in breaking his maiden and gets a hot Jose Ortiz. Likely underlay but Nevin is fair with long layoffs. A little ambiguous for me, but look at the bright side – a weaker favorite gives the longer prices better outs.

Race 4.     5-4-2

Dixie Runner figured to be better when moved to two turns and he ran a bang up race against the subsequently stakes placed Mo Power. He’s got a good figure out of that race and the combination of the hot duo of Chad Brown and Jose Ortiz makes this one a major contender. Fielding Gold had trouble at the start of his maiden race but still ran evenly around the track. That race didn’t get a huge number but at 30-1 I’m taking a chance on the horse hitting a backhole. Big Gillette has the most experience in this field – not necessarily a good thing. Hasn’t failed to finish in the money on the inner and has the dominant figures, but still seems to need to learn how to win.

Race 5.     1-7-2

Send It In has won four of its last five starts and moves up a little in search of four wins in a row. Looks like he may be the controlling front speed and that is dangerous. Pletcher often uses these OC $62 to prep for something better. Intriguing but betting will depend on the odds. Towering Moon has taken his time coming back from 2015, but the comeback race showed potential to return to previous form. Worth a look at the odds. Second City seems to have enjoyed a little time off and come back running. He fits in this group off his best.

Race 6.     13-10-3-6

Brooklyn Major drew in and looks to have the dominant figure. May be hard to catch. Saratoga Charlie ran well first time out and with a clean trip is a major contender. Quien Sabe seemed a bit disinterested in loading last out and took some of the worst of it out of the gate. Still, he showed a little bit of interest in that race and with that positive I’ll give him a chance at 10-1. Jet Black has been close in his four races and has the top figures.

Race 7.     3-1-2

Pass the Dice makes a significant drop into this spot and has run consistent figures lately. RuRod has his charges running well lately on the inner. Easy Comparison has two in a row on the inner. Moves up a little today and will need his best to meet the challenge. Best Play goes second off the claim for Bruce Brown. He’s another moving up and will need a top effort.

Race 8.     9-4-7

Salutos Amigos is the class of the field – all but one of his last ten races are graded stakes. He really isn’t the same powerful runner he was since racing in Dubai, but he loves the inner and can run as fast as anyone on his best day. Alex the Terror beat a couple of others in here last out and projects to be the one to catch in the lane. Mewannarose always seem close and this may be a field to his liking.

Race 9.     3-4-2

Regulus was claimed by RuRod last out and the hot Jose Ortiz stays for the ride. Had a great 2015 and needed his last. Perfect Disco has the top last race figure and projects as the one to catch.  4 of 9 on the inner. Castaway goes for Danny Gargan and he is still training well at AQU. Has been running consistently.