Selections

Aqueduct April 23

It’s closing day at the Big A and I think everyone is looking forward to the opening of Belmont. Based on today’s card,  Aqueduct is leaving with a whimper, not a bang. Tough to find any prices on today’s card.

Race 1

  • 1  Motown Sound
  • 4  One Sided
  • 5  Big Discovery
  • Secondary (3)
  • Nothing special here. The top three choices look toughest, and the bottom two horses on the ML look like they belong there.

Race 2

  • 7  Dixie Runner
  • 2  Nominal Dollars
  • 4  Smokey Brown
  • Secondary (1, 3)
  • Dixie Runner has all the speed here and has been running with better. Looks deserving of favoritism. Nominal Dollars has been running well above this level and seemed to improve when moved back to the turf. He’s more of a closer and may not have any pace to run at, so he’s a bit of a chance here. Smokey Brown is not much of a win type but he is solidly in the money.

Race 3

  • 4  Dolphus
  • 2  Splashtastic
  • 1  Economic Model
  • While Economic Model will likely go favorite on the basis of his graded stakes resume, but I’m going to take a stand against him with Dolphus who ran well in the Stymie. Jimmy Jerkens has been fairly hot lately. Splashtastic is better than what he showed in the Stymie and I’m looking for him to be a factor today.

Race 4

  • 4  Fifty Five
  • 1  Dynatail
  • 2  Party Boat
  • Fifty Five should be the favorite off her win in the Florida Oaks but could be vulnerable given her closing style. Dynatail comes out of the same race as the top choice, and just like that race will have to be caught. Might have a better chance at AQU. Party Boat is solid given her graded stake credentials.

Race 5

  • 2  New York Bourbon
  • 6  No Lunks
  • 4  Flatterfly
  • Secondary (3, 7)
  • New York Bourbon drops in price and has shown the best speed in the field. Better chances in this group. No Lunks is dropping out of MSW into the claiming ranks. He should fit better in this field. Flatterfly ran well when moved to the main.

Race 6

  • 6  Quasney’s Angel
  • 7  Wink at Me
  • 3  My Ekati Cat
  • Secondary (4, 9)
  • Quasney’s Angel was jumped up in claiming price after Persaud grabbed her, and drops back in price today. Wink at Me was taken by Gary Gullo in January after finishing up the track in her first with winners. She had trouble in that race and should be more competitive today. My Ekati Kat just broke her maiden and should be in good condition for today’s affair.

Race 7

  • 9  Alabama Bound
  • 4 Puparee
  • 8  Khaleesi Kat
  • 1  Pop Singer
  • Secondary (7)
  • Alabama Bound  has had success at this level and is only on her third after breaking her maiden. Puparee has a pretty good win percentage and seemed to have improved this year at GP. Off her best, she’s in this mix. Khaleesi Kat makes her return off a win in a $50K claimer last November over this turf. Likes the surface, likes the distance. Pop Singer goes for Linda Rice who is 30% off the long layoff. Looks better meant for the turf.

Race 8

  • 7  Gold for the King
  • 1  Reason to Soar
  • 4  T Loves a Fight
  • Secondary (5, 6)
  • In this competitive race the horses likely to get bet look best. Plenty of speed in here, so tough one to predict.

Race 9

  • 5  Final Flurry
  • 8  Patience Love
  • 2 Schmiss
  • Secondary (4)
  • The top two morning line choices look tough in this one. Schmiss is well bred for the turf and for the distance and goes for the Linda Rice barn that is very good with first timers.