Race 1

• 7 Seven Stars – the hunch bet of the year. How could you not bet a horse with seven in its name breaking from the 7 post? Well that and the fact that she is a Jacobson claim coming back at a reduced price. She’s better on the fast dirt but does have a third on a wet track. She’s in that critical third back off a layoff. This is not a high grade field, and the horse has a good dose of back class. She’s 9-5 on the ML and you’ll be lucky to get that.
• 6 Kiss Cat – has been showing decent speed and is probably better suited for six furlongs. She’s 0 for 11 on the fast dirt but 2 of 4 on the wet track. Has been a little over-raced in 2014, but seems to take to AQU as well as any track.
• 4 Jealous – Drops way down off her last two, but she’s probably at the right price today. A little uninspiring at 2 for 28, but did have a nice work 12 days ago.
• 3 Appearance – Dropping to the level where she has a shot to win. Most of her races have been against 3 year-olds. Trainer change to Bernardo Callejas from Bruce Levine is not a big positive.

Race 2

Worst race of the year so far. Welcome to Aqueduct. There isn’t a horse that has a 1, 2, 3, or 4 in its past performance at any call in the race.

• 6 Sister Charm – dropping from MSW. Hoping the fast work on 9/29 means she has speed. It’s discouraging though that she hasn’t been on the track since then. She’s well-bred for the distance. As long as we’re taking a stab, might as well stab at 10-1.
• 8 Oohlala – showed a little more when dropped to MCL. Has the monster 52 Beyer and that is what makes her 4-5 on the ML. Don’t be fooled too much – she stinks, just a little less than some others.
• 1 Yellow Cello – couldn’t get out of her own way at the break last out, but at least she has an excuse and in this group it’s good enough to use her.

Race 3

• 3 Doublicious – another one with speed and may compromise the 2. She’s dropping way down and trainer Abigail Adsit has been quietly having a good year.
• 5 South Sound – Has been running well lately, although has had some issues getting by horses in the stretch. Mostly likely to have first run at the leaders into the stretch.
• 2 Star Magnolia – lots of speed and probably isn’t useful beyond 6 furlongs. If she gets out on her own she has a good chance to hold on.

Race 4

• 5 Stonely Heart – showed a lot of interest first time out, just missing to Kleptocrat. Decent figure and a useful work since then.
• 8 Moonlight Fantasy – lots of speed but not so much heart. Finished behind both the 5 and the 12 after having the lead in the stretch. Have to believe she’s getting a little better and might be a little stronger this time.
• 12 Moldavite – ran with the 8 and outfinished her, albeit by a nose. Expecting these three to duel again.
• 2 Bossy Boots – last race first two finishers have already come back to win, and second last race winner has repeated. Of course, those races were seven months ago, although the last was on the AQU main dirt. Has some useful breezes leading up to this one.

Race 5

With the race off the turf the MTO Lotsa Noodles looks good. The other MTO House Rules has primarily been running graded races this year, and the last time she didn’t run a graded stake she won by six and a half. 

• 4 Marbre Rose – ran a good one for Clement in a yielding BEL turf three weeks ago, and before that was Group placed in Europe. Looks like Lasix has made a difference for the horse. Best horse in the field as long as we don’t see a Euro bounce.
• 5 Party Now – lightly raced horse that was competitive in the Wonder Again last May. Perhaps the rest has allowed her to mature. Certainly has competitive figures and McGaughey is very good with layoff horses.
• 9 Rubindy – Chad Brown is on top of the world after the Breeder’s Cup  and is back home with the New York stable. Ran a good one first on the turf and improvement wouldn’t be a surprise.
• 8 Neolexia – Always seems to be around at the end, but some trouble getting the top prize.

Race 6

• 3 We Fly Private – improved on the slop and looks like he’ll have another chance to improve today.
• 7 Jimmy Soul – starting to look like a professional maiden, but has a big wet track rating. Perhaps the claim by RuRod gets him on the right track.
• 5 Alyish – six starts and not a lot of success, but he does have a good turn of speed and on this track it may help.

Race 7

• 1 Old Upstart – claimed by Abigail Adsit last out after running a good second in the slop. Has the right style and figures to do well today.
• 3 Sean and Matt – ran away from a $50K maiden field last out after being off nine months. Looks like he matured during the time off and fits in this group.
• 10 Oltre’ Oro – been off since spring at AQU but has a good series of works for the comeback.
• 8 Invasion Point – powerful rating on the wet track and he’s coming off a strong maiden win, albeit with a lesser group.

Race 8

• 8 Cool Samurai – Sherriffs runner ran well at BEL after coming back east from Santa Anita. Major distinction is that he finished second to Wicked Strong in his debut outing. Has the wet track rating to dominate this group.
• 3 Celebrated Talent – a win and two seconds on the wet surface, and that makes him dangerous today. Loves the distance as well.
• 5 Apex – In good condition for low profile connections. Often around for a piece at the end.
• 1A – M J Plus – won an $8K starter allowance at Parx and was probably the stronger of the two horse entry. 3 wins in seven wet track starts.

Race 9

• 6 Great Cross – won on a muddy BEL track last out and was taken by Maker. That’s the best race she’s run in a while and maybe the moisture gives her two in a row.
• 7 Bartiromo – finally ran on a wet track last out and finished a distant second. That was encouraging enough for trainer Barbara to keep him in this off the turfer.
• 9 Malibu Queen – nothing special about her wet track races but with the shortened field, she has a chance.