At the Gate - Thursday
By Mike Dempsey
It was a chalky day at the Big A on Wednesday to start the week, with four winners on top but the payoffs were light: $2.80, $3.70 $7.10 and $4.30. Rain fell throughout the day and we were off the turf.
The sun is supposed to make an appearance on Thanksgiving Day in New York, but it seems likely we will be off the turf again. There is a special early post time of 11:35am ET.
The feature is the $300,000 Fall Highweight (G3), with the David Jacobson trained Strapping Groom the top weight at 134 pounds. He will be spotting the speedy filly La Verdad eight pounds.
Four of the horses in the field were cross-entered at Penn National on Wednesday night, but the races were canceled so we should see a large field.
The Chad Brown trained Bakken (5-2) gets the call, looking to rebound off an eighth place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) in his last outing.
We have a big Saturday coming up, with California Chrome making his turf debut in the $300,000 Hollywood Derby (G1). A win would give the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner his fourth Grade 1 victory in 2014.
There are four graded stakes on Saturday’s card at Aqueduct highlighted by the $500,000 Cigar Mile (G1). The race includes the runner up and third place finishers from the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), Secret Circle and Private Zone.
Also in the field are Itsmyluckyday, winner of the Woodward (G1) and Kelso Handicap (G1) winner Vyjack.
The card features the $400,000 Demoiselle (G3) for two-year-old fillies, $400,000 Remsen for two-year-old colts and geldings and the $400,000 Comely (G3) for three-year-old fillies.
Here is today’s opening race from Aqueduct to get the day off to a good start:
AQU Race 1 Clm $12,500N3L (11:25 ET)
7 Foxbeau 5-2
4 Radiant Cut 6-5
6 Vinhdication Spot 12-1
2 Tatoo Me 5-1
Analysis: Foxbeau dueled for the early lead and faded to finish a well-beaten seventh last out in her first go off an eight-month layoff facing straight three-year-old fillies for a $17,500 tag. She faces older her but these are non-winners of three. Her last win came on the inner track where she beat $25,000 non-winners of two over a wet track back in January. She should move forward second off the bench for the Gullo barn.
Radiant Cat tracked the early pace from the outside and ran out of gas in the stretch in a fifth place finish against $16,000 non-winners of three. The filly has come up short four times since beating non-winners of two on the turf back in June at Belmont Park. She catches an easier group than she has been facing and Johnny V sticks for the Donk barn, but the 6-5 morning line sure is light.
Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 4,7 / 2,4,6,7
TRI: 4,7 / 2,4,6,7 / 1,2,4,6,7
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:
AQU Race 8 The Fall Highweight Hcp G3 (2:42 ET)
5 Bakken 5-2
7 La Verdad 6-1
1 Salutos Amigos / 1a Strapping Groom 2-1
2 Titghtend Touchdown 15-1
Analysis: Bakken gets the call and this race could look different, as four of these are cross-entered at Penn. Our top pick makes his first start since running eighth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) where he was just 3 1/2 lengths back of the winner. He beat Alw-2 optional claimers two back and earned a career top speed fig in a game runner up finish in the True North 'Cap (G2) three back. He beat Alw-1 foes over the Big A main track here last November. Looks primed for a top effort in his third start of his current form cycle for the Chad Brown barn.
La Verdad takes on the boys here after taking the field gate to wire last out to win the state bred Iroquois at Belmont Park. The filly has won 10 of her 15 career starts and her win last out snapped a three race losing streak. She owns the edge in early and mid pace numbers and does her best running when she is able to shake loose early. She is perfect in four trips over the main track here.
Salutos Amigos made a mild late rally to finish seventh in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, beaten three lengths. The gelding won the Bold Ruler 'Cap (G2) two back with a career top speed fig. The David Jacobson trainee is perfect in two trips over the Big A main track.
Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 2-1 or better.
EX: 5,7 / 1,2,5,7
TRI: 5,7 / 1,2,5,7 / 1,2,5,7,8
Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.
Aqueduct
R1: #6 Vinhdication Spot 12-1
R2: #10 Intelligence 8-1
R3: #3 Domer 10-1
R4: #9 False Positive 8-1
R5: #2 Wealth to Me 10-1
R5: #3 Erik the Red 12-1
R7: #7 Jeremy’s Song 15-1
R8: #2 Tightend Touchdown 15-1
R9: #11 American Gold 20-1
Good luck today!
