Last week was a stinker, we had I believe 2 winners on top. This week we need to get back into it so let’s go.
Race 1: 4-1-2
#4 ESTILO FEMENINO has yet to miss the exacta in 5 career races. She’s run 2nd in two straight ungraded stakes races so the step down in class today should make this race simple for her. Those two races were also her best from a speed figure perspective and we see consistent works since that last race in November.
Race 2: 6-3-5
#6 HERO’S WELCOME had a horrible trip last time out, they threw Dylan Davis off after that and this colt has done better at levels similar to this. This horse has changed barns and drops a good amount of weight today. That last work, which was a bullet, makes me very confident. If he can get back to those first races he ran then at 4/1 ML I think he can find the winners circle.
Race 3: 7-6-2
#7 AMERICAN POWER was bumped at the start last time out and just missed finishing 3rd after making a mad dash from the back of the field. Speed figures from this colt match up with the field nicely, he owns 2 wins in 3 races at this distance AND has won both starts when breaking from the outermost post. If you need more sugar with this medicine we also get 25% Junior up for Linda Rice (30%).
Race 4: 5-2-8
#5 RO BEAR gave us a sublime performance last time out for what was a career high speed figure. That was here at Aqueduct and this gelding runs extremely well at this distance of a mile. The winning rider retains the ride today and overall he won’t have to do as much as he did last time to get a win.
Race 5: 4-7-2
#4 ERLICH just missed last time out after dueling for a mile straight and going 4 wide. A better trip today would be more than enough to win if he runs comparable to how he did last time out. We see a bullet work in his last and some very consistent works across the board. The extra distance today isn’t a worry for me at all, if anything it’s promising that he will excel based on his pedigree. Go in on anything above 3/1.
Race 6: 2-1/1A-5
#2 SMILES FROM SADIE went 5-6 wide and came from the back to finish a strong 2nd at the distance and still ran on after the wire. Today if we get a better ride from Junior, and we have a much better post to do so ground saving from the inside, then he should be able to find the winners circle. This filly has finished 2nd or better with Junior up and I expect improvement today which will be enough to beat this field.
Race 7: 3-6-2
#3 PLAYTHATFUNNYMUSIC hasn’t missed the board in the last 7 tries. The Finger Lakes shipper gets Dylan Davis up today and since October has been running very solid races and all the races were at the trip. This gelding runs very well at the distance overall and has a very appealing workout last out. At an 8/1 ML price this guy should be looked at and heavily considered.
Race 8: 3-10-2
#3 PROXIMATE TO POWER ran well last time out and gets a small drop in class today. We also get a cut back in distance today which is he gets to the front could be good for him and we all know how much Jose Lezcano loves the lead. No worse finishes on the dirt than 3rd for this guy and he finished just a half length behind a next out winner in his last. Last but not least I love the fact he has already faced winners, something we don’t see a lot of in this field.