Another Aqueduct Friday with the typical 8 race winter card, some good races today and some strong opinions with a first post of 12:50. Look for my plays and picks on twitter @cjfelts87 and best of luck if you’re playing along!
Through 22 Daily Gallop writeups Total: 209-52-37-48 (25% win, 66% ITM)
Aqueduct meet totals: 60-16-5-17, $1.60 ROI for every $2 bet ($120 wagered = $99.60 returned)
Longshot play(s) of the day: Race 4 #3
Best Bet(s): Race 1 #2, Race 6 #5, Race 7 #1
Race 1 CLM 16k N3L 4up, 1 mile
Multi Race- A: 1,2 B: 5,7
Top pick- #2 Vintage Hollywood
- Drops back down to the N3L claiming ranks after the n1x allowance competition proved to be too much. Ran a solid race against similar 3 back for trainer Gary Gullo who is having a very good meet and boasts a positive ROI when teaming up with Eric Cancel over the past year. Opens at 2-5 ML and I won’t be trying to beat him here.
Second choice- #1 Booby Trap
- Was beat in the stretch last out against the same class level plus I like the fact that he stays at this level today and keeps Carmouche aboard. Has some speed and should be pressing the pace early.
Underneath- #5 Horoscope, #7 Woodbury
Race 2 CLM 50k 4up, 7 furlongs
Multi Race- A: 1,5 B: 6
Top pick- #5 No Distortion
- I’ll play against Hawaiian Noises with the 2-1 ML second choice. His form is pretty good if you look past the 2 recent stakes races and he has won twice before with Eric Cancel. Looks like a possible Eric Cancel early double.
Second choice- #1 Hawaiian Noises
- The obvious ML favorite at 4-5 who is well spotted for Jason Servis and can fire off of layoffs. His early running style will help his cause too but I’ll try to beat him at a short price.
Underneath- #6 Holiday Bonus
Race 3 CLM 25k N3L 4up, 6 furlongs
Multi Race- A: 4,6 B: 1,5
Top pick- #4 Bronx Bomber
- Another race trying to beat the short priced favorite and I’ll do so with the 9-2 ML Bronx Bomber. Ran a solid third against similar last out in the slop so you could even upgrade that performance since he has never won over a wet footing and may have not enjoyed the surface that day. Before that he was running against tougher n1x allowance company but is in a good spot today for trainer John Kimmel.
Second choice- #6 Spectre Bond
- Has to be considered but I want nothing to do with him at 4-5 ML. Seems like the type of move where the trainer is just trying to get rid of him and I’m suspicious of him in this spot.
Underneath- #1 Take It to scale, #5 Zonic
Race 4 ALW 70k n1x 4up, 1 mile
Multi Race- A: 3,5 B: 4,6
Top pick- #3 Frank’sgunisloaded
- Opens at 10-1 ML and I’ll pick him on top as a longshot play. Showed he has talent when beating a maiden field last January which had 2 next out winners (including the eventual grade 2 winner By My Standards). Obviously only having one race since then is a concern but Danny Gargan has good numbers with both first starters and off of layoffs; he shows a lot of confidence in this 4 year old gelding by Orb with an ambitious placing today.
Second choice- #5 El Hermano
- This seems like the type of situation where you follow wherever the top jockey is going. Lezcano opts to stay on this Bill Mott horse over two Linda Rice runners and a Todd Pletcher runner and that should be saying something. Wired the field against a similar level 2 back and appears to be the horse to beat.
Underneath- #4 Crea’s Bklyn Law, #6 I Love Jaxson
Race 5 MSW 60k state bred 3yo, 1 mile
Multi Race- A: 10,11 B: 2,7
Top pick- #10 Wild Banker
- Closed to be a good third last out and now gets another chance at the same level drawing from the outside. Has good tactical speed which will help him with the pace up front.
Second choice- #11 Pave It
- Can improve second off the layoff for trainer Jeremiah Englehart and Jose Lezcano. Was the second best last time after being in the lead at the top of the stretch and like Wild Banker has tactical speed drawing from an outside post.
Underneath- #2 Beach Pass, #5 Beg to Differ, #7 Farragut, #12 Aintitfunkynow
Race 6 STR ALW 50k 3yo fillies, 7 furlongs
Multi Race- A: 5 B: 3,6
Top pick- #5 Officer Hutchy
- Finished second out in a stakes race last time to a next out winner and now finds herself in a very nice starter allowance spot for Linda Rice. Jose Lezcano hops back aboard and she seems to be the horse to beat on paper in this field.
Second choice- #6 Glass Ceiling
- Impressive victory to break the maiden and then was outclassed next time in the grade 2 Demoisel. Now finds a nice starter allowance spot like Officer Hutchy and trainer Danny Gargan spouts good numbers when cutting back in distance.
Underneath- #3 Evade, #8 All Over the Map
Race 7 AOC 40k n2x state bred 4up, 1 ⅛ miles
Multi Race- A: 1,3 B: 2,6
Top pick- #1 Twisted Tom
- He likes this 1 ⅛ miles distance and the class drop from stakes company will help too. Won against similar company two back and has good tactical speed drawing from the rail.
Second choice- #3 Blugrascat’s Smile
- Has some good back class if you go back to last September and could be dangerous if he finds that form again today. Jose Lezcano hops on for a hot trainer in Rob Atras.
Underneath- #2 Big Mountain, #6 Shamrock Kid, #7 Carthon
Race 8 ALW 70k n1x fillies and mares 4up, 6 furlongs
Multi Race- A: 1/1A, 5 B: 2,6
Top pick- #1/1A Entry
- Both sides of the Linda Rice entry look promising. The 1, Science Fiction, is making a jail move off the claim up to n1x allowance company. She beat open claimers by 5 and now steps right on up. The 1A, My Roxy Girl, also won last out against starter allowance company and moves up in class. They both get top jocks in Junior Alvarado (Science Fiction) and Jose Lezcano (My Roxy Girl).
Second choice- #5 Gypsy Janie
- Like Science Fiction she is also making a jail move for trainer Michael Tannuzzo and Eric Cancel stays aboard. Likes the 6 furlong distance and has a solid bullet workout coming into this race.
Underneath- #2 Palomita, #6 Forgotten Hero