Thoroughbreds: McMudder adds Sunday racing at Parx to Aqueduct and Laurel Park
Spring brings changes to racing schedules as is seen today with the return of Sunday racing at Parx. Mick will be adding Parx to the Sunday races covered through the end of May. In addition, the first weekend of turf racing has brought competitive races and large fields to Aqueduct. Let’s hope that continues and Laurel opens the grass next week. The big question is when will Parx open the turf course? Mick sees NO REASON for Parx to wait until Summer to begin racing on the turf. The spring is when the grass starts growing with vigor and that makes it easier for divots to reestablish and helps to green up quickly. Waiting for summer just gets closer to the dry, hot days of August when the grass dies and can’t be repaired. Come on Parx, get with the program! The bettors want bigger fields, don’t you?
Picks for April 7, 2019:
Sunny and around 70 at both Parx and Laurel. A wet front may come through Aqueduct adding some rain to the forecast and reducing expected temperatures to the 50s.
Aqueduct Race 3
Maiden for boys on the turf at 9f. Mick is not a big fan of first time starters going a route of ground, much less 9f, but when trainer Bill Mott does it, it pays to take notice. When he does it with a homebred for Juddmonte Farms and the pedigree shouts both long and turf like 3-Tide of the Sea’s does, then you must use him. 2-Pioneer Dancer ran well at 2 turns in his lone start for turf trainer extraordinaire Chad Brown and should enjoy the additional distance based on pedigree. If the rains materialize and this race comes off the turf, 11-Orbed is a standout and should be used.
$10 W/P/S 3-Tide of the Sea
$2 Exacta Box 2,3
Aqueduct Race 5 Danger’s Hour Stakes
Older boys at 8f ON THE TURF. 8-Inspector Lynley will be the favorite here as he makes a drop out of stakes company for the first time since Saratoga last year. His last race was not great but his position was jeopardized by a poor start. The value will be elsewhere with 1-Awesome Saturday being intriguing. His last race was solid and should serve to get him tightened up for this one. No idea whether the rail is good at Aqueduct but it has historically been OK. 2-Maraud will be there if he is ready off the 6 month break. He’s a G2 winner so back class is there.
$10 W/P/S 1-Awesome Saturday
$2 Exacta Box 1,2,8
$0.50 Trifecta Box 1,2,8
Laurel Race 1
Starter for boys at 8f. 8-Run for James has been good for a while but the challenge appears to be about keeping him on the track. His last race was last September in the slop at Delaware so all there is to evaluate are 3 works at Parx, including a bullet 2 weeks ago. If he is ready, he will be tough. If he isn’t, 4-Espresso Caliente should be after running back-to-back winning efforts, albeit at lower levels. Trainer Freddy Velazquez is strong shipping and even stronger having won last out. 1-Bobby G seems to want more ground than this and has a much better record with the second turn thrown in.
$10 W/P/S 4-Espresso Caliente
$2 Exacta box 1,4,8
$0.50 Trifecta box 1,4,8
Laurel Race 4
Claiming 8K non1 since boys at 8 f. 9-Super Vision would, should, could be the pick here but top jockey Trevor McCarthy opting for 8-Bobby the Brain gives pause. It shouldn’t. Jockey Angel Suarez won the last time trainer Cathal Lynch legged him on 9-Super Vision and today should be no different. 3-Dazzling Okie needs another big effort off of the claim but is in it with a repeat of last out.
$20 W/P/S 9-Super Vision
$2 Exacta box 3,8,9
$0.50 Trifecta box 3,8,9
Parx Race 1
$20K claimer for 3 year old boys at 6f. 1-Impactful continues to burn owner Mike Repole’s money as this $250K yearling purchase barely broke his maiden last out. The step up against winners would usually be a challenge but this group is not much. 2-Alwayslookeye ran second against the same level in his last two and could do the same here. 4-Cape May Style should fill the trifecta.
$20 W/P/S 2-Alwayslookeye
$2 Exacta box 1,2,4
$0.50 Trifecta box 1,2,4
Parx Race 3
$25K claimer n3 for boys at 6f. 1-Cardcounter should win here as he comes out of a really salty race and this is a much softer spot. No one else is close.
$20 W/P/S 1-Cardcounter
Mick’s Quick Picks
Aqueduct Race 8
2-Go Rose arrives after 9 months on the shelf following a career start in Germany. Christophe Clement excels with these kind.
Laurel Race 7
1-Great Herman appears to be named for his owner. Is that a good thing? Looks to be here.
Parx Race 4
9-Whitneydianne makes her first start after an impressive work last week. Not much to beat in this one.