Sunny and low 40’s in Ozone Park, NY for Aqueduct
First, and most in impressive fashion, congratulations to Luis Saez, @luissaezpty, for a prodigious six wins yesterday at Gulfstream. Wow. Secondly, it’ll be interesting to see how the track plays today after yesterdays sloppy going.
$40K Optional Claiming for NY breds NW$x or NW3, going one mile
#5 Chestertown (9/5) will take the most cash in this and bettors still trying to reckon the fact that any horse sold for $2M must be worth wagering on. If I were a part of the connections, I would have cut and ran last year from Asmussen. Today, this Tapit colt drops to an Optional Claimer after a diet of stakes races since mid-summer. Could this be the time to buy on the dip? For me? No. #2 Six Percent (2/1) look for this gelding to take money in this, too. Maker/Franco both big players in the game, yet only 12% when teamed. If left uncoupled, preference goes to #1 Not That Brady (3/1) benched in July, this son of Big Brown has been near the favorite’s, odds-wise in the Empire Classis, Albany Stakes and Empire Derby. Of those, he was competitive in two and beaten badly in the most recent. Even more recent, he was eased and walked off, scoring a goose egg for an Equibase number. His steady diet of works, his 6:2-2-0 record at The Big A for $186K, and a solid 18% record for RudyRod in returning horses from layoffs make him an interesting prospect. My choice is #3 Pategory One (10/1) who is on the ascent. Ride number two for Kendrick Carmouche. This grandson of City Zip has been on the track three times this fall and competitive in all three – winning the last two, including a statie $72K allowance in its last (11/13). His record for the year thus far is 4:2-1-0 for $18K per race is at par with the The $2m Man and he has done everything right in terms of MSW races and winning while moving up the ladder.
The $250K NY Stallion Stakes for 2yo filles going seven furlongs
I really feel that post 11 for Laobanonaprayer (9/5) will be too difficult to overcome the inside speed/ground saving trip of #1 Gray Destiny (5/2). Yesterday, on a muddy surface, the rail and inside positions posed a heavy bias and I see no reason for today to be any different. Christophe Clement is one of the leading trainers here and has a 50% win strike with 2yo’s after 14 attempts. Look for an improved effort from #2 Tangerine Dream (50/1).
The $250K NY Stallion Series for 2yo’s going 7F
#7 Dreamer’s Disease (8/5) put in a solid effort for ¾ of the race in the G1 Breeders Cup Juvenile before getting passed in the lane. Coming back in a month after a 4F freshening and Diodoro hitting 28% when moving horses down are strong reasons to like this colt. #6 Market Alert (12/1) and #9 Horn of Plenty (10/1) will be flying late. I will also include #10 Jacoba (30/1) in my exotics.
Race 2 – Foley Square (10/1)
Race 3 – Playwright (5/2)
Race 4 – Dance For The Gold (8/1)
Race 7 – Hey Mamaluke (20/1)
Happy Hunting 😊