Expert Horse Picks – Spring Racing from Aqueduct

Horse Pick of the Day:  Aqueduct – Race 6
Race-day:  4/15/2009
Race-time:  3:25 pm est.

Racing in New York will soon switch to Belmont Park but before it does, BetOnline online racebook fans will have a chance to make some money at Aqueduct.

Aqueduct routinely runs some of the best racing on the grass on their turf track every spring.  Wednesday’s pick of the day is no exception.

Let’s analyze Race 6 at Aqueduct on Wednesday.

Aqueduct – Race 6
Claiming $25,000b
For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Up Which Have Never Won Three Races or Four Year Olds
1 1/16th miles on turf

Queen of the Scene – 3/1 morning line odds

Jockey Ramon Dominguez takes the call on this 5 year old mare sired by Optic Nerve.  She was terrible in her last race, a $42,000 allowance, and now finds herself running for a $25,000 tag.  The drop in class should definitely help and out of 6 lifetime races on the turf, Queen of the Scene has gone 2-1-1.  That makes her percentage in the money at 66%.  She can stalk behind what figures to be a fast pace before taking over in the lane.

Artistic Talent – 5/2 morning line

There’s a new Dutrow on the scene, Sydney Dutrow, and that in itself should make Artistic Talent a favorite.  Any time a Dutrow trains a horse, horseplayers had better take notice.  When a Dutrow trains a horse for an owner named Robert J. Frankel, then horseplayers had really better take notice.  This 4 year old filly sired by Aptitude was bred by Juddmonte Farms.  That means that the class is there.  The big issue is that Artistic Talent likes to run on the lead but she won’t be the lone speed in this.

Madam Commander – 4/1 morning line odds

She returns to the turf where she has 2 thirds out of 5 starts and gets jockey Cornelio Velasquez to take the call.  Madam Commander could surprise in this race after working a very nice 5 furlongs in 1:01 at Belmont on April 6th and the one hole is perfect for her style.  She could surprise, but this field came up pretty tough with both Artistic Talent and Queen of the Scene entered.

Wagering Strategy

I’m going to bet Queen of the Scene to win and place.  I will put Queen of the Scene, Artistic Talent and Madam Commander into an exacta and trifecta box.