Picking Winners from Aqueduct – Horse Play of the Day

The racing at Aqueduct moves from the winterized inner surface to the main dirt track this afternoon, and that usually means the fields will start getting larger and the quality of racing should improve.

That also means turf racing is just around the corner, weather permitting.

The opening day for the main track brings us a rather cheap looking card, but there are several races that give us a decent shot of padding our bankroll.

Today’s Play of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 4 Md Sp Wt (2:27 et)
#3 One Funny Honey 5/1
#4 Distinct Trend 9/2
#5 Bea Bet 2/1
#2 Reforestation 5/2

#3 One Funny Honey was sent off at 5/2 in her debut at Philly and was a non threatening fifth. The filly has a couple of good morning breezes since her unveiling and she is in good hands with the Tony D. barn that usually moves them forward second time out, hitting at a 25% clip (with a +ROI). She has a nice pedigree, the $250K purchase is by Distorted Humor out of the stakes winner Lan Kwai Fong ($140K), who has dropped one other foal to race, 1 for 10 Aussie Bird ($43K). Looking for this gal to move forward and we should catch a fair price in this spot.

#4 Distinct Trend broke poorly in her debut, raced in traffic on the far turn and made a mild late run to finish third. The $310K purchase is also in a strong second time barn with McLaughlin, who hits at a 26% clip with second time starters. The filly is out of the stakes winner Distinct ($114K) who has dropped two other foals to race, a combined 0 for 3.

Today’s Pick 3 Play from Aqueduct:

Starting in Race 7: $1: 5,6 / 3,5,6 / 2,4,5,9 = $24

AQU Race 7 Hcp $16,000s (3:55 et)
#6 Notcharlie’s Angel, #5 Shannon H

#6 Notcharlie’s Angel prompted the early pace, took over the lead and could not match strides late with the winner in a runner up finish at this level. Her runner up finish snapped a two race win streak and she had crossed the wire in front three times, getting DQ’d four back. The mare owns a solid pace profile throughout and it looks like a one turn mile will suit her well.

#5 Shannon H is coming off back to back wins, last out a sharp win versus non winners of three or four year olds. The filly seldom runs a bad one and comes in here very sharp.

AQU Race 8 Alw $50,000s (4:25 et)
#6 Half Metal Jacket, #3 Another Success, #5 Half a Note

#6 Half Metal Jacket made a good late rally while six wide to grab the runner up spot, beaten a half length for the top spot, catching an inside speed favoring racing strip. The gelding makes his second start off the claim, going from one low profile outfit to another. The ten pound bug has just one win on the resume, but the extra ground figures to suit this gelding.

#3 Another Success invades from Gulfstream where the colt was a smart looking winner last out against $30K maiden claimers, drawing clear to win by 8 1/2 lengths. The third place finisher in the race was Bold Vindication, who came back to beat $30K maiden claimers in his next outing on 3/26. The appears to be on the improve and has enough pedigree to handle the stretch out to a one turn mile.

AQU Race 9 Clm $15,000N2L (4:55 et)
#4 Triumphal, #5 Gold Prospect, #2 Run From Hell / #2b Living Out a Dream, #9 After Colin

#4 Triumphal stalked the early pace, made a middle move to get into the mix and ran out of gas in the stretch to finish eighth in his first start against winners. Two back he went gate to wire to pick up his diploma in his first start off a seven month layoff. The gelding makes his third start off the bench and catches a weak looking group here for a capable barn. Worth a look if we see most of the 12/1 ML.

#5 Gold Prospect checked in fourth last out versus $25K foes and drops into an easier spot here for a $15K tag and going from open to non winners of two company. The gelding picks up a jock upgrade to CVel.

Price Plays:
These are price plays to watch today. A small win-place wager is in order or if your pockets are deep enough, use these runners in your trifecta and Pick 3 and Pick 4 wagers. One or two of these could be the difference between a regular day at the track and hitting the IRS window with a signer.

Aqueduct
R3: #6 Bill Place 8/1
R6: #2 Psychotic Summer 10/1
R8: #2 Weekend Action 12/1
R9: #4 Triumphal 12/1

Good luck padding your bankroll today!