Today’s Play from Aqueduct – Staying Safe

Padding Your Bankroll: Thursday March 26

Today’s play of the day is a $10,000 maiden claimer, the fourth race on the nine race card in the racebook. The fact that the play of the day is a cheap maiden race should tell you today’s card will not go down as one of the best during the meeting.

I had some trouble finding longshots, and today’s Late Pick 3 play, which is a $24 investment, includes just one horse likely to go off at 10/1 or better.

However, the good news is there are enough vulnerable favorites that we can still pad our bankroll.

Today’s Play of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 4 Md $10,000 (2:27 et)

#7 Abu Racer 5/2

#8 Destry 8/1

#4 Chaysen’ Alex 2/1

#1 Just Dixie 4/1

Analysis: #7 Abu Racer was off a step slow when the gelding leapt at the start. The gelding showed some late run, rallying to finish fifth. The winner of the race was Geno Green, who came back to beat $14K claimers in his next outing on 3/15. Runner up Q the Music came back to graduate in his next start on 3/24. The gelding drops into an easier spot here and should be able to handle a wet track. He is by El Corredor out of the stakes winner Fickle Fanny ($382K).

#8 Destry prompted the early pace, made a move on the far turn and then ran out of gas in the stretch, checking in fourth. It was the colt’s first real sign of life after getting badly outrun in his first five starts. Catches a weak group of maidens here and the 8/1 ML looks fair enough.

Wagering

WIN: #7 to win at 2/1 or better.

EX: 7,8 / 1,4,7,8

TRI: 7,8 / 1,4,7,8 / 1,4,5,7,8

Today’s Pick 3 Play from Aqueduct:

Starting in Race 7: $1: 4,6,8 / 3,5 / 3,5,6,7 = $24

AQU Race 7 Clm $16,000N1Y (3:55 et)

#6 Northern Duke, #8 Hedge Fund, #4 Southern Prince

#6 Northern Duke is making his first start since last April at Gulfstream Park where he set the early fractions and weakened to finish sixth on the turf versus $10K foes. He was claimed out of the race by the LaMarca Stables and lands here with the Brown barn that is showing a 28% clip (with a +ROI) first off the claim. The five year old is bred top and bottom to handle a wet track and won his lone go on off going. This looks like a good spot here facing non winners of a race in six months.

#8 Hedge Fund seems to be always in the mix but usually taking minor shares. The gelding landed in the money in 9 of his last 10 starts without picking up a win. Perhaps a wet track could get him over the hump. He has a solid off track pedigree and a win and a second in two trips over a wet track.

AQU Race 8 OClm $100,000C (4:25 et)

#3 Joey P., #5 Sixthirteen

#3 Joey P. did not show as much as I thought he would last out in the G3 Toboggan, which was his first start off a six month layoff. The seven year old figures to move forward second off the bench and this guy landed in the exacta in all six of his starts in ‘08, which included three triple digit Beyers. He is winless in five starts on wet tracks but did land second in four of those trips.

#5 Sixthirteen went gate to wire to beat Alw-2 optional claimers last out and earned a career top in the victory. Not a great sign to see the guy disappear for six months after the win. The Hushion barn is 13% winners (with a +ROI) with horses returning off a +180 day layoff. The five year old owns solid early and mid pace numbers but could have some company early. Decent works on the morning tab and while this guy has not been on a wet track, he has a solid off track pedigree.

AQU Race 9 Md $12,500 (4:55 et)

#6 Heartsforhaley, #5 Eastern Prime, #7 Wise Pitch, #3 Sweet Ludaoo

#6 Heartsforhaley dueled for the early lead and faded to finish seventh last out for a $25K tag. Two back this filly was a good second after battling for the lead, beaten four lengths but 4 1/4 clear of the rest of the field. The blinkers go on today as she makes her third start of her current form cycle. She owns solid early and mid pace numbers and she may prove tough to catch in this spot.

#5 Eastern Prime was the beaten chalk last out, getting off poorly when pinched back coming out of the gate. She checked in fifth, beaten five lengths for the top spot. Two back she was a game second, beaten just a half length for the top spot. She has a decent off track pedigree and again likely goes off as the short priced fav in here.

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

R1: #5 Hookin the Goods 12/1

R4: #8 Destry 8/1

R5: #5 Unbridled Danger 15/1

R9: #3 Sweet Ludaoo 10/1

Good luck padding your bankroll today!