Padding Your Bankroll @ Aqueduct: Friday March 19
Before we head into a exciting weekend of racing that includes the Florida Derby on Saturday, a key Kentucky Derby prep, we have plenty of action with a solid nine race card at Aqueduct today.
While many of you are focusing on your NCAA brackets, there is plenty of wagering action to be found at the track, so don’t devote your entire bankroll on the hoops.
The play of the day today comes early in the card, the third race.
The race drew just a field of six, but the morning line favorite Rovic’s Wealth does not look like a standout, and I think we can beat him with Marina Market, a speedy gelding from the Enrique Arroyo barn that is 5/1 on the morning line.
The Late Pick 3 sequence offers a set of races where I think we can beat the likely favorite in each leg.
The key leg will be the ninth race. I included the short priced favorite Rubinstein, but I am going four deep in the race hoping we can beat him for the top spot with one of our longshots.
Today's Play of the Day from Aqueduct:
AQU Race 3 Clm $20,000 (1:58 ET)
#3 Marina Market 5/1
#6 Check It Twice 2/1
#1 Rovic's Wealth 6/5
#2 Hurricane Heat 8/1
Analysis: #3 Market Marina is probably going to be the third choice in this compact field of six, and he looks like she might be dangerous here if he shakes loose early. Last out he set the early fractions and weakened to finish fifth against $25K foes. He owns the edge in early and mid pace numbers, and exits a tough race. The winner was Reptilian Smarts, a nine-time winner from the Dutrow barn. The runner up was Stungbythestorm, who returned to beat $10K starter allowance company in his next outing on March 6. The gelding has done most of his best running on the inner.
#6 Check It Twice drops into an easier spot after facing Alw-3 optional claimers in his last two starts at Philly. He won over the surface here three back, defeating $20K non winners of a race in six months.
Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 3,6 / 1,3,6
TRI: no play
Today’s Pick 3 Play from Aqueduct:
Starting in Race 7: $1: 2,5,7 / 2,6 / 3,4,6,7 = $24
AQU Race 7 OClm $35,000 (3:55 ET)
#7 Billy Bear, #5 Most Happy Fella, #2 Johannesburg Smile
#7 Billy Bear dueled for the early lead, had to steady while lacking room down along the inside in the stretch, and weakened to finish fourth. He won at this condition three back. The five year old owns solid early and mid pace numbers and comes back fresh for the Chip Dutrow barn, who picks up the capable veteran Pino, who was originally listed to ride this guy Saturday along with coming into town to ride the stake on the canceled card. He still is the listed rider here, which is interesting because the longtime Maryland jock does not travel to NY often.
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#5 Most Happy Fella was beaten just a head last out in the mud in his first go at today's Alw-2 condition. The gelding beat state bred Alw-1 foes two back and comes in here off back to back career tops. The gelding owns solid early pace numbers and just needs to avoid a regression to land in the exacta here.
AQU Race 8 OClm $100,000N4X (4:25 ET)
#6 Mt. Glittermore, #2 Toulouse Lautrec
#6 Mt. Glittermore checked in second behind the tough Joey P., who took advantage of a speed friendly muddy track to go gate to wire at the Alw-3 level. The five year old was claimed out of the race by the Asmussen barn that is 19% winners first off the claim. He steps up a notch in class here to the Alw-4 level for the new barn. The five year old earned a career top over the surface here three back beating Alw-3 company. He seldom runs a bad one.
#2 Toulouse Laurtec earned the top last out speed fig in a sharp win versus Alw-2 optional claimers off a 5 1/2 month break, and that effort was flattered now that the runner up and third place finisher both came out of the race to win next out. A winner of 3 of 6 in his career, he now steps up to conditions while returning off a two month break. The colt still appears to have plenty of upside potential and makes his second start for the Levine barn. A tough call as the price is likely going to be on the short side.
AQU Race 9 Md $15,000 (4:55 ET)
#7 You Jump I Jump, #4 Emblemosophy, #3 Rubinstein, #6 S.Z. Madison
#7 You Jump I Jump makes his debut for the Galluscio barn that is 23% winners (with a +ROI) with firsters. The colt is by Jump Start (12% winners with debut runners) out of a Cryptoclearance mare that has dropped one other foal to race, 3 for 12 Just Driving ($36K). Decent works on the morning tab and the barn goes to the low profile Richards, who has won three cheap maiden claiming races for the barn, one a firster, and two others second time starters.
#4 Emblemosophy chased the early pace and faded to finish a well beaten sixth in his debut against open $20K maidens. He now drops in for $15K here and faces NY breds. The gelding is a half to four winners including a pair of stakes winners, top earner Bag of Mischief ($196K). Blinkers are added today and he should be more of a factor against this group at what likely is going to be a generous price.
#3 Rubinstein is the one to beat but taking 7/5 odds on a bottom level NY bred maiden claimer never really gets the pulse racing. The gelding had to steady while rank in the early going, was rushed up to vie for the lead and weakened to finish 7 1/4 lengths behind the winner. Two back he was a good second in a 12 horse field, beaten 3/4 of a length for the top spot. The Bush runner is the logical threat to win but the price is going to be very short.
Price Plays From Aqueduct:
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.
R1: #2 Brief the Lady 15/1
R2: #4 Bowman’s Music 10/1
R3: #2 Hurricane Heat 8/1
R4: #5 Trickanometry 12/1
R4: #2 Charing Cross 12/1
R6: #2 East Coaster 12/1
R6: #3 Sky Ballet 15/1
R7: #2 Johannesburg Smile 12/1
R8: #1 Shoptate 10/1
R9: #4 Emblemosophy 15/1
R9: #6 S.Z. Madison 8/1
Good luck padding your bankroll today!
