Horse Picks from Historic Aqueduct

National major stakes races on the weekends.

It does not look like we will see many longshots on Friday’s card at Aqueduct, but at least three of the potential longshots I did find are all included in our Late Pick 3 play, which starts in the seventh race at the Big A.

Despite the lack of potential bombs on today’s card, there are several favorites that look vulnerable, and I really like the play of the day:

Today's Play of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 4 Clm $20,000N2L (1:55 et)

#4 Volos 3/1

#6 Larry Revenge 2/1

#1 Footloose Man / #1a Moment Sensor 6/1

#7 JJ's Prophet 10/1

Analysis: #4 Volos bobbled coming out of the gate, tracked the early pace from the rail and angled out for the stretch drive, finishing with a good late run to finish second, beaten 3/4 of a length for the top spot. It was his first go off a seven month layoff and both the fifth and sixth place finishers in that race came back to win their next starts. The gelding also caught a main track that was more favorable to speed that day. The Asmussen barn has been on a roll at the meet, hitting at a 39% clip and this gelding figures to move forward for his second start off the bench.

#6 Larry's Revenge is making his first start since last May for the Zito barn that is 27% winners with horses coming back off a +180 day layoff. The colt was good enough to check in third in the G3 Gotham last March on the inner surface going two turns in the slop. The colt had a good breeze on 1/12. Only real knock is the short price.

Wagering

WIN: #4 to win at 5/2 or better.

EX: 4,6 / 1,4,6,7

TRI: 4,6 / 1,4,6,7 / 1,4,5,6,7

Today’s Pick 3 Play from Aqueduct:

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

AQU Race 7 Alw $44,000N1X (3:20 et)

#3 A Zero Trap, #5 Shot Gun Holiday

#3 A Zero Trap returns off a three-month layoff where in his last start the gelding made a good late rally to finish in the runner up spot at today's condition. The winner of that race was See More Spirit, who came back to beat Alw-2 state breds in his next start. Third place finisher Ring Bernadette also was a next out winner, beating Alw-1 NY breds by 6 1/2 lengths on 11/20. The gelding finds what looks like a weak group here for his return for the Bush barn that is 14% winners (with a +ROI) with horses coming back off a 61-180 day layoff.

#5 Shot Gun Holiday stalked the early pace from the inside and finished gamely for the runner up spot last out, coming up a neck shy of the winner. The gelding makes his third start since going to the Contessa barn who claimed him for $15K three back.

AQU Race 8 OClm $50,000N2X (3:49 et)

#6 Quip returns off a three month break for the McLaughlin barn that is 23% winners with horses coming back off a 61-180 day layoff. The five year old was last seen in October at Keeneland where he was a game second at this level, beaten 3/4 of a length for the top spot. The winner of that race was Just as Well, who checked in fifth in the G2 River City in his next outing. Note he ships in from Florida and while his last four starts came on turf he ran very well on the inner, passing the Alw-1 level over the surface here last March, earning his career top in that win.