Horse Racing Free Picks From Aqueduct

National horse racing handicapper Michael Dempsey will attempt to pad his bankroll and yours with his daily column. He will feature at least one Pick 3 or Pick 4 play from a major track along with coverage of major stakes races, longshots, and he will keep you up to date on what is happening on the circuits he covers.

It is another week at the wagering windows as we attempt to pad our bankroll.

Today we will head out to a frigid Aqueduct inner surface, with the possibility of seeing some freezing rain.

The surface seems to hold up well, although it could come up sloppy or muddy today.

The play of the day comes early in the card, a $50,000 maiden claiming race. Then we will invest $24 in the Late Pick 3, and we have a couple of longshots in the three race sequence that can assure a nice payoff if we hit.

Today's Play of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 4 Md $50,000 (1:55 et)

#8 Odessa's Hope 2/1

#9 Scooter Rat 9/2

#3 Broke N Roll 8/1

#7 Puregoodniss 4/1

Analysis: #8 Odessa's Hope is making his first start since his debut which came back in June, a non threatening sixth after getting steadied soon after the start. The $190K purchase is sent out by the Asmussen barn that is 21% winners with horses coming back off a +180 day layoff and is 32% winners (with a +ROI) moving runners from maiden special to maiden claiming. The colt has a decent enough off track pedigree and Ramon takes the call. The jock has not ridden much for the barn over the past couple of years but is live here at this meeting, going 12-5-4-2 for the nation's leading outfit.

#9 Scooter Rat set the early fractions and faded to finish fifth last out in the mud in his first go off a five-month layoff. The gelding returns here with lasix added to the mix and this guy owns the edge in early pace numbers. The gelding has a solid off track pedigree, by Forest Wildcat out of the stakes winner Message Red ($241K). In good hands with the Jerkens barn that is 25% winners (with a +ROI) with horses making their second start off a 45-180 day layoff.

Wagering

WIN: #8 to win at 9/5 or better.

EX: 8,9 / 3,7,8,9

TRI: 8,9 / 3,7,8,9 / 1,2,3,7,8,9

Today’s Pick 3 Play from Aqueduct:

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

AQU Race 7 Md $30,000 (3:20 et)

#9 All Verses, #5 Chaysen' Alex, #6 D'Kid

#9 All Verses had to check after getting bumped heading into the first turn and came with a good five wide run to finish third last out in a decent effort. Two back he was a close up third behind repeat winner Repenthouse, who beat $20K non winners of two in his next outing on 11/22. The gelding looks like he may have finally found a group he can beat here in his 13th career start. Both of his off track tries were good enough to be in the mix here.

#5 Chaysen' Alex tries a route of ground on dirt for the first time here after a sixth place finish in the slop last out going seven furlongs. He exits a solid race that produced a pair of next out winners and another pair that ran second in their next starts. The gelding has one sib to race, stakes winner Backbackbackgone ($159K).