Pick Your Pony - Horse Racing from Aqueduct

National major stakes races on the weekends.

After a two day hiatus, the racing action returns to Aqueduct on Thursday, and we might see the sun and temperatures will actually be above freezing for a change.

The nine race card offers several excellent wagering opportunities as we attempt to pad our bankroll.

The play of the day comes early in the card, a starter allowance race where we are going with the likely favorite.

Our Late Pick 3 play starts in the seventh race and we have a couple of longshots in the opening leg, and if one of them gets home, first we could be on our way to a generous payoff.

Today's Play of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 3 Alw $50,000s (1:26 et)

#7 Laredo 5/2

#5 Need a Name 3/1

#6 Well Meant 4/1

#1 Bad Action 7/2

Analysis: #7 Laredo tracked the early pace from the rail, took over the lead and was beaten just a neck for the top spot last out against Alw-1 foes at Philly. The colt broke his maiden two back at Churchill going a one turn mile. This colt has improved number wise in each start and has been prepping fort today at Fair Hill for the sharp Motion barn. Looks like the right spot here in this starter allowance.

#5 Need a Name was a sharp winner last out at Fair Grounds against $25K non winners of two in his first go at a route. The effort was flattered when the runner up Club Tejano came back to beat $20K non winners of two in his next outing on 12/29 at Delta. Looks like Klesaris made a private purchase on his own behalf and is 14% winners with newcomers to the barn.

Wagering

WIN: #7 to win at 9/5 or better.

EX: 5,7 / 1,5,6,7

TRI: 5,7 / 1,5,6,7 / 1,2,5,6,7

Today’s Pick 3 Play from Aqueduct:

Starting in Race 7: $1: 3,4,6,11 / 3,5 / 1,6,9 = $24

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

#6 Four Shore, #11 Arcata, #4 Malibu Moonshine, #3 Irish Majesty

#6 Four Shore gets the call in a wide open race and we should catch a generous price on this gelding in this spot. Last out coming off a two month break, he stumbled coming out of the gate, came four wide around the far turn and ran out of gas in the stretch to finish fifth. Three back this guy was beaten just a neck against $35K foes at the Big M. The Perkins barn is 30% winners with horses making their second start off a 45-180 day layoff and this guy gets a major jock switch from "No Go" to Chuckie.

#11 Arcata checked in third last out and took a shot from a rival's ship in the stretch in a third place finish versus Alw-3 optional claimers. This guy won a stake in Maryland back last spring and his form does look seem to warrant the drop in for a $20K tag here. I respect the barn but proceed with caution here as the class drop looks negative.

AQU Race 8 OClm $75,000N1X (3:49 et)

#5 Land Grant, #3 Cliffy's Future

#5 Land Grant earned a career top last out in a runner up finish at this condition, which was his second start against winners. Two back after graduating he checked in fourth behind Musket Man, who came back to win the $75K Pasco Stakes in his next start at Tampa Bay Downs on 1/17. The colt owns a solid pace profile throughout and will be tough if he runs back to his last effort.