Today's Horse Picks from Aqueduct

Padding Your Bankroll

The weather and the racing seems to be on the improve this week in the Big Apple.

The cards last week left something to be desired, with a few too many short fields and short prices, but this week kicks off on Wednesday with a solid nine race card.

Our play of the day comes early, the second half of the early double. Jenay Benay is sitting at 4/1 on the morning line and looks capable of beating the morning line favorite.

Our Late Pick 3 play is a $24 investment that kicks off in the seventh race, where we start the three race sequence going four deep.

I am hoping we can start the wager with longshot Maggie’s Miracle picking up the win at a juicy price.

Today's Play of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 2 Clm $30,000 (1:29 et)
#5 Jenay Benay   4/1
#2 Softly Spoken   2/1
#6 Apple   5/1
#4 Faithful One   8/1

Analysis: #5 Jenay Benay dueled for the early lead and weakened late to finish third against $35K claimers. Two back the filly won for the tag in her first start off the claim by the Volk barn that is having a strong meet, hitting at a 28% clip and doing some of the best work with recent claims. She is a two time winner on the inner and she owns solid early and mid pace numbers.

#2 Softly Spoken was beaten just a nose for the top spot last out for this tag, her first start in seven months. She earned the top last out speed fig in the effort, but does she regress off that hard fought effort? The Contessa barn is on the light side second off the bench, hitting at a 6% clip. She fits here with her best but the price is going to be on the light side.

Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 7/2 or better.
EX: 2,5 / 2,4,5,6
TRI: 2,5 / 2,4,5,6 / 2,3,4,5,6

Today’s Pick 3 Play from Aqueduct:

Starting in Race 7: $1: 1,5,6,7 / 3,4 / 3,9,10 = $24

AQU Race 7 Clm $15,000N2L (3:55 et)
#6 Maggie's Miracle, #7 Shikilu, #5 Toga Tiger, #1 Eightyfive S

#6 Maggie's Miracle was outrun last out in her first trip on the inner, which was off nearly a four month layoff. Her three previous starts last fall were on turf and four back she was a close up fourth against $35K non winners of two, beaten just a half length for the top spot. She has a couple of decent morning drills since her last outing, the barn is having a solid meeting, and Rosie takes the call. Figures to get overlooked on the tote here and worth a good look if we catch most of the 12/1 ML.

#7 Shikilu adds blinkers and exits a state bred Alw-1 race where the mare was a non threatening fifth. She was a smart looking maiden winner against NY bred maiden special weight company two back in her second career outing. She has plenty of pedigree to handle her first trip around two turns and still appears to have some upside, making just her fourth career start here.

AQU Race 8 OClm $50,000N2X (4:25 et)
#3 Megadeed, #4 Stettler

#3 Megadeed tracked the early pacesetter and weakened to finish fourth last out in the NY bred Broadway, beaten 5 3/4 lengths for the top spot. Two back this guy got loose and sent gate to wire to beat Alw-1 optional claimers, earning a near career top in the win. The filly owns a solid pace profile throughout and appears to have more finishing kick than most of these and looks likely to survive if a pace duel develops.