AQUEDUCT 10/01/22
RACE 6: 6-15-14
#6 BOLD JOURNEY is the one to bet off the turf given the race run two back. He ran better than it looks on paper last time out after chasing a hot pace and tiring late. It’s unclear why Jose Ortiz shoved him into the race so aggressively in the opening stages, but he should rebound here.
RACE 7: 1-5-4
One punch exacta in the Woodward with #1 LIFE IS GOOD a virtual cinch and #5 INFORMATIVE the interesting runner-up candidate. The former is using this as an audition for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, where he is due to battle with Flightline. The latter is a stakes winner over this oval who hails from the barn of a longshot specialist.
RACE 8: 2-6-5-4
#2 FREE LOOK is the likeliest upsetter here and might end up vying for favoritism with #6 BE YOUR BEST. The former improved at second asking with a cleaner trip and should take another step forward here for Chad Brown. She has upside, while Be Your Best showed little improvement in her recent PG Johnson score.
RACE 9: 10-12-5-7
Admittedly #10 DANCING BUCK is a horse who I’ve never embraced, but he continues to over-perform and fits here from a pace perspective. There’s very little speed in here now that the scratches are in and that should afford Manny Franco the opportunity to place him forwardly and pounce late.
RACE 10: 6-1-5-3
Everyone has written off #6 COALPORT, but he is significantly faster than all of his rivals save #2 TOP RECRUIT. This son of Uncle Mo was a good second in the Hopeful after chasing a contested pace and can lay just off the pace going the mile today. He is the one to beat barring improvement from one of his rivals.
RACE 11: 5-3-6-7
#5 CAPTAINSDAUGHTER is a very appealing cutback candidate for trainer Russell Cash off a respectable effort going a mile here a couple of weeks ago. Cash’s barn is 18% with dirt starters cutting back from routes to sprints ($2.96 ROI) and this filly should get some pace to run at in the late stages of this affair.
