AQUEDUCT 4/13/23
RACE 1: 4-7-1-6
#4 TWICE SMITTEN faced much better last time out and wound up wide on a day when staying inside was beneficial. She is now a pace threat 2nd off a layoff for a high percentage barn and should be a fair price at the morning line of 3-1. There’s reason to believe she can move forward second out for Rob Atras as well.
RACE 2: 2-7-5-4
#2 DUCKPHAT moved forward last time out and continued an upward trend in her Beyer speed figures. She gets an upgrade at pilot and should handle the 9 furlongs without issue. That could pose a problem for some of her more distance-challenged rivals in here. A pace battle would only help her cause.
RACE 3: 2-3-7-5
The Pick 6 gets started here (listen to podcast with Andy Serling and I here) where #2 COLLOQUY is a deserving favorite. He is a son of Flatter getting serious class relief second off a claim after facing better last time. He has the speed to stay within range early and is a likely P6 single for many.
RACE 4: 2-7-5-8
#2 QUALITY STONES is a speedster In a favorable spot here class-wise. She faced better last time out and showed some early life before fading late. A wide trip dogged her that afternoon given the way the track played and she is now a candidate to improve with blinkers going on and a likely trip to the lead.
RACE 5: 3-5-2-4
Perhaps the recency edge #3 MR. KRINGLE possesses in this field will make a difference. He has been facing open company at Tampa Bay Downs and is back against NY breds here. He had a hard time winning races in NY last year, but did find his way into the equation more often than not. A slow pace works against him.
RACE 6: 2-9-6-8
#2 SACRED RHYME is going to be well backed at the windows as a debuting runner from a top barn with real pedigree. He is a half to 2020 BC Juvenile Turf winner Fire at Will and is training forwardly for Chad Brown. The biggest issue here is the short price you’ll have to take on a horse in an uncompetitive race on paper.
RACE 7: 4-1-6-2
The trip endured last time out by #4 JULIANA’S ROSE was less than ideal as she was wide the entire way on a day where the rail was strong. Trainer Mark Hennig has had a productive winter and gives this mare some time off to regroup. She fits this affair nicely given her past mile efforts and the likelihood of a decent pace here.
RACE 8: 4-9-1/1A-6
The assumption is that #2 ANACONDA is going to scratch given he was entered in Saturday’s Danger’s Hour. In that case, #4 NOTHING BETTER is going to be awfully tough on the front end returning from a layoff for trainer Jorge Duarte, Jr. He wired the field in a stake here in November and is the one to catch again.
