I thought I would go back to my initial weekend roots and cover a few different race tracks today on this final Saturday of 2024. Next weekend, we will be focusing more on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, so why not get ready for covering different tracks in my Saturday articles and on Also Eligible with covering a few stakes races from across the country.
We will go from east coast to west here, starting in New York at Aqueduct followed by a pit stop at Oaklawn in Arkansas before ending up at Santa Anita where we have featured races the last two days. Let’s see what we can do here as we change things up on this Saturday.
Aqueduct Race 3 – Gravesend Stakes
Our day begins early with the third race at Aqueduct. The Gravesend is a six-furlong race. Note that rain is in the forecast, so we may see an off track depending on how early the rain starts, and we could see some scratches here.
Favored in the Gravesend is the 3 Runninsonofagun (9/5 morning line). He comes in after finishing second in the Fall Highweight, where the jockeys carry a few extra pounds than your typical race across America. This gelding will shed seven pounds from his race last month here at Aqueduct, but he is still the high weight here today. He was closer to the lead last time out, but he could also be a few lengths behind the leaders.
The 4 Maximus Meridius (2/1 ML) is scheduled to race here at Aqueduct today, but there are a couple of wild cards here that may keep this gelding from running today. First, he is cross entered at his home track Parx on Tuesday. Also, he missed training time on the track at Parx due to frozen conditions at the Bensalem oval.
He was last seen at Mahoning Valley rallying to finish second in the Steel Valley Sprint. He fits very well here today, but do the connections want to keep him home for a stakes race at Parx on Tuesday?
The 5 Toxic Gray (4/1 ML) will step up in class and tackle stakes company for the first time. He will be on the lead here, and if the track is playing like it was early in the day yesterday at Aqueduct, he could go gate to wire if he can get to the rail.
The 2 Full Moon Madness (8/1 ML) is second race off a layoff after winning an optional claiming race last month here at Aqueduct. He will face stakes company for the first time in two years. He looks like he would be not far off the pace if not on the lead with the gate position today.
Joe’s Gravesend Pick
I want to take Maximus Meridius but the fact that he couldn’t get work on the Parx track might be concerning. Besides, would his connections prefer to run on a wet track in New York or at home in PA?
I think Toxic Gray could be alone on the lead here and take this field gate to wire. Runninsonofagun’s positioning will be key. Does he go for the front like last time or does he revert back to old ways? Either way, I think Toxic Gray wins here.
I’ll call this race 5-3-2-4 and my play is $20 to win on the 5.
Aqueduct Race 8 – Alex M. Robb Stakes
We skip ahead to the eighth race on the card for the Alex M. Robb, where a field of eight New York breds will go a one-turn mile in this featured race here at Aqueduct.
Favored in this race is the 3 El Grando O (8/5 ML). This colt returns to New York bred company and stakes company in today’s race. He was not far behind the leader going shorter and won by over a length. The wet track will not be a problem for him as he has won twice over the slop here at Aqueduct.
The 7 Bank Frenzy (9/5 ML) won over sloppy footing to win an optional claiming race at today’s distance. He will be dangerous here as a gelding who has taken advantage of state breds in the past on the NYRA circuit. He will be a few lengths behind the leaders and close in the stretch.
The 5 Doc Sullivan (6/1 ML) was not comfortable down the backstretch last time out as he was climbing in a state bred race at Aqueduct. Two back he didn’t fare that badly in Grade 1 company in the Pennsylvania Derby at Parx. The wet track should not affect him here today as he has won two times in four tries in the goo.
The 1 Colloquy (12/1 ML) could be a longshot play here, especially if there is a bias towards the outside. Granted, drawing the rail would not be ideal to the way he won in an optional claiming race last month at Aqueduct. He has been close in the last three races where he has been a starter, but he does appear to have gate issues as well.
Joe’s Alex M. Robb Pick
You probably will need to see how the track is playing early on today. If the best portion of the track is on the outside, then Colloquy is your horse. I think El Grande O will get caught here by Bank Frenzy and Colloquy, with Bank Frenzy winning.
I’m calling this race 7-1-5-2 and my play is $20 to win on the 7.
Oaklawn Park Race 9 – Tinsel Stakes
After those two races in New York, we had down to Oaklawn Park for their featured race. The Tinsel Stakes is a mile and an eighth stakes race carded as race nine of a 10 race card.
We have nine horses entered, but a maximum of eight horses will run. The 2 Liberal Arts will be scratched after he won at the Fair Grounds on Thursday in an off the turf race.
The 4 Horace Mann (2/1 ML) is favored in this race. He found his preferred surface after winning at both Ellis Park and at Churchill Downs. He ran from off the pace to win last time out, but he can go on the front end. If there is some kryptonite in his game, it might be today’s distance. He finished third in an optional claimer at Ellis back in August tiring in that race.
The 5 Red Route One (5/2 ML) is a pro at the nine-furlong distance. Of his five career wins, four have been at today’s distance. He will be hoping for a speed duel up front to help his chances to day even more.
The 6 Hurry Hurry (10/1 ML) was squeezed at the start of a Claiming Crown race at Churchill last month. He was very wide on the turn and in the stretch, but closed strongly to finish third last time out then was moved up to second when the winner was disqualified in a separate incident. There is speed in this race, and he could be flying at the end yet again.
The 2 Liberal Arts (12/1 ML) returned to the races to win an allowance race at Churchill at the beginning of November. He is second race off of the layoff and should show some of the back class from the Kentucky Derby trail races at Oaklawn.
Joe’s Tinsel Stakes Pick
Horace Mann will have company on the front end here today. That is not a good thing for a horse that tired in his last nine furlong race. It looks like the 1 Frosted Departure (5/1 ML) and the 3 Unload (6/1 ML) could be with the favorite on the front end. If so, that sets things up for Red Route One and Hurry Hurry.
The question is do I want to play the horse with the trouble last time out or do I want to go with the horse that has won numerous stakes at this distance. As much as I want to lean towards the latter, I can’t ignore the trouble Hurry Hurry had. I’ll take him in an upset here.
Let’s call this race 6-5-2-1 and my play is $20 to win on the 6.
Santa Anita Race 6 – Joe Hernandez Stakes (Grade 2)
We end our tour with the Joe Hernandez Stakes, which is a six and a half furlong stakes down the hill at Santa Anita. Nine are entered for this Santa Anita feature.
The 6 Motorious (5/2 ML) is favored in this race coming off of a near miss in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. He will get to go down the hill today where he has two wins in four tries, but those are almost two years ago. He is going to close in this race, but how will things be when he crosses over onto the main portion of the turf course?
The 7 Central Dispatch (4/1 ML) comes into today’s race winning his last two races at Santa Anita and Del Mar. He faces stakes company for the first time, but you have Flavien Prat aboard who has won the most stakes races in a calendar year. This gelding should be on the front end or possibly not far from it. He was bumped around early on at Del Mar but finished well to win that race.
The 9 Sorrento Sky (6/1 ML) just missed in the Stormy Liberal at Del Mar at the end of their fall meet. He will be stalking the pace here as he tries to win from the outside.
The 1 Air Force Red (9/2 ML) returns after finishing second in the Eddie D here at Santa Anita back in September. He doesn’t need the lead which may help today, but this is his first race back in three months.
Joe’s Joe Hernandez Pick
Sometimes you want to go with the horse for course angle in a unique course setup like the downhill course at Santa Anita. But I think Motorious is beatable here. Central Dispatch won despite the trouble last time out, but I think Sorrento Sky could have the perfect trip to win this race here today.
I’ll call this race 9-7-6-1 and my play is $20 to win on the 9. Best of luck everyone and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!