We head to New York for a card that has four stakes races on it. They were not put together one after the other, but we will still look at the four graded stakes races that will run today at Aqueduct.
Aqueduct Race 4 – Go For Wand Stakes (Grade 3)
We begin our portion of the day with the Go For Wand Stakes. We have fillies and mares going a mile. Favored in this race is the 3 Occult (5/2 morning line). She returns after a two-month break last running in October at Keeneland. She will be close to the pace here and looking to take over in the stretch.
The 1 Tizzy in the Sky (3/1 ML) drew the rail and probably will go for the lead here. She is 4 for 7 at Aqueduct, so the issue will not be the familiar surroundings. It will be how ready is she today. The workouts indicate she should be ready.
The 8 Shidabhuti (9/2 ML) won back in October at Keeneland drawing off in a seven-furlong optional claiming race. She has some back class facing graded stakes company throughout the year and will be back in Grade 3 company here today. A similar trip like the one she had two months ago may get her back to the winner’s circle.
The 7 Ain’t Broke (5/1 ML) is cross entered into Sunday’s Garland of Roses Stakes, also here at Aqueduct. She bled in her last race in may and returns after a seven-month break. She just missed in the Distaff here at Aqueduct in April. She will be there at the end if she runs here today instead of tomorrow’s race.
Race 4 Pick
There is not much speed in this race, which will be a good thing for Tizzy in the Sky. I will take her to ride the rail to the win here in the Go For Wand. I’m calling this 1-8-3-7 and my play is $20 to win on the 1.
Aqueduct Race 7 – Remsen Stakes (Grade 2)
Next is the Remsen Stakes, and we have a race that is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby. We have soon to be two-year-olds going a mile and an eighth on the main track.
Favored is the 5 Keewaydin (6/5 ML). He comes into this race after breaking his maiden going seven furlongs after taking over on the turn. This colt is from the first crop of offspring from Instagrand. We will see if he can get an extra quarter mile winning a race against a small field.
The 1 Tux (3/1 ML) showed a strong kick in a short field to break his maiden last month here at Aqueduct. His sire is Tapit, which has sired several Belmont Stakes winners. Tux should be able to handle this distance today as Tapit’s offspring win at an average winning distance of one mile.
The 4 Studlydoright (9/2 ML) already has six races under his belt and will see if he can go two turns after winning the one-turn Nashua going a mile last month at Aqueduct. He looks like he could be back on track after a couple of so-so races at Laurel and Saratoga.
The 2 Aviator Gui (6/1 ML) goes turf to dirt for this race. She finished third at Aqueduct back in October finishing fourth on the grass. He got bumped around and had a wide trip. But he is back on the dirt here where he broke his maiden two races back.
Race 7 Pick
Ideally, I think this race would be at a mile and a sixteenth, but there is no chute or an alternate finish line for that distance. Thus, why we are going nine furlongs this early in these horses’ careers. I will go with the horse that is bred to handle running all day, Tux over Studlydoright here.
I will call this race 1-4-5-2 and my play is $20 to win on the 1.
Aqueduct Race 8 – Demoiselle Stakes (Grade 2)
Next we have juvenile fillies going nine furlongs here in the Demoiselle Stakes. This race is a Road to the Kentucky Oaks race where the winner will get 10 points.
The heavy favorite in this field of 10 fillies in the 1 Muhimma (4/5 ML). She comes in after winning impressively going seven furlongs at Churchill last time out. Usually, I would tell you that Munnings’ offspring might not get today’s distance, but Muhimma does have Tapit as the sire of the dam, and if you saw what I posted in the previous race, Tapit offspring can run all day.
The 8 Beauty Reigns (9/2 ML) broke her maiden in a hard fought debut last month. She also has Tapit in her bloodlines, so she should be able to get the distance here as well.
The 10 Ballerina d’Oro (8/1 ML) draws the outside for this race but she will be settling towards the back of the pack looking to show her closing kick. This may be her dirt debut, but her breeding does suggest going to the dirt should not be an issue.
The 3 Fortuna Mia (15/1 ML) is second race off of a layoff here today after a belated run to finish fourth in the Tempted Stakes last month at Aqueduct. She will need to move forward to have a chance, but she looks like the best of the rest here.
Race 8 Pick
If either Muhimma or Beauty Reigns can settle at or near the front end, one of these two fillies will win. But I think the legs will get heavy and Ballerina d’Oro will pass these two in the stretch. I’ll call this 10-1-8-3 with a $20 win wager on the 10.
Aqueduct Race 9 – Cigar Mile (Grade 2)
Our final race is the mane event on the card today as we look at the Cigar Mile here. Eleven horses are entered for this one-turn mile event.
Favored in the Cigar Mile is the 5 Mullikin (3/1 ML). He finished third as the beaten favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last month at Del Mar and stretches to run a mile for the first time in his career. He will be on the lead like he was winning the Grade 1 Forego at Saratoga over the summer. The one-turn mile may not be an issue as these races do turn to run as extended sprint races.
The 11 Post Time (7/2 ML) draws the outside post in this race, but it should not be an issue. He made a strong closing move in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile last out. He has never been off the board in 14 tries with nine career wins. He has faced quite a few of the big boy here in 2024 and shouldn’t be fazed by this field today.
The 7 Locked (9/2 ML) is second race back off of an almost year long layoff after winning his return race handily at Aqueduct about six weeks ago. He definitely has the talent to win this, whether it is near the front or closing. But this is a much tougher field than his return race.
The 1 Book’em Danno (4/1 ML) comes into this race after finishing second in the Perryville at Keeneland. He did have some issues in the stretch trying to fit through a very narrow opening in deep stretch. He has not been as impressive in his races since he won at Saratoga in June, but his numbers still look very good and could win this race here today.
Race 9 Pick
This is a deep race where you can make a case for more horses than I highlighted here. I think Post Time will be able to figure out where to position himself in the approximately half mile run to the turn. If he has a clear path in the stretch he will win this.
I will call this race 11-7-1-5 and my play is $20 to win on the 11. Best of luck everyone and I’ll see ya in the winner’s circle!