Day two of 2025 takes us up to New York and Aqueduct as we have an allowance race going one mile. We have a field of six New York bred three-year-olds going in this allowance/optional claiming race here today.
Aqueduct Race 2 – Allowance/Optional Claiming
The heavy favorite in this race is the 1 Sand Devil (4/5 ML). He made his debut last month here at Aqueduct. This colt made a three-wide turn on the move and blew by the front runners to win easily. He faces a short field here today as he stretches out here from six furlongs to a mile today.
The 6 Smilensaycheese (2/1 ML) is the horse that has the best chance to beat the favorite here today. He finished third in a New York Stallion Series race last month against some tough company. He returns here today, but he gets to face a potential monster who drew the rail today.
The 2 New Matthew (6/1 ML) comes into this race after breaking his maiden at Aqueduct at the end of November. He was wide in the stretch but prevailed to break his maiden. He looks like he will sit near the back and hope to close on the front runners today.
The 5 Corvus (10/1 ML) broke his maiden two races back at Aqueduct and then had a slow start last month here. A better start will improve his chances today, but he still has a way to go to defeat the two big favorites here.
Joe’s Pick
I am seeing this as a two-horse race between Sand Devil and Smilensaycheese. I am going to try to beat the favorite here today. Let’s call this race 6-1-2-5 and today, I have two wagers.
First, I’ll play $20 to win on the 6. Then I am going to have a straight exacta 6 with 1 which will also be a $20 wager. If either part of the exacta, just like how one of the horses was scratched in yesterday’s QPW race at Gulfstream Park, does get scratched, then the exacta wager will be null and void.
Best of luck everyone, and I’ll catch you in the winner’s circle!