Today we head towards the icebox as we will look at the final race of an eight-race card at Aqueduct. It shouldn’t be as cold as it has been since Sunday, so I am optimistic that the Thursday card at the Big A goes off as planned.
In this race today, we have a field of eight older New York-bred horses going the one-turn mile here. The Thursday finale is set to head to the post at 4:37 pm Eastern time.
Also note that if this card does get cancelled, I may not be able to handicap a replacement race today. I will be on my way to Florida to meet up with the rest of the Bleacher Brothers for our coverage of the 2025 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park. But let’s look at today’s race first.
Aqueduct Race 8 – Allowance Optional Claiming
Favored in the Aqueduct finale is the 8 Shadow Dragon (5/2 morning line). He draws the outside post which probably won’t matter too much. He will make a big move at the end of the race here like he has in four of his last five races. This five-year-old was close all year in 2024 and just could not get to the wire first.
The 4 Amedeus Music (9/2 ML) returned from a short layoff at Laurel Park and just missed in a mile and a sixteenth race. He was wide on the first turn but made a game move on the final turn and just missed last time out. He should love the one-turn mile here today as he has finished first in his last two races at this distance at Aqueduct and two additional seconds in the previous two mile races at the Big A.
The 7 Land d’Oro (9/2 ML) won an allowance race in the slop in November here at Aqueduct and returns this afternoon. This colt will probably be closer to the pace today and will have the favorite right behind him. But some of his speed numbers have not matched some of the others in this field though.
The 3 Dr. Kraft (6/1 ML) is third race off of the layoff here today after what appears to be lackluster efforts. I say appears because there may be a built in excuse with the last time out at today’s distance. He never could get closer to the rail and was at least five-wide on the turn. I would think that drawing the 3-hole today would be more advantageous today and there is no reason to be that wide. But this five-year-old has to prove that he can hit the board here today.
Joe’s Pick
Shadow Dragon does have the advantage of being able to sit back and make a huge move in the final two to three furlongs of this race. But I think that Amedeus Music finally gets a chance to run a one-turn mile here which appears to be his best race set up in my opinion. He shouldn’t be as wide just like Dr. Kraft, and I think he wins this race here today.
I’m calling this race 4-8-3-7 and my play is $20 to win in the 4. Best of luck everyone and I’ll see you in the winner’s circle!