12/5: Aqueduct (6th-9th)

[Kasept]

Saturday proved out as exactly the kind of day it was anticipated to be with rewards available if you combed through as many of the stakes as possible and tried to pan for some gold. While Aqueduct was very predictable and chalky, (and I left the tiny P6 payout on the table), the stakes opportunities at Calder, Fair Grounds and Turfway came through with live results and explosive totes.

At Calder, Askbut I Won'ttell continued Chris Block and Shaun Bridgmohan's hot streak, corralling loose leader Trip for A.J. to score in the My Charmer at $15.80. I was looking for Evading Tempete, but the Euro invader, who will now stay with Patrick Biancone, ran an even 3rd at 8-1. An hour later though, the $118.70 exacta boosted the day's receipts when Twilight Meteor utilized a clever controling speed journey under Luis Saez and hung on at 15-1 over my key of 6-1 overlay Rahy's Attorney.

At Fair Grounds, Gus Alonso caught 13-2 Strike Again with 1-1 Gran Estreno in the Diliberto, but I had to wait an hour for the day's best score in the Pago Hop. And as in the Tropical Turf, keying of a value horse tripped the bonus payout when top tab Silver La Belle (9-1) ran between 8-1 winner Valli With a Vow and Bernie Flint entry piece Caminadora (8-1) for the $766 tri. The win was the second North American stakes marker of the day for trainer Josie Carroll, who had hit with Chantal Sutherland on 2yo Ontario filly Inglorious in the Lassie at Woodbine 70 minutes earlier.

The one that got away Saturday was the Holiday Inagural at Turfway where Rusty Arnold's 'other' horse, Perfect for You, passed my 4 tabbed horses late at 25-1 for an $814 tri and $6,665 super... Yikes! I had keyed off of David Vance's Minewander with Greta K. at 13-1, and thought I had something going as they rallied up the rail past the sixteenth. But meanwhile, Perfect for You was utilizing the always potent mid-track rally, and won going away late leaving me 2nd-3rd-4th-5th.

All in all, a fun afternoon Saturday. Hope you did well. Just a little glance Sunday at the Aqueduct Late P4 which looks kind of slippery. Sixth race will come OFF the turf today in NY while the 4th & 9th remain on...


AQUEDUCT


POST-SCRATCHES


6th: MDN CLM, 3+, 8.5f-OFF THE TURF (P4, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #15 Fiery Forest 5-2 WON* ($5.90)
Next Best: #1e Contessa entry 3-1 3rd/6th
Best Value: #2 Pernice 10-1 5th
Super Add: #6 Upper Afleet 20-1 9th


7th: OC/N2X, 3+, 1m-70y (P3, DD, Super)

Race hinges on your perception of the vulnerability of faves Global Force and Heart Butte, both curiously from Pletcher, and both coming off big fig jump up performances. Global Force has to go from inside post, needs better than last in first two turn try to beat these and should get outside pressure from any number of foes. Heart Butte ran out of character close-up race at Churchill moving from synthetic to dirt, and would appear succeptable to a regression here. Your call on price plays and depth of multi-race includes..

Most Likely: #2 Poni Colada 3-1 6th*
Best Value: #3 Masala 5-1 3rd
Next Best: #1 Global Force 5-2 2nd
Super Add: #6 Heart Butte 7-2 WON ($8.10)


8th: 32nd Damon Runyon-NY, 2yo, 1m-70y (DD, Super)

Most Likely: #7 Sky Music 5-2 4th*
Best Value: #5 Artie Luvsto Party 12-1 2nd
Next Best: #1 Never Right Joey 5-1 7th
Super Add: #2 Ram 12-1 6th


9th: CLM, 3+, 8.5f-T (Super)

Most Likely: #4 Hangingbyathread 5-2 WON* ($5.20)
Next Best: #11 Little Dovefeather 5-1 3rd
Best Value: #1 Can't Refuse 10-1 4th
Super Add: #10 Dantastic 8-1 7th


<$75 P4 Play:

6: 1-2-15
7: 1-2-3-6
8: 1-5-7
9: 4-11

3x4x3x2 = $72


Good luck!
Steve

[Kasept]

AQU SCR/CHG'S