Home Forums Sports Picks Central Trackside Picks SUNDAY at the Track

Courtesy of Mike Dempsey

Here is today's opening race from Aqueduct to get our day off to a good start:


AQU Race 1 Clm $25,000N3L (1:00 ET)

#3 Star Orchid 4/1
#6 Watch Smartly 5/2
#4 Imthequeenofqueens 5/1
#1 Kaleigh Rose 3/1


Analysis: #3 Star Orchid was a sharp winner last out against $25K non winners of two here in a race taken off the turf. There is rain in the forecast for today, but we might still be on turf. This gal was a decent third over soft turf in the maiden ranks last June. She looks sharp enough to win on either surface.
#6 Watch Smartly returns off a two month break, last out a sixth place finish going 7 1/2 furlongs on the grass at Gulfstream Park. The mare was up on the pace, drew clear only to run out of gas in the final furlong. The runner up in the race was Sweetbriar Academy, who came back to beat $25K non winners of three in her next outing on April 4

Wagering

WIN: #3 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 3,6 / 1,3,4,6
TRI: 3,6 / 1,3,4,6 / 1,3,4,6,7


Today's Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 8 Alw $42,000N1X (4:25 ET)

#6 Rocket to the Moon 5/1
#8 Poppa's Pick 5/1
#4 Monte Carlo 9/2
#5 Justifier 12/1


Analysis: #6 Rocket to the Moon dueled for the early lead and drew away late to graduate at Gulfstream Park in a sharp effort. The runner up[, third, and fourth place finisher all came back to graduate in their next starts. The colt should be able to handle a wet track, by Unbridled's Song out of Pass the Tab mare that has dropped stakes winner Awesome Humor ($849K) and Dignified Donovan ($451K).
#8 Poppa's Pick has three straight runner up finishes on the inner track, last out beaten just a neck for the top spot. The gelding owns a solid pace profile throughout and goes for Asmussen who has been on fire in NY this year.



Wagering

WIN: #6 to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 6,8 / 4,5,6,8
TRI: 6,8 / 4,5,6,8 / 4,5,6,7,8

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Churchill Downs:

CD Race 9 OClm $80,000N3X (4:45 ET)

#1 Hark 5/1
#5 Quick Notice 3/1
#6 Emmy Darling 5/2
#3 More of the Rest 9/2

Analysis: #1 Hark looks headed in the right direction as the mare makes her third start off the bench here for the Wilkes barn. Last out the mare dueled for the early lead and held on gamely for third, beaten just a half length for the top spot. She will need to take another move forward off her last to beat this group, but she is bred top and bottom to handle a wet track.
#5 Quick Notice was a sharp winner last out against Alw-2 company and the effort was flattered when the runner up Golden Mystery came back to beat Alw-2 optional claimers by six lengths on April 22. She has a win over the main track here and a decent off track pedigree.



Wagering

WIN: #1 to win at 7/2 or better.
EX: 1,5 / 1,5,6
TRI: no play


Live Longshots:

These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.


Aqueduct

R1: #1 Oeuf a La Neige 8/1
R5: #5 Bailsby 12/1
R6: #5 A Word to the Wise 8/1
R7: #1 Potomac Moon 8/1
R8: #5 Justifier 12/1
R9: #6 Capote Attraction 8/1


Churchill Downs

R1: #5 Tourismo 10/1
R2: #6 Lucky Jazz 15/1
R3: #4 Malcom’s Delite 10/1
R6: #5 Visitor 12/1
R7: #3 Beta Capo 8/1


Good luck today!

AQU 8th (4:25)

7 Furlongs | Open | 3 Year Olds And Up Allowance | Purse: $42,000

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 6 Ricoriatoa Jara F Galluscio Dominic G 121 L 6-1
1A 9 Emma's Posse Velasquez C Galluscio Dominic G 121 L 6-1
2 1 Tall Poppi Coa E M Tagg Barclay 121 L 8-1
3 2 Star of New York Castellano J J Contessa Gary C 124 L 5-2
4 3 Monte Carlo Cohen D Dutrow Anthony W 124 L 9-2
5 4 Justifier Hill C Albertrani Thomas 124 L 12-1
6 5 Rocket to the Moon Prado E S Kimmel John C 121 L 5-1
7 7 Allrightsreserved Velazquez J R Pletcher Todd A 121 L 6-1
8 8 Poppa's Pick Santiago V Asmussen Steven M 121 L 5-1

A-Coupled: Ricoriatoa and Emma's Posse

Exacta, Trifecta, Daily Double Wagers

Brian Blessing's Pick's 6-3-7

Rocket to the Moon was impressive in his last race in Florida . The move north could reap immediate rewards with a clean break.

CDX 4th (2:13)

6 Furlongs | Open | 3 Year Olds And Up Claiming ($30,000 - $25,000) | Purse: $22,000

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 1 Yore Torres F C Dickey Charles L 121 $30,000 LA 5-2
1A 7 Sky's the Limit Desormeaux K J Mott William I 121 $30,000 LA 5-2
2 2 Mister Minister Bridgmohan S X Asmussen Steven M 115 $30,000 LA 9-2
3 3 Satisfied Mind Solis A Ward Wesley A 115 $30,000 L 7-2
4 4 Coosada Mena M Foley Gregory D 115 $30,000 LA 5-1
5 5 Purrfect Alibi Borel C H Baker James E 121 $30,000 LA 3-1
6 6 Scene of the Crash Theriot H J II Werner Ronny 121 $30,000 LA 5-1

A-Coupled: Yore and Sky's the Limit

Daily Double / Exacta / Trifecta / Superfecta / Pick 3 (Races 4-5-6) Pick 4 (Races 4-5-6-7)

Battagliaspicks 4-6-5

#4 Coosada- Foley owned and trained colt went wire to wire in his debut here at 8-1. He made 8k in purse money but connections made a major score at the windows. He showed speed in his last two races that were only meant to keep him fit. He has a bullet work 2 weeks ago and should go wire to wire at a nice price.

HOLLY 5th (3:05)

1 1/16 Miles (Turf) | Fillies and Mares | 3 Year Olds And Up Claiming ($25,000 - $22,500) | Purse: $29,000

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 1 Victory Dancer Pedroza M A Van Berg Jack C 120 $25,000 L 12-1
2 2 Operetta Italiano Talamo J Spawr Bill 120 $25,000 L 6-1
3 3 First Queen (GB) Garcia M Walsh Kathy 118 $22,500 L 15-1
4 4 Le Grand Amour (IRE) Espinoza V Cassidy James 120 $25,000 L 12-1
5 5 Malibu Artiste Garcia J A Glatt Mark 120 $25,000 L 5-1
6 6 Sunny Peace (GB) Baze T C Knapp Steve 120 $25,000 L 7-2
7 7 Soldier Betty Bejarano R Cerin Vladimir 118 $22,500 L 3-1
8 8 Sindyfromsantacruz Rosario J Mitchell Mike 120 $25,000 L 5-2

$1 Exacta / $2 Quinella / $1 Trifecta $1 Superfecta (10-cent min.) / $2 Double / $1 Pick 3

Battagliaspicks 7-8-5

#7 Soldier Betty- was claimed last out and very sharp new trainer ran her back using a 10lbs bug rider. She got into one jack pot after another but still won. She then ran on the turf for the first time and she missed by only 3 lengths with a little known rider. She runs back with Bejarano in the irons and she is a strong play.