TimeformUS Aqueduct Horses in Focus for Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018
TimeformUS handicapper David Aragona highlights some contenders on Sunday's card at Aqueduct.
David AragonaFeb 03, 2018
TimeformUS handicapper David Aragona highlights some contenders on Sunday's card at Aqueduct.
The speedy Shoe Loves Shoe (#8) will likely inherit the favorite's role in this spot, as the Pace Projector is predicting that he will have a clear advantage in the early going. He merits respect as he drops in class, but the lengthy layoff prior to his last start leaves me somewhat concerned about his recent form.
Assuming HOLY HELENA, the 2017 Queen’s Plate winner, is able to handle turf nearly as well as she did synthetics, it sure looks like Jimmy Jerkens found the perfect comeback spot at Gulfstream for the Adena star: a three-other-than condition, a short field, and a suitable setup vs. questionable opposition; not expecting the 2-1 as promised on the morning line, but still, it seems like a good jumping-on spot to get into the middle pick four.
A pick-three sequence at Santa Anita on Saturday looks as if it could pay well. I can understand if anyone would rather take a shot at the late pick four, but considering the race leading into the finale, I’m more inclined to press my opinions and hope for the best. Below is my pick-three play consisting of races 6-8.
TimeformUS handicapper David Aragona highlights some contenders on Saturday's card at Aqueduct.
The southern California road to the Kentucky Derby continues Saturday with the Grade 3, $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Ania. The high-profile 3-year-olds stabled out West, including Bolt d’Oro, Solomini, and McKinzie, are all bypassing this race for targets later in the spring. Therefore, we’re left with a field composed of nine horses with nothing more than a maiden victory on their résumés – and two runners in this field have yet to even accomplish that.
With three stakes closing out the card at Gulfstream on Saturday, the late Pick 3 holds appeal, particularly with a contentious renewal of the Holy Bull as the final leg in the sequence.
TimeformUS handicapper David Aragona provides his Highlight Horse for Friday's card at Aqueduct.
The Grade 3, $250,000 Withers Stakes will be run at 1 1/8 miles this year, since Aqueduct has done away with its inner dirt track and cannot conduct two-turn routes at shorter than 1 1/8 miles on the main oval. The extended distance of this race provides an early season opportunity to test the stamina of some key Kentucky Derby prospects as they seek to accumulate qualifying points for the first Saturday in May.
Saturday's card is loaded with first timers but there’s a sneaky play we found.