Handicappers know the significance of a wide trip, especially in turf racing. A horse loses approximately one length for every path wide the horse is off the rail, so lost ground is critical in a game where winning is often decided by a nose or a head.
The stakes pickings are fairly slim this weekend, but for someone needing to make a hit for Christmas, what does that matter? The fields are big and deep in several stakes around the country, and as savvy horseplayers know, all it takes is one nice lick to earn the equivalent of a free shopping spree at Toys “R” Us.
Over the past 10 years, no trainer in North America has been more successful than Todd Pletcher. In seven of those 10 years (including 2014), his horses have amassed more than $20 million in earnings, and he was voted the Eclipse Award as top trainer in five of those years (and could very well win the award a sixth time in 2014).
Dave Litfin's horses to watch at Aqueduct for the week of Dec. 8.
Trip Notes for December 6: Bayakoa Stakes by Michael Hammersly.
Day 2 of the Gulfstream Park Championship Meet is Sunday, and will put in a small Rainbow Pick Six ticket as well as target the featured event on the card, the $50,000 Aventura Handicap.
Sometimes you’d like to link two horses in a daily double, except they are not in consecutive races. What to do? Well, since two fillies with some intrigue on Sunday’s card bookend the pick five, let’s fashion them into a double “sandwich” with a 15 percent takeout by singling them and spreading in the middle three legs.
A mid-card pick three (races 5-7) presents some big fields, meaning some price opportunities may be present – though things look fairly formful in the kickoff leg.
The weatherman says rain is a sure thing, so we have to assume the inner track will be something other than fast Saturday.
Mike Watchmaker provides a pick four wagering strategy for races 6-9 Saturday at Aqueduct.
