Beer: Aqueduct pick three play for Sunday, Dec. 13
Race 3 is for low-level maiden claimers sprinting on dirt. While horses like Flying K C (#3) and Take a Bow (#4) are logical as the shortest prices on the morning line, I want to try to wake up One More Song (#6) in this spot. One More Song never has raced on dirt, and she has been beaten a combined 35 lengths in two starts since returning from an extended layoff in October, but this horse has flashed some ability in the past. In her career debut, she made a crazy early run while wide to collapse the race, and she still managed to fight on gamely until deep stretch before letting go in what ultimately was a tough loss. She showed good speed in a race that went to closers in her second start back from that long layoff last time, and she now turns back to sprint with some foundation underneath her. Her ability over dirt is an unknown, but she has a versatile pedigree to go along with some talent, and she will be a price in this spot. I'll take a shot with her on top and start a pick three with her in this race.
Race 4 is a solid route for 2-year-old maidens. Shoot From the Hip earned a solid figure in a fast race last time, but he never was a real factor in that race and may not be worth a short price. Instead, I'll use the pair exiting the sixth race Nov. 21: Musical Comedy (#2) and Cadeyrn (#6). Cadeyrn ran the better race of the two, staying on gamely after giving wide chase, but Musical Comedy appeared to be a juvenile in need of some experience that day. Outrun early while displaying uncomfortable action, he managed to put in a little run from far back in the field before flattening out late. He is a well-connected colt who brought a healthy ticket at the 2-year-old in training sale earlier this year, especially considering his modest pedigree, and he is eligible to improve quickly.
I won't try to get clever in race 5 to close out the pick three. Lunar Rover (#1) and Frenchman Bay (#5) both drop in to face claiming company for the first time with the best figures in the field, and they both have enough speed to avoid being compromised by dynamics.