Beer: How I'd play Aqueduct on Saturday, Dec. 5
Race 7 is a competitive sprint for entry-level New York-breds with a full field of 12. SECURED POSITION (#10) tried turf to no avail this summer and now returns to dirt with back form to build upon. Despite being sent off at a big price, he was a strong winner over the talented Good Luck Gus in his career debut, and he backed that race up well while giving game chase to the now multiple graded stakes-placed Super Colossal in his only other start as a 2-year-old. Back from a long layoff back in June, he was forced to fight off challenges in the early and middle stages before ultimately falling to a perfectly tripped out odds-on favorite. Secured Position has some other speed to deal with in this race, but he is going to be a price, and he still has forward to go on dirt. The other horse I want to use in here is DETTIFOSS (#7). He is a chronic slow breaker, but he has some ability, and this race sets up well for his closing style.
The featured $100,000 Garland of Roses has pulled a short field, and it is a six-furlong stakes race that is lacking for much in the way of early pace. PRINCESS VIOLET (#6) is a prior Grade 1 winner and the horse to beat, but she has a layoff to overcome here. As an alternative, I’ll try LA MADRINA (#5). Following a promising, if unspectacular, 3-year-old season spent sprinting on dirt, La Madrina has run under those conditions only once this year, and that came directly off the layoff against the 1-5 ROOM FOR ME (#4). Switched back to dirt Oct. 30 to try the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm following a pair of failed attempts on grass at Saratoga, La Madrina was the only one to take a run at front-running winner America before ultimately being turned away over a distance that may simply be too far for her. She turns back to a better distance for this, and she may be catching the two favorites at the right time.
Race 9 is for New York-bred maiden claimers routing on turf. JUNGER (#1) is the morning-line favorite as he drops back down in class from a good post, but he is an unappealing bet at any short price. STREET FIGHTIN MAN (#10) earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 64 while failing for the fourth straight time at this level last month. Perhaps the argument could be made that he moved a bit too soon in that spot, but he had his chance there and came up short at the end. I could use him, as well as LOOSE MONEY (#5), who had to steady at a crucial moment in his last start, but the horse I want to bet is KANGAROO STYLE (#8). Making his turf debut off of a lengthy layoff Oct. 31, Kangaroo Style was allowed to settle far back in the field early before putting in a nice run through the stretch. He now will stretch out for his second start back against a suspect field, and he will be racing as a gelding for the first time.