Beer: How I'd play Aqueduct for Saturday, Nov. 14

The early part of Saturday's card at Aqueduct is dominated by short fields, but things get more interesting late. The late pick four with a $200,000 guaranteed pool begins in race 6, and it is anchored by a wide-open edition of the Grade 3 Red Smith Handicap.

Race 6: This high-priced optional claimer for 3-yar-olds on turf goes with a field of nine. No. 6 Disco Partner has upside and may be the most talented runner in this field already, but he has to stretch out, and he gives the impression of a horse who may have a tough time carrying his strong late kick through added real estate. I'll play against him with No. 4 Skill Not Luck, who was rated back before finishing well in his turf debut most recently, but has enough speed to wind up on a clear early lead in this paceless field. I'll also use No. 9 Indebted, who finished gamely in a slow-paced stakes race when last seen in July. No. 3 Bullheaded Boy continues to overachieve for Todd Pletcher and will be a backup.

Race 7: The Red Smith is the final graded stakes to be run on turf in New York this year, and it is not an easy race. I'm going to focus on three horses in the pick four. No. 6 Kaigun seems to be effective over a variety of distances, has run fast races, and is an appealing new face in this field. I'm having a hard time falling for him, but I have to use him. No. 9 Mr Maybe has picked up his game noticeably in last two starts, particularly his last one, which was also his first start for Chad Brown. He is going to be overbet in this race,which makes him an excellent horse to play against in the win pool, but he is a must-use in the pick four. No. 7 Mr Speaker disappointed in the Knickerbocker most recently, but I actually prefer him at this longer trip. He seems back in form since returning from a short layoff this summer.

Race 8: No. 7 Broadway Bay is often left with too much to do, but he is a closing sprinter cutting back to a better distance here, and he has been facing much better horses than this all year long. If he's going to run, it's going to be today, and he'll be a price. No. 3 Howaboutwe and No. 9 Ogermeister are the others in the main play.

Race 9: No. 5 Bank Float is logical as the horse to beat, and must be used, and No. 10 Mini Cosmo is mildly interesting as he drops in class for the first time while making his second start off the layoff. Mini Cosmo didn't do much running in his turf debut last time. He was wide throughout in a race that was dominated on the front end, and the rails were well out into the Laurel turf course that day. The other horse to use, and the one I am most interested in betting on, is No. 2 Balderdash. He has run several races that make him competitive here, has a versatile running style from a good inside post, and is finally getting the class relief that he needs.