Bernier: How I'll play Aqueduct for Sunday, Dec. 17

The eighth at Aqueduct on Sunday afternoon is a New York Stallion Series event for 2-year-olds, and there’s a heavy favorite on the morning line in STONEY BENNETT (2). Stoney Bennett has run the fastest races in the field from both a Beyer Speed Figure standpoint as well as a TimeformUS standpoint. I was disappointed in his most recent start in the $100,000 Notebook at Aqueduct on Nov. 26. He loomed up in the clear on the far turn before finishing evenly down the lane. Blinkers are added for today’s event, and while he’s a very logical win contender, he’s not the horse I’m looking to key my play around.
BELLEVILLE SPRING (4) makes his first start for trainer George Weaver after debuting at Churchill Downs on Nov. 17 for Wayne Mackey. In the debut, Belleville Spring broke severely outward before getting himself straightened out, moved very well during the middle portion of the race in the clear and ultimately flattened out down the lane. All things considered it was a positive debut for this son of Trinniberg, and a forward move in start number two could make him a major player. He’s the horse I’ll be keying my play around.
Early speed is always dangerous, and DEZZER (1) displayed that in his debut for Jorge Navarro. While the field he beat was suspect to say the least, the sharp early foot Dezzer flashed can’t be ignored. If he breaks cleanly from the rail, he figures to take command of this race early. I’ll also include him in my play for this afternoon’s race.
THE PLAY:
EXACTA: 4 with 1,2
EXACTA: 1,2 with 4