How I'll play Aqueduct for Sunday, Dec. 18

How Daily Racing Form writer Mike Beer will play the late pick four at Aqueduct on Sunday, Dec. 18.

Race 8: The $100k Gravesend goes straight through morning line favorite STALLWALKIN' DUDE, who enters in strong form for trainer David Jacobson. He is ultra-consistent and reliable, and he is the horse to lean on in this race. Green Gratto won this race last year (when he was in much better form), and he is a dangerous speed, but the muddy track doesn't help him. I will play some small backup tickets with DRAMA KING, who may finally catch some pace to close into in this race, something he hasn't been able to get recently.

Race 9: Fastlanefrontman ran well two starts back (in the mud) vs. a highly promising 2-year-old in Mo Town. He was defeated as a heavy favorite at Parx Racing last time, while finding his Beyer Speed Figure drop precipitously, but that figure looks to be way too low based on both his prior efforts, as well as the other horses in that field. I'll also use MOROCCO, shipping in from Kentucky off of a solid effort for Bill Mott, and Todd Pletcher's OUTPLAY, who had some speed on debut, and is bred to handle added distance.

Race 10: Leaning on FROSTY MARGARITA in the third leg. She went early into a fast pace in the seven-furlong Stallion Series last time, and was closed down late by subsequent graded stakes winner Highway Star. She benefits from getting this cut back to six furlongs, and she goes out for a streaking trainer. Flatterywillgetyou is a talented horse with upside, but she is returning from an injury-induced layoff in a pretty tough spot. She is a backup only, along with Court Dancer, who has been off form lately, but has dangerous speed and fast back races.

Race 11: MAJESTIC MIST had a bit of a trip when making her debut on the main track back in August, then switched to turf for her second start, where she showed improved speed before weakening late. Trainer Jason Servis has been strong switching maidens from turf-to-dirt in sprints: 6 for 15 over the past five years in races that were scheduled for dirt, with a strong ROI, via Formulator. I'll also use the logical SPECIAL RISK and first-time starter FULL HOUSE, who is a half-sister to the talented sprinter Classy Class.