Watchmaker: How I'll play Aqueduct for Saturday, April 9

With rain in the forecast for Saturday’s Wood Memorial card at Aqueduct, I’m going to steer clear of the three races scheduled for turf until there is resolution one way or the other. And if the rain does indeed materialize, and the main track is wet, I’m going to pay close attention to how speed does. When the Aqueduct main track was wet and sealed on Thursday, the surface played strongly in favor of speed.

In any case, my main opinions on the day come later in the card. Here they are, in race order:

Race 7 – The three horses I’m interested in here are, in post position order, Brooklyn Major, Benevolence, and Nevisian Sky.

Brooklyn Major had a wide trip from the 12 hole when fourth most recently, and I like his rail draw here because it forces him to go early. When Brooklyn Major went from the one hole two starts back, he went right to the lead and finished a solid second in the best effort of his career, albeit his first with Lasix.

Benevolence wasn’t as wide as the trouble line says in his only start, but was an okay third. He now adds Lasix for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, which makes him an automatic must use for me.

Nevisian Sky debuts in a likely spot for trainer Chad Brown. According to DRF Formulator, over the last five years, Brown is 5 for 27 with New York0bred first-time starters sprinting on dirt at New York Racing Association tracks. Of course, Brown’s horses get bet, and the return on investment for these horses was only $1.36.

Race 8, the Gazelle – I don’t have a strong opinion here other than I will throw a couple of bucks on Behrnik’s Bank, who is 15-1 on the morning line. Behrnik’s Bank suffered her first loss in her most recent outing when outgamed at a ridiculously overbet 2-5 in a New York-bred sprint stakes. Before that, Behrnik’s Bank humiliated Pennsylvania-breds in her first two starts sprinting at Penn National. So what is Behrnik’s Bank doing in this Grade 2, 1 1/8-mile stakes off a four-month layoff?

This is a most curious race placement. But Behrnik’s Bank will be completely loose on the lead, and the two Beyer Figures she received in her romps at Penn National are higher than anything anyone else in this field has ever earned. So, at a big price, she’s worth a little flyer.

Race 10, the Wood Memorial – For reasons explained in my Weekend Warrior column this week, I like Cool Coal Man. And I’ll like Cool Coal Man even more if the track comes up wet and speed favoring because he loves a wet track, and I believe he’s the fastest early here, and has the lead if he wants it.

Race 11, the Carter – There are no killers in this Carter. I do have great respect for Salutos Amigos, who will be the favorite off his big Tom Fool win most recently, and I like Calculator as a horse, although he continually hurts himself with poor starts.

I prefer Anchor Down and Majestic Affair. Anchor Down was rightfully disqualified from third in the Gulfstream Park Handicap last time out after almost dropping Valid in the stretch. However, that was Anchor Down’s best performance in quite some time, and he will be forwardly placed.

I liked Majestic Affair last time in the General George when he was nailed by Page McKenney. But narrowly missing to a professional race horse like Page McKenney is no disgrace, and Majestic Affair should also be fairly close early.