We are holding our breath here. That’s because last week’s Pick was the third in a row that won—and this one also included a trifecta if you’d keyed the winner Petrov (whom we loved and paid $13.40) with third place Beachtown Benny ($239 payoff). There were 16 other BreezeFigs maidens that came home on top during the week, including some which threw nice payoffs.

Delta Downs puts on its richest card of the season Saturday, when eight stakes led by the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot will be decided on a card that starts at 1:45 p.m. Central. There is an all-stakes pick four that runs on races 4-7 which has a $200,000 minimum guaranteed pool and a low takeout of 12 percent. Here’s a look at the sequence:

Last year, the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot was run three weeks after the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. That timing worked for Exaggerator, who wheeled back off a fourth in the Juvenile to win the Jackpot. This year, the Jackpot comes just two weeks after the Juvenile. It remains to be seen how this timing works out, but the Jackpot is still the marquee race of this weekend, followed by the Grade 3, $400,000 Delta Downs Princess, the main supporting event on a stakes-packed undercard.

SADLER’S JOY
Trainer: Tom Albertrani
Last race: Nov. 9, 8th
Finish: 1st by 1 1/2
Beyer: 93
Improving 3-year-old made it three in a row, with a third-consecutive new Beyer top, while putting in a strong run to roll over the leaders in a second-level allowance over 11 furlongs. He appears to be on his way to stakes competition.

TAPANNA
Trainer: Mike Maker
Last race: Nov. 9, 3rd
Finish: 2nd by 3 3/4
Beyer: 70
Kicked into gear to grab second against $7,500 claimers on the dirt, but he never seemed quite as comfortable racing on the dirt as he has often looked on synthetic. Expect a far better performance from him over the Polytrack at Turfway after the Churchill meet concludes.

Nov. 12

Belmont

Red Smith (race 7)

MISSY CRISSY
Trainer: Mark Casse
Last race: Nov. 12, 8^th
Finish: 5^th by 5 1/4
Beyer: 67
Following a front-running maiden win, she was rated and a bit rank in mid-pack in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes, and emerged from traffic in the stretch to close belatedly. She could settle better next time with that learning experience under her girth.

AMERICANA
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer
Last race: Nov. 11, 4th
Finish: 6^th by 6
Beyer: 57
Blazing fractions contributed to this Tapit filly’s loss in a turf route for 2-year-old maiden fillies. Pace-compromised in both turf starts, she has ability but must learn to ration her speed.

Here are a couple of horses and betting opportunities to consider later this afternoon at Aqueduct.

Race 5 - Allowance

D' ELOQUENT (11)
(4 to 1 Morning Line)
(5 to 1 Value Line)

Bettors who like maiden races will like Sunday's card at Del Mar – four maiden special-weights that provide welcome relief from the unrelenting barrage of Southern California maiden-claiming races.

All four special-weights Sunday – races 1, 3, 6 and 9 – offer potential value. The key word is “potential.” While no race includes a slam-dunk choice, all four include runners that could slip through the pari-mutuel cracks.