Friday's Best Bet: Shalimar Gardens breaks out in Comely
Friday's 9th race from Aqueduct is the Grade 3 Comely Stakes for three-year-old fillies traveling a mile and an eighth on the main track (Post Time 3:43 p.m. EST).
No. 3 SHALIMAR GARDENS (6-1) broke from the rail in three of four starts, and she ran off the screen in her flat mile maiden win at Belmont Park Sept. 26. She exits an okay 4th in the Raven Run (G2), and the lightly raced daughter of Uncle Mo should be forwardly placed at a hint of a price under John Velazquez.
No. 5 Played Hard (3-1) is dangerous when they let her control the pace on the front end. She went all the way at 9f July 22 and set the tempo and missed by a neck in the Seneca Overnight at Churchill Downs Oct. 1.
No. 4 Crazy Beautiful (3-1) is enjoying a productive season for Ken McPeek. She has captured four stakes this year and was 2nd by a length in the Valley View (G3) on yielding turf Oct. 29. Her tactical speed should lead to a good trip.
No. 6 Army Wife chose Thursday’s Falls City (G2) over this spot and will scratch.
Get my Expert Del Mar picks for today’s races
Wagers:
No. 3 to win
Exacta 3/4-5
Exacta 4-5/3
Recent Best Bet Winners
Nov. 1 - KEEPIN' IT CLASSY ($4.00)
Nov. 2 - LADY MCKENZIE ($7.00)
Nov. 3 - NEXT REVOLT ($4.40), Quinella ($7.80)
Nov. 5 - ECHO ZULU ($3.60)
Nov. 6 - CE CE ($14.40)
Nov. 9 - WELLINGTON WONDER ($6.40), Exacta ($26.60)
Nov. 10 - LASTCHANCEATGLORY ($6.80), Exacta ($15.60)
Nov. 11 - SPA CITY ($3.40)
Nov. 12 - Rowdy Rascal/Cuatro Madres Exacta ($12.80)
Nov. 16 - Johan Zoffany/Venture Forth Exacta ($56.00)
Nov. 20 - SERVE THE KING ($6.10)
Nov. 23 - ZESTFUL ($4.20), Exacta ($7.00)