Best Bet: Downtown Mischief gets down to business
Thursday’s seventh race at Aqueduct is an optional-claiming event for fillies and mares dashing six furlongs on the main track. The scheduled post time is 3:47 p.m. EST.
Click here for Aqueduct entries and results.
No. 7 Downtown Mischief (3-1) set the pace and lost the show in the late stages in her needed seven-panel return Dec. 14. She drew a comfortable post and should move forward for Linda Rice. She captured three local races at this trip last year, including the Cicada.
No. 8 Royal Poppy (7-2) projects a decent stalking trip from the outside post. The reliable filly probably will finish somewhere in the top three.
No. 2 Stonewall Star (5-2) is the inside speed under Manny Franco. She likes this oval and always runs her race at this distance. The consistent filly should be in the thick of things throughout.
No. 3 Desert Dalliance (8-1) moved to the Rudy Rodríguez barn and knocked out her entry-level allowance condition Nov. 26. The versatile mare is on top of her game and should offer wagering value.
Wagers
No. 7 to win
Exacta box 7-8
Trifecta 7-8/2-3-7-8/2-3-7-8
Recent Best Bet winners
Dec. 24 – F Five ($5.40)
Dec. 26 – Watsonville ($11.00), exacta ($22.00)
Dec. 29 – Medoro ($6.80)
Jan. 1 – Otello ($5.40), trifecta ($100.00)
Last Thursday – Dr. Ray D. ($7.00), exacta ($15.40), trifecta ($28.60)
Friday – Virat ($7.40), trifecta ($72.20)
Saturday – Comparative/Saddle Up Jessie/Evidencias trifecta ($45.40)
Tuesday – In Spades ($7.80)