$250,000 Guaranteed Late Pick 4 at Aqueduct
The $250,000 guarantee offered on the late Pick 4 at Aqueduct is always an attractive carrot, and tomorrow’s races look to be both relatively painless to narrow down, while stilling having some live price horses. That being said, I am going to give it a go with a very affordable ticket. Let’s take a look at the sequence ...
Race 6 – Starter Allowance (7 furlongs)
#7 Call for the Clock has a good record at Aqueduct, and should be especially dangerous first out for trainer David Jacobson, who claimed him for $20,000 out of his last. First off the claim for Jacobson is generally a good angle, and seven furlongs should be a good distance for this son of Read the Footnotes, who is an attractive 8-1 on the morning line. #4 Mr. Masterpiece ran a sneaky good race last time in the Kelly Kip Stakes, and a repeat effort makes him a big threat in here. While #1 Ground Force is a beatable morning line favorite, you have to respect his back class, and he does come in off a solid effort when rallying for third in the Peeping Tom last time.
Race 7 – NY-bred Allowance (6 furlongs)
#3 Swell makes his first start since last September, but if the son of Langfuhr can run as fast as he did in his 2014 races, he should be tough to beat in here. Included in last year’s form was an excellent second to the stakes winner, Captain Serious, in which he was coming off a similar break, as he is tomorrow. If he does not get it done, I like #1 Copernicus next best. Coming off a sharp win for his new trainer, John Toscano, Jr., he could be the controlling speed from his rail post position.
Race 8 – Grade 3 Top Flight Handicap (1 1/8 miles)
I once thought #2 House Rules was on her way to bigger and better things, but it was simply not meant to be for the daughter of Distorted Humor. She’s had plenty of chances against top competition without success. What she is, though, is a very solid Grade 3 type, who usually does very well when placed correctly. Saturday’s feature looks to be a good spot for her, and coming off a pair of solid efforts at Gulfstream, the morning line favorite looks like the one to beat. With a fair amount of early speed in here, the biggest danger to House Rules should come from #3 Joint Return. The daughter of Include not only likes to win, but also demonstrated her class with back-to-back prestigious second place finishes last summer in the Delaware Oaks and Alabama. If the pace is taxing up front, look for her to come running in her seasonal debut for trainer John Servis. The nine furlongs should suit her, and at 8-1, she offers value where House Rules does not.
Race 9 – NY-bred Maiden Special Weight (7 furlongs)
#3 Jc’s Shooting Star is a first-time starter with plenty to like. The daughter of the speedy Miracle Man has a series of solid works for the underrated trainer, David Donk, including her most recent bullet five furlong work from the gate. There are some solid winners from her female family, as well, so it would be no surprise to see her come out running. Besides the good name, #8 Tricky Zippy is a must use as the morning line favorite. Second in her only start at two, she chased the speed in first race back, before coming home third. Improvement in her second race back makes her a real threat in here. #7 Fredaq ran decently in her career debut, a 7 ½ furlong turf race at Gulfstream Park against open company. She might like the state-bred competition a little more, and her workouts point her out as a possible improve in career race number two.
The Play
Short and Sweet … 50-cent Pick 4 – 1, 4, 7 / 1, 3 / 2, 3 / 3, 7, 8 = $18
Good Luck to All!