Aqueduct: Saturday, 4/16, Plays - Pete's Picks
- Little Pete
- Apr 16, 2022
- 6 min read
We have a nice Saturday afternoon at the race track and we are locked in to cashing some tickets. I will be looking to take down the early double (Races 1-2) and a middle pick 3 ( Races 4-6 ); I will even dabble with a play of day (I do it all). Big Pete will have his full breakdown on his "Play of the Day" and try to cash another late pick 3 (Races 7-9). We appreciate you taking a look at this write-up and GOOD LUCK.
Little Pete's $ 5.00 Early Double:
R1: 2
R2: 3, 4, 7
Cost: $15.00
Little Pete's $ 1.00 Spot Pick 3:
R5: 3, 5, 8
R6: 1, 3, 5, 7
R7: 1, 2, 7, 8
Cost: $48.00
Big Pete's $ 1.00 Late Pick 3:
R8: 7, 8, 9, 10
R9: 3, 4, 11
R10: 1, 4, 8, 9
Cost: $ 48.00
Little Pete's Late Pick 3:
Race 1:
I am not overthinking this one and taking Chad Brown in the first; (2) Higher Quality. Experience matters and Chad Brown's numbers on horses that lose their debut and then come back with an impressive win is a stat I like to imagine is there. I think Manny sits on the lead and does not look back.
$4.00 Ex 2 w/ 1,3 Cost: $8.00
Race 2:
(3) Bell Boy is a horse that I like in this one cutting back in distance and getting a more aggressive ride in here. I know the horse has not shown much on the track to date, but I think the cut back, weak field, and firmer surface will equate to a better performance. (4) Barone Marchis had an impressive debut and has a nice workout coming into this one. This horse will be ridden aggressively and have a say late. My last play will be (7) Street Culture who will be on the lead early and this weak field may be over-matched late with the head start.
$2.00 Ex Box 3,4,7 Cost: $12.00
Big Pete's "Play of the Day":
Race 3:
As usual, I like to take a stab on a price in these, “Play of the Day” races. Is Microsecond ready? Can Straw Into Gold finally get there? Can Danzigwiththestars find his form of 6 months ago? Those are my questions of the contenders. I want the Courageous Cat gelding that will get overlooked at the windows. Something went wrong when we last saw ( 7 ) JACK THE CAT as the favorite against open claimers. He took some time off this winter and now returns to the grass with steady works. Handal has been patient with him as they only got to the race track three times last year. If he’s anywhere near his 2021 debut, he will be a major player facing his fellow NY Breds today.
$ 7.00 WPS 7 Cost $ 21.00
We’ll use him with (8) Danzigwiththestars and (9) Straw Into Gold.
$ 3.00 Exacta Box 7, 8, 9 Cost $ 18.00
We’ll also use Jack The Cat in a DAILY DOUBLE play.
Both ( 6) Technical Analysis looks solid in the 4th
$ 7.00 Double 7 w/ 6 Cost $ 7.00
Little Pete's "Play of the Day":
Race 4:
We are scratched down to (4) horses in here and I am going to take a risk in this one. With short fields, it typically comes down to the jockeys to win the race and I am going to go with Jose Lezcano. I am playing this race to have (3) Plum Ali and (6) Technical Analysis both seeking the early lead and I think (5) Flower Point is aggressive enough early to get the rail and save ground throughout. I am playing that the two front runners will have some vulnerability late and (5) Flower Point capitalizes.
$5.00 WPS 5 Cost: $15.00
Little Pete's Late Pick 3:
Race 5:
(3) Yah Huh gets Trevor McCarthy in this one and should be able to find a rail position early and that makes the difference in stamina late. (5) Act Accordingly is a firster from Laoban and has been training extremely well coming into this one; worth the investment IMO. (8) Martinez takes a significant drop in here and should be able to handle this field relatively easily. What makes me a bit skeptical is the extended layoff, which is why we are hedging with the first two.
$3.00 WPS 5 Cost: $9.00
$2.00 Ex Box 3,5,8 Cost: $12.00
Race 6:
There are plenty of contenders in this one with extended layoffs and I am going to need to include most of the favorites in here; it is about staying alive! (1) Minaun has the inside post and should be able to find the rail early. I think Manny will be extremely aggressive in this one and look to be close to the lead throughout. Stamina will be there and I think the distance is what makes the difference. (3) Princess Fawzia is just too good for me to leave off the ticket. Dylan Davis is going to find the lane late to make this interesting and I like the post position to save ground throughout. (5) High Point is training lights out coming into this one and I think has the fresh legs to be forwardly placed throughout. (7) Messidor is my last play to come sweeping out down the stretch and run a big race late.
$3.00 WPS 1 Cost: $9.00
$2.00 Ex 1,5 w/ 1,3,5,7 Cost: $12.00
$1.00 Ex 3,7 w/ 1,3,5,7 Cost: $6.00
Race 7:
I will be going four deep to close out the ticket. (1) Aggregation will improve second time out and had plenty of money invested on debut to warrant another play in here. (2) Khufu is my top pick in here with the post position and the move to Castellano. I think this horse is saved by the trip and is fresher late. (7) Eminency is coming into this one after an impressive race last time out and I think a mirrored effort could lead to the winner's circle; ride the hot hand! (8) Flowing River to the outside will be aggressive from the break and I think Trevor McCarthy will be able to overcome the post by being aggressive early.
$3.00 WPS 2 Cost: $9.00
$2.00 Ex 1,2 w/ 1,2,7,8 Cost: $12.00
$1.00 Ex 7,8 w/ 1,2,7,8 Cost: $6.00
Big Pete's Late Pick 3:
Race 8:
( 10 ) HILLIARD exits the G2 Hill Prince with a fast closing 4th. The switch back to Davis for Maker is a good sign he’s still on his toes. Most of these need to pick up their game a little so if you’re looking for a single, I would start with this one. I’ll use one more though as the switch back to the turf for ( 8 ) HIGH TIDE is what this gelding wants. He was a fast closing 2nd to Public Information on this course last Nov. Then the turf season ended. He’ll be slightly higher in price, so that’s where I’ll land..
$ 7.00 WPS 8 Cost $ 21.00
$ 3.00 Ex 8, 10 w/ 7, 8, 9, 10 Cost $ 18.00
Race 9:
( 7 ) FREEDOMOFTHEPRESS is the new shooter in here for Rice. She broke her maiden last year and has waited until today for a shot against winners. Not an easy task but her last two races would make her a player today. I want ( 4 ) HIGHWAY QUEEN in this spot. She prefers grass and Franco chooses this one over several others. The 1 for 11 record is hard to swallow she looks like she is coming into this race sharp with a couple of bullets in her belt. Both ( 3 ) THEODORA GRACE and ( 11 ) STELLA MARS like to stalk and come late. On their best day, either can find a big run that would top this bunch. We’ll include them.
$ 7.00 WPS 4 Cost $ 21.00
$ 3.00 Ex 3, 4 w/ 3, 4, 7, 11 Cost $ 18.00
Race 10:
We have a wide open finale to end this Saturday card. I’ll focus on two to finish on top. The wise guy runner is
( 4 ) PRINCE OF PHAROAHS. He ran into a hot Yankee Division and then was victim of a bad start but still managed 4th. I have ( 9 ) RIVER DOG playing a major roll in this one. He’s been off for a little bit and it looks like it worked. A strong gate work and a fast bullet should have this gelding ready for a dog fight. ( 1 ) WINNERS LAUGH and ( 8 ) BUSTIN TIMBERLAKE are cagey vets that always seem ready for the challenge. Either can best these on a good day.
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