Aqueduct: Sunday, 2/20, Plays - Pete's Picks

Little Pete
Feb 20, 2022
5 min read

We have a chilly afternoon of racing at Aqueduct, but 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 ). Big Pete will have his full

breakdown on his "Play of the Day" and the late pick 3 (Races 7-9). We appreciate you taking a look at this write-up and GOOD LUCK.

Little Pete's $2.00 Early Double:

R1: 1, 3, 4

R2: 2, 3

Cost: $12.00

Little Pete's $ 1.00 Spot Pick 3:

R4: 2, 5

R5: 2, 5, 7

R6: 3, 5, 7

Cost: $18.00

Big Pete's $ 1.00 Late Pick 3:

R7: 2, 4, 6

R8: 4, 5, 7

R9: 3, 6, 7

Cost: $ 27.00

Little Pete's Early Double:

Race 1:

The horse I like in here is to the inside in (1) Closing Deals. Rudy always improves his horses second time out and I think the rail position will be beneficial for Trevor McCarthy to run on with this one late down the stretch. I also need to include (3) Easy Play and (4) Boca Kitten. I think that (3) Easy Play will improve with the class drop and I won't hold the last performance against him. (4) Boca Kitten is a horse that closed well in debut and I think will be a late closing horse again in this one.

$3.00 WPS 1 Cost: $9.00

$2.00 Ex Box 1,3,4 Cost: $12.00

Race 2:

I think this one will be a two horse race between (2) Road to Success and (3) Mr. Fidget. If (2) Road to Success is left on the lead alone then I think this horse handles this field convincingly. If there is an early pace battle, then I think (3) Mr. Fidget will benefit the most and run his best race late.

$5.00 Ex Box 2,3 Cost: $10.00

Big Pete's "Play of the Day":

Race 3:

(7) RVINDICATED has put himself in position to make a run in each of his starts. The problem is he just can’t seem to finish when you need to. With the switch to L1 today, maybe that will help him in the late stages. He can stalk and let the rail runners go at it and wait for Castro’s signal. With the inside three all dropping to this level, the 4:1 ML on Rvindicated should hold up.

$ 7.00 WPS 7 Cost $ 21.00

$ 3.00 Ex Box 1, 2, 7 Cost $ 18.00

Little Pete's Spot Pick 3:

Race 4:

I can't exclude (2) Mr. Pete from the Cash is King barn, I just can't do it. I think that this horse will benefit from the inside draw and be able to be on the lead or sit right behind it throughout the race. (5) Tale of the Mist is my only other play in here coing in strong to this one and should have a firmer surface this time out. If there is some early pace, then I think this horse benefits the most late down the stretch.

$10.00 WIN 2 Cost: $10.00

$5.00 Ex Box 2,5 Cost: $10.00

Race 5:

(2) Event Party comes into this one with a bullet workout and should be able to translate the performances at Parx to Aqueduct this afternoon. I think we will get a decent price on this one and Jose Gomez is an apprentice that I really like. (5) Famished is a strong play in here and may be too good to catch late. If Cancel allows this horse to run his race, then it will be tough for the field to catch. (7) Corkman gets the aggressive Dylan Davis aboard and that makes this horse a threat throughout. This horse is coming in from a winning effort last time out and I think is a must play on the ticket.

$3.00 WPS 2 Cost: $9.00

$2.00 Ex Box 2,5,7 Cost: $12.00

Race 6:

(3) Our Man Mike is coming in from a win and looks poised to run a similar styled race in this one with the presence of speed. (5) Bustin Timberlake always wins in the PPs with a name like that, but also is an impressive horse. This horse will find the lead early and challenge his foes to catch him late; which could be too much of an ask late. (7) Daddy Knows is an interesting horse to me on the outside. This horse does show some early speed, but does not like to win races late. I think the weight relief in here will play a factor and if the apprentice allows this horse to allow this horse to find his footing early and save some energy for the stretch, then I think we have a strong contender late.

$3.00 Ex Box 3,5,7 Cost: $18.00

Big Pete's Late Pick 3:

Race 7:

(2) PRAIRE FIRE takes the necessary drop for Rice and could be just better than these. She has plenty of races in her pp’s that handle this group. But when they drop, that could mean other things as well so we’ll use defensively and try to beat her. I like both of the Central Bankers in here. (4) DIVA DANCER has been picking up checks but hasn’t won since June. She finished behind Fire two back while fading late. She may have the advantage today with the lack of speed in here. I prefer the other Banker, (6) GRINGOTTS. She was against the track in her prior two races where the rail was the place to be. She tried to close outside and it wasn’t happening. If she gets a fair track, she can stalk early and come with her run late.

$ 7.00 WPS 6 Cost $ 21.00

$ 3.00 Ex Box 2, 4, 6 Cost $ 18.00

Race 8:

It’s hard to get past the three ML picks. (4) MORE GRAYTFUL is rolling right now and posted a big figure last time. If he’s allowed to control the front again, it looks like more of the same. (7) WINNERS LAUGH is the new face as he’s been away from the track and probably needed his public workout in Dec. If he’s close to his Spring form, he’ll make the top one work for it. That’s why I’ll land on (5) SEVEN LILIES to come tackle them both late. He likes to stalk and make a run late. Davis is back in town and Atras is winning races. The slight cut back to 7F feels right.

$ 7.00 WPS 5 Cost $ 21.00

$ 3.00 Ex Box 4, 5, 7 Cost $ 18.00

Race 9:

(6) SUBSIDIZE has been in the barn since Sept until he surfaced last month. The works are improving and Maker is luke warm this month. I like the confidence that Lezcano stays for a 2nd try. (7) MASKED MARAUDER is fresh of the Rudy claim after a strong rally to just miss. He’s 1 for 13 but has a new home for now and I’m expecting some improvement. I like (3) AIRSHOW fresh off the Noda claim. He was against the track trying to close outside where the rail was several lengths better. He loses weight with the bug up and cuts back to a preferred distance. With Trash Talker and Colormepazzi going at it early, this guy will reel them in late