Aqueduct, 11-24

[golfer]

Race 1: Surprisingly evenly matched 1 3/8's turf opener... #5 Wine Master is solid, but tough to take favorite in a race like this. #9 Spanish Harlem is 2nd Time out for the re-born Pletcher stable, very dangerous. Longshots #1 The Shaughraun, #2 Exton, and #10 Ambassador Dan all fit with these. Race time decision on which way to go.

Race 2: Favorite #1 Dixieland Star is most likely winner. #3 On With It is former Biancone, now Linda Rice (anybody notice how Biancone's runners are doing in other stables?). #8 Ring Bernadette is eligible to improve 2nd out for Jerkens.

Race 3: Another solid looking ML Favorite, #5 Vacation for Shug, most likely winner. Both halves of the Dutrow entry (1 and 1A) can have an impact.. #9 Mr Shortcake stretches out for Pletcher, very dangerous. #4 Big Stick goes turf to dirt for McLaughlin.

Race 4: Start of the Pick 6, and a wide open maiden affair. #1 Raffies Deer, solid if unspectacular from the rail.. #11 Front Money, goes turf to dirt, figs fit... #12 Biohazzard, fastest coming in, but 12 post makes hitting board more likely than winning.

Race 5: Taking slightly negative view of Buffalo Man and Now a Victor, which leaves us with #1 Shopton Lane, stepping up in company, but very fast since Levine took over, and #3 Helsinki, jumped up 2 starts back, then didn't like Monmouth slop, can return to previous level.

Race 6: Both Jerkens horses are capable of improving stretching out for 1st time, but the top 3 are #2 Expect the End, #5 Sunday Elegance, and #7 Elusive Lady.

Race 7: Very contentious race, but going with #3 Big Truck to bounce back after slight reaction first time stretching out for Tagg. Don't trust the Delaware and Md shippers, and the only drawback for #1 Court Vision is the highweight, 122.

Race 8: #2 Midnite Lute offers no value, but play against at own peril..#5 Daaher is next fastest, but 2 huge races may take it's toll today.. #3 Sir Greeley stretches out 3rd off layoff, could be key for 2nd money. #7 Xchanger looks solid if you draw a line through his Monmouth slop non-effort.

Race 9: Fastest horse coming in is #5 Munition, but ? marks are shortening distance and 1st time Jacobson... #1 In The Spotlight bounced on short rest, yielding turf in last, can improve today. #2 Premier Perfection, layoff & first turf for Pletcher, dirt figs were solid... and I'd be remiss not to mention #10 Trickanometry, a horse I've been following for months, who is off a short-rest bounce.. certainly doesn't stand out in here, but with a little luck, could make some noise.

Pick 6 play:
R 4: 1,12
R 5: 1,3
R 6: 2,5,7
R 7: 3
R 8: 2
R 9: 1,2,5

$72 realistic pick 6 ticket (for me anyway) obviously could go a bit deeper.

Good Luck to all today!

[pmacdaddy]

Stepaside is a horse I really like. I am hoping he gets a bit lost on the board in the opener.

[golfer]

Originally Posted by pmacdaddy

Stepaside is a horse I really like. I am hoping he gets a bit lost on the board in the opener.

The first appears to be wide open. Stepaside is the most lightly-raced of the bunch, certainly improvement is possible. I personally don't like him being wheeled back in 10 days. I would think you'd get morning line or better on him.

[Downthestretch55]

I'll just put out two that I've been watching for...

Race 6- #4 Be Fruitful 6-1 ml. This 2yo filly is a full sister to Corinthian. She romped in the slop on the last day of the Belmont meet. Won by 6 going away.

Race 9- #8 In the Spotlight 9=2 ml. I'm a big fan of Merrylegs Farm. I breed my mares to their stallions. I think In the Spotlight will get it done today.

Good racin' luck!

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by pmacdaddy

Stepaside is a horse I really like. I am hoping he gets a bit lost on the board in the opener.

Where's his competitive race and how can he be realistically expected to compete with Banrock?

[pmacdaddy]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Where's his competitive race and how can he be realistically expected to compete with Banrock?

Maybe I am getting a bit ahead of myself with Stepaside...

I like the fact that Voss has been going long with him from the get go. Also liked how he looked breaking his maiden and thought he looked good last out. In my opinion could improve coming back onto a firmer surface and adding ground.

Agree Banrock looks tough having faced tougher Statebred competition and does not need a ton of upfront pace to be effective.

Thought for me was if Stepaside was a big price, I was going to give him a look and hope he works out a good trip in a race that may not favor far from the pace closers.

[blackthroatedwind]

He's OK, but he's had great trips in both of his last two races, and the horses that finished behind him are decidedly mediocre. His fig two back, the 85, is absurdly high, and needs to be lowered. It's screwed up by the other inner 1 1/16 race that had a dramatically slower pace.

Hey, he's a price, and I don't want to talk you off him at 12-1. I just don't see it. But that's the case with a lot of winners.

[pmacdaddy]

Appreciate the input.