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Horse Racing Tracks - November 01, 2008For some thoughts on last weeks Breeders' Cup see the Dog Pound article below. Today we have a total of five races, four from Aqueduct, and one from Churchill Downs. Today's Best Bet is #10 Aswaaq in Race #6 at Aqueduct.  Today's Horse Racing Picks: Top pick: #3 (PRESENTS FOR BERTI) - Excellent debut run over the tricky "undulating" turf course at Kentucky Downs. Son of "Congaree" missed by a head in that one, and it came at this mile trip. Draws inside of the other contenders, and that's to his advantage. 2nd pick: #9 (Bearpath) - Son of "Dynaformer" has performed well in all three of his starts, including his last at today's mile distance. Sharp barn (Ian Wilkes) will move him to the grass today. 3rd pick: #7 (Baryshnikov) - Debuts for the fine team of Bill Mott/Kent Desormeaux. Son of "Empire Maker" has been training well for his first race, including a "bullet" half-mile drill on Oct. 23. 4th pick: #8 (Regal Eagle) - Moves to the turf after running well in all four of his prior starts. He's already been this distance, something many entered have not. AQUEDUCT Race #2 at 12:55 PM Eastern Top pick: #2 (CITY SNEAKERS) - Prepped in an "off the turf" race on Oct. 2, by the Linda Rice barn. Race was his first in just over three months and he ran evenly that day in a MSW contest. Drops into a claimer and should be sharper second off the rest. 2nd pick: #1 (Western Call) - Rail should help runner out who has "hit the board" in two of his last three at this price. Sharp work for a maiden runner like him on Oct. 20, and he may improve today. 3rd pick: #7 (Raffie's Deer) - Goes second off a long layoff (eight months) and his second for trainer Steve Asmussen. Ran evenly last out against $50K "open" maidens. Drops in half and faces fellow state-breds. 4th pick: #6 (Token of Love) - Showed speed from a wide post last out at this tag and distance in his first race in four months. He's worked since and comes back in three weeks. AQUEDUCT Race #3 at 1:25 PM Eastern Top pick: #4 (MAPS HOPE) - In good form earlier this year, he was competitive in a pair at this tag at Saratoga. Sent in for a two month freshening at the end of that meet, he was "legged-up" in his retutn on the turf against tougher by trainer Dave Duggan. Drops and moves back to the dirt. Race has a lot of pace signed on and it should benefit his style. 2nd pick: #7 (Ectoplasm) - Speed/stalker has had two months off since a fine turf try at Saratoga sprinting against $35K foes. Lightly raced and he has some ability. Moves back to the dirt and drops in value. 3rd pick: #1 (Big Love Bill) - Makes his first start for Bruce Levine after shipping from Woodbine where he was with Josie Carroll. Son of "Salt Lake" broke his maiden on conventional dirt last winter at the Fair Grounds. Levine is a very strong 36% first out with new stock. 4th pick: #2 (Phobia) - Speedy runner tired in the Belmont slop on Oct. 5, his first race in seven weeks. Has a pair of fast works since and he's the speed of the speed. Must be caught. AQUEDUCT Race #6 at 2:55 PM Eastern Top pick: #10 (ASWAAQ) - Debuted in a tough spot for a runner making his first start. Broke from the rail at Belmont on a "sloppy" track and never got involved. Draws a fine post for this distance (seven furlongs) and trainer (Kiaran McLaughlin) is first rate second time out (26%). Runs much better today, and at a square price. 2nd pick: #3 (Buddy's Song) - Barn (Bruce Levine) is famous for giving their runners a start before asking them for some real effort. Raced evenly in his debut at this distance in a race that had a runaway winner. He's had almost six weeks off and is working sharply. 3rd pick: #7 (Bold Vindication) - Goes turf-to-dirt and gets blinkers on. Should be in shape off those longer races as he shortens up and moves back to the dirt. Another blinkers on runner. 4th pick: #1 (Professor Z) - Poor starts in his first pair have cost him dearly. Obviously can run a bit as witnessed by his third-place finish last out. This is a very tricky draw at this distance for even experienced runners. Needs to break cleanly. 5th pick: #11 (Weekend Action) - Offered little in his debut at Belmont going a mile. Gets blinkers on, shortens up in distance, and draws a nice post. Fast drill on the 30th (presumably with the "hood" on) adds to some allure. AQUEDUCT Race #7 (THE LONG ISLAND HDCP.(G3)) at 3:25 PM Eastern Top pick: #5 (CRITICISM) - Just failed last out to catch "Sunshine For Life" in her first race in 10 months. Quality runner in Europe (11-4-4-2)and she spent the latter part of '07 racing against colts. A slight move forward off her latest wins this, in her second back off the long vacation. 2nd pick: #7 (J'ray) - Quality mare has carved out a nice career for the Pletcher barn (24-9-6-1) and she's been a steady and reliable stakes runner at this level for the past three years. Most always makes a late run. Win contender. 3rd pick: #1a (Astrologie) - Part of a pair of three-year-old fillies sent her from France by trainer Andre Fabre. English "Timeform" ratings tell us that she's the much better of the two invaders. Lightly raced and distance loving, she could impact this late. 4th pick: #3 (Hostess) - Distance specialist (two-for-two) had a wide trip in her latest at Woodbine and raced evenly from start to finish. Capable at this level and she draws a post from which to save a lot of ground before launching a bid. Horse Racing Picks Resources:
Check out the last five Horse Racing Picks Newsletters: Horse-Racing-Picks-October-31-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-October-30-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-October-29-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-October-28-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-October-27-2008 |
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