Week 6 Brings Two Qualifiers, Friday at Aqueduct and Then We Head for Santa Anita Opening Day
Kevin Gazzale
We are into Week 6 and we have not made it to a main qualifier yet. I have been close but close is not good enough. As Santa Anita opens and NYRA comes out of their brief break I am brimming with confidence, Mark Messier level confidence. I am guaranteeing a qualification into a weekend qualifier. This is my time. Aqueduct is Race 3 to 10 but I’ll show my work for all 10 races and assuredly get pissed when I nail 1 and 2 . Let’s get to the picks.
Aqueduct 12/26
Race 1 – 6 Some Ride, 2YO Vekoma baby, 3rd choice on the morning line. Was between this and the 5 considering connections and pedigree, I’ll take the better price with a live sire.
Race 2 – 4 Mama Rock Me, stood out to me as a horse that could best these, these races are tough cause man do these horses stink. Decent breeding, decent debut, decent works. I’ll take 6/1.
Race 3 – 1 Double Your Money just looks too good in here.
Race 4 – 6 Sequential really should dominate here. My top and second choice selections both scratch here so I’ll take the most likely winner even though there’s zero value.
Race 5 – 4 Sassy Princess has solid consistent form, she has really morphed into an entirely different horse since switching to dirt. If she keeps improving she’s much the best.
Race 6 – 6 Spicey Ticey is well bred for the dirt and has been working well with regularly spaced works since early November. Good price here with a solid jockey. 3 Sassy Sats was intriguing too but I’m not sure what surface this horse truly prefers.
Race 7 – 2 Hello Beauty will be running late and she’s going against front runners and some are stretching out. She tried dirt for the first time last out and her figures were respectable. I’ll take the price.
Race 8 – 6 Reliable Lady, she has solid consistent figs and she seems to run her race no matter what track she’s running at. She’s improving and will have a solid jockey.
Race 9 – 7 Locke and Key, why can’t this horse come rolling late? 7 horse race and Brisnet has 5 of them rated E/P. This horse is either going to win or do zero running. Sometimes you need a monster price in here to jump to the top.
Race 10 – 6 Grey Ace, this horse looks to me like he can pop in a field of some pretty slow horses. Feels like he’s on a path to improving this fall and hopefully he takes another step forward.
Santa Anita 12/28
Race 1 – 12 Ramayana, this is just a gotta have it spot for this horse, bad trips and just running too well to lose but she keeps findings ways. Breaks the maiden here.
Race 2 – 7 Captain Shreve is well bred and training nicely.
Race 3 – 10 My Perfect Wave, broke maiden last out with a nice late kick, looking at this race I feel like there will be some pace to run at.
Race 4 – 12 Diva Cat, second start of 4 year old season after a year+ layoff, should be primed to move forward. Also considered 3 Miss Practical but the long layoff scared me off.
Race 5 – 7 Maaz has figures that fit. 3 Namaron will be a big fav and has not won in North America yet.
Race 6 – 3 Nevada Beach looks like the only other in here that can contend with Nysos and I’ll take the slightly longer number.
Race 7 – 7 Yacowelf, sprint down the hill is one of my favorite races in the world. I love taking horses on the cut back coming down the hill, back in Mullins barn, back with Berrios.
Race 8 – 10 Magnificat, huge price, this horse looks to be improving, 2/2 on dirt. He finished last out over two talented horses in Brilliantly and Artisma.
Race 9 – 7 Suchet, good late pace figures in a turf race that will likely go fast up front. 4YO and still has a shot to jump up more so than some of the others in here.
Race 10 – 5 Midland Money, really tough race, basically pick the Baffert you think will run best. I settled on the 5 who looks the part.
Race 11 – 3 Cliffs, this horse has some late kick in a race that may offer some pace. 10 Atsila is making her first start in North America and will likely be a very short price.
Aqueduct Recap
I did not have the day I was expecting but that will not deter me from giving it all at Santa Anita. For me the day after Christmas card is a top event on the racing calendar each year and personally one of my favorites. I am locked in on this card and I will be preparing for my main qualifier on Saturday. Cheers.
