At the Gate – Friday

The Pick 6 was not kind to me yesterday as I looked for a little extra Christmas money chasing a pool with over $1 million added yesterday.

My fourth choice won the first two legs and after my second choice won the third leg, I got wiped out in the fourth leg, failing to come up with Dana’s Angel at $20.00. I nailed the final two legs with my top picks, but too little too late.

The opening leg was marred by the breakdown of Consensus Thinking, who was my second choice in the race. Jockey Jose Lezcano was taken to the hospital and the NYRA reported he suffered a broken nose, which is probably more painful than my broken bankroll.





The winning horses in the Pick 6 sequence were Fuel the Bern ($10.40), Carthon ($13), Moretti ($3.60), Daria's Angel ($20.00), Playthatfunnymusic ($10.20) and Proximate to Power ($8.10). Five out of six returned a consolation of $458.00.

This afternoon we likely will have to deal with a sloppy track. There was 1-2 inches of rain forecast for the New York area.

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To purchase my Aqueduct Report for Friday click here.

Here is the opener from Aqueduct to get the day off to a good start:

AQU Race 1 Clm $20,000 (12:20 ET)
#6 Three Illusions 9-2
#4 China Rider 9-2
#1 Sandy Belle 7-2
#3 Ivy's College Fund 8-1

Analysis: Three Illusions dueled for the early lead and came up short in the stretch in a fourth-place finish last out against $25,000 foes at Laurel Park going a mile. The third and fifth place finishers came out of that race to win next out. She looks headed in the right direction here as she makes her third start of her current form cycle. She has landed in the money in three of her four trips on wet tracks.

China Rider came with a wide run to rally for fourth last out against $25,000 foes as the beaten favorite going six furlongs on turf. She won over a wet track two back beating $35,000 non-winners of three in a race taken off the turf. She makes her first start here for the Servis barn that is 41% winners (with a +ROI) first off the claim. This gal has the pedigree and has shown she can handle a sloppy track.

Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 7-2 or better.
EX: 4,6 / 1,3,4,6
TRI: 4,6 / 1,3,4,6 / 1,3,4,6,7

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 8 OClm $62,500N2X (3:47 ET)
#8 Thebigfundamental 4-1
#1 Tommy T 5-2
#3 J S Bach 9-2
#7 Sir Ballentine 5-1

Analysis: Thebigfundamental makes his first start since last summer at the Spa where he beat Alw-2 optional claimers going nine furlongs, his third win in five career start. He broke his maiden on a wet track by 8 1/2 lengths in his second career start and has a strong off track pedigree. The Pletcher barn is 32% winners (with a +ROI) with runners coming back off a +180-day layoff.

Tommy T prompted the early pace and finished gamely to beat Alw-1 foes last out going six furlongs here off a four-month layoff. This will be the gelding's first trip at a mile and first over a wet track. The barn is 19% winners moving runners form sprint to route. By Shackleford out of an Aldebarran mare, he has the pedigree to handle the off going. He has earned four straight figures good enough to win in this spot.

Wagering
WIN: #8 to win at 3-1 or better.
EX: 1,8 / 1,3,7,8
TRI: 1,8 / 1,3,7,8 / 1,3,5,7,8

Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.

Aqueduct

R1: #3 Ivy’s College Fund 8-1
R4: #1 Caralicious 12-1
R5: #4 Take Charge Tina 15-1

Good luck today!