I spent most of Monday watching the Weather Channel, with Hurricane ida bearing down on us here in Florida.
I got Wednesday’s handicapping done by late on Monday before the winds came in. I spent the rest of the day putting away the lawn furniture and managed to squeeze my Jeep safely into the carport.
My wife’s car seemed safe out in the open in the driveway.
By the time the weather hit us, Ida had become a tropical storm and was not packing much of a punch.
We got several inches of rain, but that was about it.
Hurricane Ida is now known on The Weather Channel as the “Atlantic Assault” and it is doing a number on Maryland and Virginia and looks like it is going to hit New York squarely today.
When I checked the weather for Aqueduct yesterday morning they were calling for 1 to 2 inches of rain, and by last evening that forecast was downgraded to a half inch of rain.
The winds are still going to be blustery at 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.
However, it looks like we will get action today, and I am assuming the three turf races will be shifted to the main track.
Thursday’s card came in on the chalky side, but today’s card looks much more promising.
Well, perhaps after the first race anyway. My top pick in the opener is sitting at 6/5 on the morning line.
Things do get better. In fact, there is a good chance we won’t see any chalk for the remainder of the card.
To purchase my full card report for Aqueduct that includes analysis, selections, fair odds, and wagering recommendations for today click here.
Here is today's opening race from Aqueduct to get our day off to a good start:
AQU Race 1 OClm $25,000N2X (12:30 ET)
#2 Billy Bear 6/5
#5 South Bronx 5/2
#6 Endless Circle 8/1
#7 Stopbluffing 7/2
Analysis: #2 Billy Bear looks like he may get the day off to a chalky start. The Chip Dutrow runner made a good late rally and drifted out a bit late in a runner up finish going seven furlongs in the mud in a race taken off the turf. Two back he ran a good second behind Ruffino when coming back off a long layoff. That runner came back to beat $50K starter allowance company then run a good second in the NY bred Empire Classic on Oct. 24. Three runners came out of that Aug. 28 race at the Spa to win next out. The colt has shown he can handle a wet track and there is plenty of rain in the forecast for today. The extra furlong looks like it will suit this guy.
#5 South Bronx came with a good late run to get up late and beat state bred Alw-1 foes last out in his first go off a three month break. The gelding has a couple of wins and a second in four trips over a wet track. He broke his maiden going a route of ground and the extra two furlongs here should pose no problem.
Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 7/5 or better.
EX: 2,5 / 2,5,6,7
TRI: 2,5 / 2,5,6,7 / 2,4,5,6,7
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:
AQU Race 8 Clm $35,000 (3:44 ET)
#4 Trainee 6/1
#7 Boss Tiffany 3/1
#6 Dicey Girl 4/1
#1 Chippewa Court 12/1
Analysis: #4 Trainee drops into an easier spot here after a disappointing effort last out in his first go for the Levine barn off the claim. This gal has lost 14 races in a row, but is a stakes winner and has faced tougher, this being the cheapest she has run. She is bred to handle a wet track and passed his first allowance condition back in '07 on a wet track. The barn is 33% winners (with a +ROI) second off the claim and looking for the mare to bounce back with a better effort here.
#7 Boss Tiffany is back in for a tag here after a sixth place finish last out against $25K starter handicap foes. The mare pressed the early pace from the outside and ran out of gas in the stretch. Two have come out of that race to win next out. The mare is perfect over the Big A main track, winning all three of her starts here. She owns a solid pace profile throughout and has a couple of wins over a wet track.
Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 7/2 or better.
EX: 4,7 / 1,4,6,7
TRI: 4,7 / 1,4,6,7 / 1,4,6,7,8
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: #6 Endless Circle 8/1
R2: #7 Fire the Bullet 20/1
R4: #4 Delta Holiday 8/1
R4: #6 Quoin 8/1
R5: #3 Schopenhauer 15/1
R5: #6 Hymn Book 8/1
R5: #7 After Shock 8/1
R7: #3 Yorktown 10/1
R7: #9 Valtus 8/1
R8: #1 Chippewa Court 12/1
Good luck today!
