Three more races were washed off the turf on Friday at Aqueduct, but it looks like the weather is going to improve, and I am hoping we are back on the turf for Saturday’s card.

Three of the nine races on the card are carded for the turf, and each of them has large fields, two of them maiden special weight events.

The feature on the card is not one of the better betting races on the card. Just six will line up to go in the $10,000 Discovery Handicap (G3), which will be contested at nine furlongs on the main track.

Gone Astray is going to be the heavy favorite, but I think we have a shot of beating him with Haynesfield, who is coming off beating older New York bred runners in the $250,000 Empire Classic on New York Showcase Day on Oct. 24.

The three year old son of Speightstown looked headed toward a try in the Kentucky Derby after wins in the Count Fleet and Whirlaway Stakes this spring, but failed to fire in the Gotham, (G3) and was sent to the sidelines by trainer Steve Asmussen.

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The colt looks primed for a good effort today in his third start off the layoff, and while is he going to be the second choice in the race, I will take 9/5 or better on the colt.

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 Clm $25,000N2L (12:30 ET)
#3 Frenchonionsoup 2/1
#5 Pewter 3/1
#6 Turaath 7/2
#7 Cires 6/1

Analysis: #3 Frenchonionsoup nearly beat winners in his first trip, beaten just a nose at this level last out in a game effort. The winner Wild Conga came back to beat $25K non winners of three and the third place finisher Galan Fete beat $10K non winners of two in his next start on Nov. 14 here. The gelding earned a career top speed fig and it was 18 points higher than his previous top, so a bounce could be looming. That fact Levine sends him out gives me hope a regression is not in the works here because the price is going to be on the light side.

#5 Pewter is making his first start since May for the Bond barn that is 18% winners (with a +ROI) with horses coming back off a +180 day layoff. The gelding put in a couple of solid efforts two and three back versus tougher than he faces here. The work tab is on the light side but his last two works did produce bullets. The barn has been sending out live runners at the meet and this is not a real tough spot for his return.

Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 9/5 or better.
EX: 3,5 / 3,5,6,7
TRI: 3,5 / 3,5,6,7 / 2,3,5,6,7

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

U>AQU Race 8 Discovery Handicap G3 (3:44 ET)

#4 Haynesfield 5/2
#5 Gone Astray 1/1
#1 Redding Colliery 12/1
#3 Birdrun 5/1

#4 Haynesfield is coming off a win in the New York bred Empire Classic, which was against older foes. The runner up in the race was Ruffino, who came back to win a New York Stallion series race in his next outing on Nov. 15. This colt looked like he might be headed down the Triple Crown Trail early this year after winning the Count Fleet and Whirlaway, but the wheels came off in the Gotham (G3) where he finished a distant eighth and he headed to the bench. He came back with a game effort in the Sir Keys two back, and showed he could handle nine furlongs and a wet track last out. The colt is back with straight three year olds here while trying graded stakes company. He looks primed for a good effort here in his third start of his current form cycle.

#5 Gone Astray comes into this race sporting three consecutive triple digit Beyer Speed Figures and back to back wins in Grade 2 company, making him the likely heavy favorite. While he earned solid numbers in his last two starts, he really did not beat much in either the Ohio Derby or the Pennsylvania Derby. He is giving our top pick five pounds and he likely is going to be around 3/5 in the betting, which sure looks light to me.

Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 9/5 or better.
EX: 4,5 / 1,4,5
TRI: no play

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
R2: #1 Heck 12/1
R3: #2 Raging Meese 8/1
R4: #3 Love and Havoc 8/1
R4: #6 Whiskaway 12/1
R5: #4 Kamboo Man 8/1
R6: #7 Citizen’s Arrest 8/1
R6: #9 Monsignor 8/1
R6: #2 Sunrise Smarty 8/1
R7: #7 Stevil 8/1
R7: #2 Picou 8/1
R8: #1 Redding Colliery 12/1
R9: #5 Straight to It 8/1
R9: #3 Avenging 15/1
R9: #4 Target Locked 15/1\

Good luck today!