Laus Deo got home as my top pick in Saturday’s Count Fleet Stakes at Aqueduct, returning $22.80 for the win, but I failed to come up with runner up Worth a Buck, who went off at 18/1 and completed a $315.50 exacta.
The Tony Dutrow trainee was able to shake loose in the early going and set moderate fractions of :24.30 and :49.48, completing six furlongs in a rather slow 1:15.12, which left the colt with plenty left in the tank in the stretch.
The 2/5 favorite was Ibboyee, who was a three time stakes winner against New York breds, but found open company too tough, fading to finish fourth.
After nailing six winners on top on Friday, we only had two yesterday, but the pair still produced a +78% +ROI for the day.
Wolfson was my top pick in yesterday’s opener, returning $9.20 for the win. I used Wolfson with my top three selections in the second race in the early double, and Ezzy, who was my third choice in the race went gate to wire, returning $47.60.
Those two winners produced a very generous $401.00 double, which certainly got my day off to a good start, but we missed a much larger double later in the day.
In the sixth race, Hudson Heights lit up the tote board, making a good late run to win a three-way photo, returning $223.00 for a $2 wager.
In the seventh race, Gold Vendetta pulled off the upset, returning $60.00.
The double paid $4,226.00, which was nearly an all time record for a double payoff in New York.
The all time record was set August 27, 1945 at Saratoga Race Course when Buddie Bones and Junction City combined for a $4,313.90 daily double.
We are off and running in 2010 with a pair of very profitable days. Let’s try to keep it going today, weather permitting.
We are going to see some snow showers in New York today, but I am more worried about the winds. They are forecast at 20 to 30 mph and we could see some gusts approach 50 mph.
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 Alw $50,000s (12:30 ET)
#6 Baton Rouge 6/1
#5 El Tamberito 5/2
#8 Gentle Edwin 4/1
#3 Coach Gravy 15/1
Analysis: #6 Baton Rouge looks like the value of the opener if we catch most of the 6/1 morning line. The colt is coming off a good runner up finish at this condition behind repeat winner Awesome Actor, who came back to beat Alw-1 company at Chuckie Town on Dec. 16. The son of FuPeg has two wins, and they both came on the inner, breaking his maiden against $40K maiden claimers, and then beating $30K non-winners of two in his first start against winners.
#5 El Tamberito came back off a 2 1/2 month break with a game second against state bred Alw-2 foes, beaten a nose for the top spot. The five year old owns a solid pace profile throughout and hard to knock anything the Tony D. barn has been sending out recently.
Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 5,6 / 3,5,6,8
TRI: 5,6 / 3,5,6,8 / 3,5,6,7,8
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:
AQU Race 8 OClm $50,000N2X (3:49 ET)
#2 Me Love 6/1
#4 Cape Cod Girl 3/1
#10 Salt Water Reign 6/1
#1 Starship Angel 7/2
Analysis: #2 Me Love was placed in an ambitious spot last out in the Gazelle (G1), and after tracking the early pace form the inside she tired and finished sixth. The cut back to a mile and the drop back into the allowance ranks looks suitable here. Two back she was beaten just a head versus Alw-2 optional claimers going a mile in a race taken off the turf at Laurel Park. Capuano does not ship to NY very often and this gal has popped a couple of bullet works since her last outing.
#4 Cape Cod Girl was beaten at 4/5 last out, setting the early fractions and handling on gamely, beaten 3/4 of a length for the top spot in the mud versus Alw-3 optional claimers. The five-year-old mare drops a notch in class and won at this condition three back in NJ. She owns the edge in early and mid pace numbers and fits well in this spot.
Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 2,4 / 1,2,4,10
TRI: 2,4 / 1,2,4,10 / 1,2,4,8,10
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 Coach Gravy 15/1
R3: #1 Indian Burn 12/1
R5: #6 Gimmearoutine 15/1
R6: #10 Last Noble 12/1
R7: #3 Stopbluffing 8/1
R9: #1 Stormy’s Smile 20/1
Good luck today!
