Maybe I am becoming psychic, as I posted this on my Twitter and Facebook page on Friday:
“A little birdie is telling me that Zenyatta will race again, and we will hear about it on Monday night.”
We did not have to wait until Monday, as Zenyatta’s owner Jerry Moss announced yesterday that the undefeated mare will return to the track in 2010, meaning we likely will see the showdown everyone is clamoring for: Zenyatta vs. Rachel Alexandra.
With the Breeders’ Cup held at Churchill Downs over conventional dirt this year, that would seem to pave the way for Zenyatta to leave the comfy confines of Southern California and their synthetic surfaces to race on dirt.
One race that is being mentioned is the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap on April 3.
Both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta have won over the Oaklawn Park surface.
An intriguing option first for Zenyatta may be the $10 million Dubai World Cup, which will be held this year at the new racecourse at Meydan, which has the synthetic surface Tapeta.
A victory in the Dubai World Cup would make Zenyatta the leading money earner of all time, knocking the Jess Jackson owned Curlin.
Zenyatta has had three recent workouts, fueling speculation that she was not heading to the breeding shed.
I was thinking Moss would make the announcement at the Eclipse Awards dinner on Monday night, so I was off by about 48 hours.
And since I only came up with four winners on the nine race card at the Big A on Saturday, I guess I really am not psychic.
I real psychic would have swept the card and taken down the Pick 6, right?
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 $15,000N2L (12:30 ET)
#8 News Source 10/1
#7 Senegal 3/1
#1 Bryan Kicks 7/2
#2 Five Cases 6/1
Analysis: #8 News Source gets the call in this non winners of two in which none of these looks very interested in finding the winners circle. The gelding is making his first start since April for the Conway barn that is showing a 1 for 12 mark with horses coming back off a +180 day layoff. The gelding broke his maiden versus maiden special weight company at Finger Lakes in his last outing going 4 1/2 furlongs. The gelding does have a couple of trips o the inner, a third and a fifth place finish. The works are not jumping off the page but none of the others in here look very enticing and hopefully we will catch most of the 10/1 ML.
#7 Senegal saved ground in the early going, angled out to the outside and finished up well for a fifth place finish while beaten just a length for the top spot. The gelding broke his maiden three back versus state bred $16K foes. He looks like he should be making up some ground late and this looks like it could be a staggerfest in the stretch. He gets in light with my favorite bug Serpa.
Wagering
WIN: #8 to win at 9/2 or better.
EX: 7,8 / 1,2,7,8
TRI: 7,8 / 1,2,7,8 / 1,2,3,7,8
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:
AQU Race 8 Affectionately S. (3:49 ET)
#3 Yet Again 10/1
#5 Tidal Dance 9/5
#1 Yes She's a Lady 2/1
#2 Pumpkin Shell 12/1
Analysis: #3 Yet Again returns off a two month break for the Grusmark barn that is 22% winners with horses coming back off a 31-60 day break. The barn has been ice cold but finally broke through a couple of days ago with Weathered, who was our top pick. This mare came up the inside with a mild late run to finish fourth last out in the Luv Is Eternal, catching a main track that was favoring speed. The third place finisher in that race was Gold for the Queen, who returned to finish second in the Darlin Momma Stakes on Jan. 14. The mare has a couple of wins on the inner and her 10/1 ML looks generous.
#5 Tidal Dance saved ground in the early going and made a good late rally while drifting a bit in the stretch in a runner up finish in the Snit Stakes, catching an inner surface that was playing to horses on or near the lead. This gal has put in three solid efforts since shipping in from the left coast and landing with the Hushion barn. She figures to move forward with a race on the inner under her belt and fits well in this spot.
Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 4/1 or better.
EX: 3,5 / 1,3,5
TRI: 3,5 / 1,2,3,5 / 1,2,3,5
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: #8 News Source 10/1
R2: #3 Vlast 12/1
R4: #8 Miracle Woman 12/1
R6: #3 Calling My Colors 10/1
R6: #2 Saturdaynitesandy 15/1
R7: #1 Ten Carrot Nikki 10/1
R8: #3 Yet Again 10/1
R8: #2 Pumpkin Shell 12/1
R9: #8 Baystreet Bully 8/1
Good luck today!
