Churchill Downs, Aqueduct, & Del Mar all have graded stakes races this weekend. The lone turf race in the bunch is the grade 3 Red Smith from “The Big A”.
Red Smith
While many horse races are named for famous horses, this weekend’s stakes action includes something a bit different. The Red Smith Stakes is a grade 2 on turf that is run at Aqueduct toward the conclusion of the turf season. Red Smith refers to famed Pulitzer Prize winning sports writer Walter Smith.
Walter wrote under the pen name “Red” because he loathed his birth name. Along with writing about football and baseball, Smith was an avid horse racing fan and journalist. He is credited with paving the way for modern sports journalism because of his unique approach to the genre.
His careered spanned from 1927 to his death in 1982.
Aqueduct Saturday Analysis
Aqueduct Race 1
Post: 11:50 AM ET; Purse: $80,000 Maiden Special Weight, 1 Mile on Turf; Entries: 11
#1A ARUBA (9-5) is in with a great chance based on the horse's advantages in connections & power rating. The advantage is that you get two for the price of 1 which includes the #1. The #1A seems the stronger part of the entry. #8 ROYNE (9-2) is worth a look here given edges in class & record at the distance. #4 MAGICAL MARRIAGE (10-1) should be competitive today based on the horse's advantages in speed & form. #6 AMERICAN LAW (8-5) is definitely a possibility to win the race but seems much too short of a price.
Selections: 1A-8-4-6
Aqueduct Race 2
Post: 12:20 PM ET; Purse: $55,000 Starter Allowance, 6 Furlongs on Turf; Entries: 12
#7 LYRICAL POET (3-1) is a major player in today's race edging the field in several key handicapping factors including speed & power rating. #2 COUSIN ANDREW (6-1) is proven as a good bet to at least hit the board under today's distance and surface conditions. #11 KING JAMES (4-1) is worth a look here given edges in class & pace numbers. #5 CHROME DIXIE (8-1) is a major player based on speed figures.
Selections: 7-2-11-5
Aqueduct Race 3
Post: 12:49 PM ET; Purse: $44,000 Claiming, 7 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 8
#2 LOST IN ROME (3-1) should be competitive today given the horse's advantages in speed & power rating. #5 HEAVY ROLLER (5-1) has to be respected based on the connections. #4 CRYPTO CASH (2-1) merits consideration in this spot given edges in stamina & pace numbers, but the price may not offer much value. #7 BABY I'M PERFECT (4-1) is a major player based on speed figures.
Selections: 2-5-4-7 (Best Bet: #2)
Aqueduct Race 4
Post: 1:18 PM ET; Purse: $48,000 Maiden Claiming, 1 Mile on Turf; Entries: 16
#8 NO TIME ALONE (4-1) is in with a great chance based on the horse's advantages in class & form. #5 SOLID TUNE (4-1) is a major player based on speed figures. #10 NO NANNETTE NO (8-1) should be competitive today based on the horse's advantages in speed & connections. #7 DIAMOND STATUS (15-1) could get a perfect pace scenario today at a great price.
Selections: 8-5-10-7
Aqueduct Race 5
Post: 1:45 PM ET; Purse: $80,000 Maiden Special Weight, 1 1/16 Miles on Turf; Entries: 13
#7 FORT WASHINGTON (5-2) should be competitive today based on the horse's advantages in speed & power rating. #4 PARQUETRY (6-1) is interesting based several metrics. I don’t like the horse under 5-1, but at this price it is worth a play. #1 AL'S ROCKET (8-1) hasn’t done anything wrong, but I would like to see him take a bit of money to confirm he has a good chance here. #11 FORWARDLY (8-1) has to be respected based on the connections.
Selections: 7-4-1-11
Aqueduct Race 6
Post: 2:14 PM ET; Purse: $84,000 Allowance Optional Claiming, 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 7
#2 COST BASIS (6-5) should be competitive today based on the horse's advantages in speed & power rating. #1 T LOVES A FIGHT (5-1) is in with a great chance based on edges in race flow & pace numbers. #4 ARCH CAT (10-1) looks to have to have kept the best company in the previous starts. #3 DRAFTED (4-1) is a viable option to win but may not provide a lot of value in this spot.
Selections: 2-1-4-3
Aqueduct Race 7
Post: 2:43 PM ET; Purse: $80,000 Maiden Special Weight, 7 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 13
#2 ICONIC ADVENTURE (7-2) looks to have to have kept the best company in the previous starts. #8 DADS GOOD RUNNER (10-1) is worth a look here given edges in form & pace numbers. #1A OUTPERFORM (6-1) has to be respected based on the connections. Both the #8 and the #1A are out of Gun Runner who is proving to be one of the top young sires in American horse racing. #3 MATT DOYLE (9-2) merits consideration in this spot given edges in speed & class.
Selections: 2-8-1A-3
Aqueduct Race 8
Post: 3:14 PM ET; Purse: $82,000 Allowance, 6 Furlongs on Turf; Entries: 11
#7 SCUTTLEBUZZ (9-2) is worth a look here given edges in class & pace numbers. #9 BUSTIN SHOUT (8-1) should be competitive today based on advantages in both speed & form. #6 CALL ME HARRY (4-1) is in with a great chance based on the horse's current class & recent power rating. #8 RING OF FIRE (8-1) is worth a look here given edges in connections & record at the distance.
Selections: 7-9-6-8
Aqueduct Race 9
Post: 3:43 PM ET; Purse: $200,000 Red Smith S., 1 3/8 Miles on Turf; Entries: 10
In the feature race from Aqueduct, the top selection goes to #4 SERVE THE KING (3-1) who looks solid based on connections & overall power rating. #7 CHANNEL CAT (4-1) looks to have to have kept the best company in the previous starts and could be dangerous. #2 VALUE ENGINEERING (8-1) is interesting for Chad Brown. Dylan Davis isn’t the top jock in the colony but he’s an aggressive rider and often puts his horses in a good spot. #5 SHAMROCKET (6-1) is a major player based on speed figures.
Selections: 4-7-2-5
Aqueduct Race 10
Post: 4:13 PM ET; Purse: $70,000 Maiden Special Weight, 6 Furlongs on Dirt; Entries: 10
#1 CATCHING CUPID (8-5) should be competitive today based on the horse's advantages in speed & form. #8 HOT ROD RUMBLE (9-2) should be competitive based on breeding which can be a big tell in these maiden allowance races. #5 RAW COURAGE (12-1) is worth a look here given edges in class & race flow. #3 CLASH A. J. (15-1) is an interesting long shot that has a good chance to hit the board at a square price.
Selections: 1-8-5-3
AI handicapping and selections for every race from Aqueduct throughout the weekend are available on Betting News.
