Aqueduct Picks for Saturday, November 15:
HORSING AROUND: What’s a handicapper to do? After a profitable weekend at the Big A, Mr. Ed had trouble finding anywhere else to play this weekend. So bear with him as he returns to the scene of his recent success. After all, what legitimate choices are there? Del Mar, expecting heavy rain (closed today); Churchill Downs (holding its annual low-class Claiming Crown card); Delta Downs (features the Weiner Dog Nationals); PARX will always be classless Keystone (no matter how you spell it), and racing at mostly sunny Gulfstream won’t morph into its “championship” meet until January. Before offering today’s exclusive VSiN selections, here’s some Aqueduct news: One of Canada’s top riders, Sahin Civaci, has joined the jockey colony for the Winter. All Indications are, judging by his number of mounts and early results, the guy’s ready to fit right in with NY’s best. With a few of the local stars, like the popular Ortiz brothers, heading south for the Winter, count on Kendrick Carmouche, Flavien Prat and Manny Franco to benefit from their absence. Saturday’s 10-race card, featuring a pair of competitive stakes, goes to post at 11:40 a.m. ET/8:40 a.m. PT.
Mr. Ed’s Aqueduct Picks for Saturday, 11/15
Race 1 (11:40 a.m. ET/8:40 a.m. PT) — $40K MAIDEN CLAIMING for 2YOs going a mile
Mr. Ed likes the first leg of a Daily Double: #5 WHATTA WEEKEND (6-1 morning line) for trainer David Duggan with Katie Davis riding, and #6 ISLAND CHARM (6-1) for trainer Brittany Russell and jockey Jaime Rodriguez. Counting on either filly to improve from previous efforts.
AQUEDUCT SELECTION: $5 Daily Doubles of 5,6/3,7. ($20)
Race 2 (12:10 p.m. ET/9:10 a.m. PT) — $31K CLAIMING for fillies and mares, 3YOs & Up going 6½ furlongs
Mr. Ed likes #3 TAKE ME TO LONDYN (9-2 morning line) for Brad Cox barn with huge rider upgrade to Flavien Prat, and #7 RAGTIME SIZZLE (6-1), trained by Ilkay Kantarmaci with new-to-NY rider Sahin Civaci.
Race 3 (12:40 p.m. ET/9:40 a.m. PT) — $88K ALLOWANCE for 3YOs & Up going 7 furlongs
I like #7 BLUE KINGDOM (5-2 morning line) for trainer Jamie Ness and jockey Jaime Rodriguez. Turnback better suits the shipper’s front-running style.
AQUEDUCT SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 4 (1:10 p.m. ET/10:10 a.m. PT) — $85K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 2 YOs going 1 1-16 mile on the turf
Mr. Ed likes three: #6 SCOPE (7-5 morning line), expensive youngster for trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey Manny Franco; #9 BOSS HENRY (9-2) goes without blinkers for Chad Brown with Flavien Prat in saddle, and #11 COPA DE PLATA (6-1), improving colt for HOFer Mark Casse with returning rider Sahin Civaci. Three of a kind gets my money.
AQUEDUCT SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Race 5 (1:40 p.m. ET/10:40 a.m. PT) — $28K CLAIMING for 3YOs & Up going 7 furlongs
I like the chalky #6 MASTER OF ARMS (3-5 morning line) for top trainer Linda Rice, who hires popular Kendrick Carmouche to ride. Class drop labels him a big favorite.
AQUEDUCT SELECTION: $10 to Win. ($10)
Race 6 (2:10 p.m. ET/11:10 a.m. PT) — $81K ALLOWANCE for fillies and mares, 3YOs & Up going 6 furlongs on the turf
Mr. Ed’s betting on popular NY trainer Jeremiah Englehart to have speedy #3 ALPINE GIANT (5-1 morning line) ready to fire for Ricardo Santana, Jr., who is familiar with the 3YO.
AQUEDUCT SELECTION: $10 Win & Place. ($20)
Race 7 (2:39 p.m. ET/11:39 a.m. ET) — $350K G3 JOCKEY CLUB OAKS for 3YO fillies going 1⅜-mile on the grass
Mr. Ed likes a trio: #2 HEREFORAGOODTIME (10-1 morning line), trained by red-hot Brendan Walsh with HOF jockey Johnny Velazquez riding; millionaire #4 FIONN (2-1) for the powerful combo of Brad Cox and Flavien Prat, and #7 LAURELIN (8-5) for trainer Graham Motion and Kendrick Carmouche. Two of three for the money.
AQUEDUCT SELECTION: $5 Exacta Box. ($30)
Races 8-10 (3:09 p.m. ET/12:09 p.m. PT) $1 PICK 3
R8: 1,2,6
R9: 3,4,7
R10: 4,6,8,9,12 ($45)
Race 9 (3:39 p.m. ET/12:39 p.m. PT) — $150K KNICKERBOCKER STAKES for 3YOs & Up going 1⅛-mile on the turf
Mr. Ed’s betting on classy #3 TRIKARI (4-1 morning line) for savvy conditioner Graham Motion with HOFer Johnny Velazquez riding.
AQUEDUCT SELECTION: $10 to Win & $5 Exacta Box with 4,7. ($30)
TOTAL WAGERS: $195
SUNDAY AT THE BIG A: A pair of turf stakes, the $175K G3 PEEBLES, a mile for 3YO fillies and the $150K FOREVER TOGETHER, for fillies 3YOs & up at 1 1/16-mile, headline the nine-race card. As of the conclusion of Friday’s program, here are the current rider standings (number of Wins): Flavien Prat (14), Manny Franco (9) and Kendrick Carmouche (8). And trainer standings: Chad Brown (8), Linda Rice (6), and Rudy Rodriguez (5). First post on Sunday is 12:10 p.m. ET/9:10 a.m. PT. Mr. Ed will return with his exclusive VSiN selections.
NFL PICK
Pittsburgh Steelers -5.5
(5-4 against the spread)
