Mr. Ed’s Aqueduct Picks:
TRACKING MR. ED: As expected Aqueduct turned out to be damp and dreary, as Mr. Ed fought the track — and the track won. The average Win ticket returned $15. Mr. Ed had the chalk, but watery Aqueduct produced a few big payoffs, including a $53 winner in the finale. Irad Ortiz Jr. had three winners. Ricardo Santana and Joel Rosario a pair each. Trainers Chad Brown and Linda Rice each had two. As for Sunday, while handicapping the nine-race card the skies opened and the rains came. Track conditions are expected to be SLOPPY and OFF the turf. Wager with caution.
Mr. Ed’s Aqueduct Picks for Sunday, September 29
Race 1 (1:05 p.m. ET/10:05 a.m. PT) —- $90 MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 2YOs going 11/16-mile
Mr. Ed gets the day started with #5 SHESALITTLE EDGY (9-2 morning line) for Rudy Rodriguez & #6 MON PETIT CHOU (4-1) for John Toscano in the first leg.
AQUEDUCT PICK: $5 Daily Double of 5,6/2,3. ($20)
Race 2 (1:34 p.m. ET/10:34 a.m. PT) — G2 $250K GALLANT BLOOM STAKES for fillies and mares 3YOs & up going 6 ½ furlongs
In the second leg Mr. Ed is betting on #2 NIC’S STYLE (6-5 morning line) for Bill Mott & #3 WAYS AND MEANS (3-5) for Chad Brown to seal the double deal.
Race 3 (2:03 p.m. ET/11:03 p.m. PT) — $90 MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for 3YOs & up going 6 furlongs OFF the turf
Mr. Ed likes #8 HURRICANE NELSON (5-2 morning line) to finally break his maiden for well-regarded Christophe Clement barn. Reliable Manny Franco retains mount. Nelson surges in the stretch.
AQUEDUCT PICK: $10 to Win & Place. ($20)
Race 6 (3:37 p.m. ET/12:37 p.m. PT) — $75K MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT for NY-bred 2YOs going 6 furlongs OFF the turf
Anything goes here with the switch to dirt. Mr. Ed will take a shot with these three: #5 ARMY PROUD (9-2 morning line) with Dettori; #12 JOKER ON FIRE (12-1) with hot Santana, and #16 WHOLESALE (5-2) with Prat.
AQUEDUCT PICK: $5 Exacta box. ($30)
Race 7 (4:09 p.m. ET/1:09 p.m. PT) — $80K ALLOWANCE for NY-bred 3YOs going 1 mile
Mr. Ed again likes a trio: #4 LIBERTY CENTRAL (4-1 morning line) for trainer Patrick Quick; #5 RUSSIAN REALM (5-2) for Danny Gargan, and #9 GET A JOB (2-1) for HOF conditioner Steve Asmussen. Give me liberty, or a job in Moscow.
AQUEDUCT PICK: $5 Exacta boxes. ($30)
Race 8 (4:42 p.m. ET/1:42 p.m. PT) — G2 $200K MISS GRILLO for 2YO fillies going 1 1/16-mile on turf
I’m betting #7 SHIFTY (8-1 morning line) will spring an upset for the popular duo of Mark Casse and Irad Ortiz Jr. Excellent bullet works says she can handle stretching out after a pair of Woodbine preps. Change of venue will do her good.
AQUEDUCT PICK: $10 to Win & Place. ($20)
Race 9 (5:13 p.m. ET/2:13 p.m. PT) — $92K ALLOWANCE CLAIMING for 3YOs & up going 1 3/16-mile OFF the turf
Mr. Ed’s BEST BET is #14 PANDAGATE (4-5 morning line) for Christophe Clement and ridden by Dylan Davis. This is one late-developing sophomore who draws into the field via Main Track Only designation. Winner of the last two, both restricted to NY-breds, he’s ready to take on the big boys. Alert the zoo.
AQUEDUCT PICK: $30 to Win. ($30)
TOTAL WAGERS: $150
WHAT’S AHEAD FOR MR. ED: Keeneland’s annual Fall meet begins on Friday (Oct. 4) and runs through Saturday, Oct. 26. While Mr. Ed will only be trackside for all too few of the 17 racing days, he plans to handicap daily and post his picks here on VSiN.com. Keeneland, the jewel of American racing, is the last major stepping stone to the Breeders’ Championships on Nov. 1 & 2 at Del Mar) for many of the game’s top horses, riders and trainers. A visit to Keeneland should be on any serious horseplayer’s bucket list.
