The Breeders’ Cup is in the rearview mirror, but there is still plenty of great action to be had this weekend at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet. The week’s festivities not only include a Woodbine promotion and our month-long “Cornucopia of Cash,” but also a trio of Money Back opportunities on the graded stakes races at Aqueduct on Saturday. As always, remember to opt in to the promotion to ensure you get up to $10 back on your first Win bet if your horse finishes second or third. With a trend of races lacking early speed, here are the horses I like in each of the three Money Back opportunities at the Big A.
Race 7: Hill Prince (G3)
This $200k 1 1/8-mile event for 3YOs over the grass drew a field of 9 without a defined front runner. #1 Noble Confessor adds blinkers and drew inside, but is more of a plodder, so perhaps it is #7 Griffin’s Wharf that makes the top under Ricardo Santana Jr. The Constitution colt has moved forward in both starts since moving to the lawn for Tom Morley, but has been out finished both times. I expect him to run well, but I prefer #2 Thundering on the Win end. The Maryland-bred has hit the board in three consecutive starts routing on the lawn at double-digit odds, including last out in the Kent at Delaware Park when he was beaten a nose by #5 Soleil Volant. Trainer Patrick Dixon takes the blinkers off for the first time and legs up Hall of Famer John Velazquez. He should be prominent early despite the equipment change and able to save ground throughout. Hopefully, it leads him to his first graded stakes score.
Play: #2 Thundering
Race 9: Mother Goose (G2)
The second Money Back opportunity comes in this 9-furlong affair for 3YO fillies over the main track where #9 Drexel Hill (pictured) is the filly with the most talent. The problem, other than it being her first start since a runner-up effort in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), is her lack of early speed. She very well could be more into the race than normal off the long break, but has been at her best with a fast pace to run at. On the other hand, #8 So There She Was should benefit from the likely race shape. The Munnings filly nearly sprung a huge upset in the Torrey Pines (G3) two-back before besting #3 Lemon Zest in the Remington Park Oaks in late September. The Doug O’Neill trainee should get a perfect stalking trip just off the moderate early pace of Lemon Zest once again and have enough left late to seal the deal in her first start in the “Big Apple.”
Play: #8 So There She Was
Race 10: Long Island (G3)
The promotion and the card conclude with this 1 3/8-mile test for fillies and mares over the Aqueduct lawn in another race where there is very little early zip signed on. #6 Immensitude took advantage of a moderate pace in her allowance win going 8.5-furlongs on October 2 and should once again have things her way on the front end under jockey Junior Alvarado. She has proven she belongs at this level in the past from a class perspective and is capable of making it two in a row in gate-to-wire fashion for Wathnan Racing and Bill Mott. Let’s hope she has things her way once again early. If so, she should be tough to catch late.
Play: #6 Immensitude
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