Aqueduct stakes picks for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

It may be Breeders' Cup weekend, but tracks all over the country are backing it up with good cards and big races, too.

Let's visit New York for the stakes action opening weekend at Aqueduct, in the Tempted, the Turnback the Alarm H. (G3), and the Nashua (G3)!

Friday, November 6

Race 8: Tempted S.

All six horses in the Tempted will step into stakes company for the first time, and all but one will face winners for the first time.

Curlin daughters #4 Malathaat and #2 American West both debuted with quality wins, and shape as threats coming right back.

This competitive race may come down to trip, and #6 Cafe Society may get the best of it. She can work an outside stalking trip, and both her debut and her pedigree suggest she can hold her own going a mile at this level.

Saturday, November 7

Race 3: Turnback the Alarm H. (G3)

This race drew a field of five, and two stand out.

Todd Pletcher's #3 Nonna Madeline and Chad Brown's #2 Royal Flag have traded blows in their last two starts, and Nonna Madeline got the nose decision most recently.

In such a short field, give the edge to Nonna Madeline. She already has a win at the distance and has enough early speed to get the tactical advantage over Royal Flag.

Sunday, November 8

Race 9: Nashua (G3)

#1 Ten for Ten took a nice step forward, with the addition of blinkers, when he romped in the slop last time out at Belmont Park.

He figures as a contender but being buried on the rail, inside of frontrunning Florida sprinter #5 Isolate and gate-to-wire Monmouth winner #7 Spectatorless, makes this a difficult task.

Though Bill Mott trainee #2 Nova Rags only has the one start, he should be able to progress in this spot. He showed good tenacity when he tracked the pace and got up in time on debut, and he is bred top and bottom for this step up in distance.

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