Exotics Plays for the Paradise Creek Stakes

A deep and talented field of nine three-year-olds will travel six furlongs on the outer turf at Aqueduct in Saturday’s $150,000 Paradise Creek S. One of my key runners in the cast will be recent maiden winner #9 Pivotal Moment for trainer Christophe Clement. By Bolt d’Oro, the lightly raced sort finished a solid third in his debut performance on the course in the summer, prior to rolling home a convincing maiden winner on the Gulfstream lawn on Feb. 22. 

Paradise Creek Exotics

• $5 exacta key box 9 with 1,5,8 ($30)
• 50-cent trifecta key 9 with 1,5,8 with all ($10.50)

The $330,000 purchase has posted a nice string of morning drills in advance of his stakes bow, and I really like his outside post and running style in a field with plenty of speed from the gate. Irad Ortiz, Jr. taking the reins is a positive, as well. 

Grade 3 winner #5 Clock Tower cuts back in distance today, and I love the move by trainer Wesley Ward. Dark bay son of Not This Time tired late after leading in early stretch in the Transylvania S. (G3) at Keeneland most recently, and I expect that he will have much more energy in the final furlong on Saturday with Junior Alvarado in the irons. 

#1 Super Swift, one of two in the group for George Weaver, moves back to the lawn after a trio of solid efforts in succession on the main surface. The Vekoma New York-bred faces a very good group from a tricky rail post, but the bay has a lot of ability and could be a fair price at post time, as well. Jose Lezcano retains the ride and could have the colt well placed at the top of the lane. 

#8 Warheart is inconsistent, but he did romp in the Atlantic Beach S. on the oval in November and will be a major player with something resembling that showing for Rodolphe Brisset. Manny Franco will be in the stirrups and putting the win threat into the race early on.

Join us on June 7 for a rematch that will shake the stands. Many top Kentucky Derby contenders return for the Belmont S. to fight for the finish, including probable contender Journalism, winner of Preakness 150, and Sovereignty, winner of Derby 151. Who will stand in the winner's circle for Belmont?

Stay with us throughout Belmont Day during stakes races as we bring you the latest horse racing news, live odds, expert picks, and more. It is sure to be an exciting day of racing!