How to bet the March 13 stakes at Aqueduct and Gulfstream

Sprinters will take center stage  Saturday at Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park. Two competitive sprint stakes are on the agenda — one on dirt and the other on turf.

Let’s examine the fields and put together picks and plays, with a $30 budget for each race.

Aqueduct, Race 9: Correction S. (4:55 p.m. ET)

There is plenty of speed in this six-furlong sprint for fillies and mares, which should suit California shipper #3 Amuse (8-5) just fine.

Trained by Richard Mandella, Amuse has placed three times against graded stakes company, so the fact that this lightly raced filly hasn’t visited the winner’s circle since 2018 isn’t a big concern.

Facing significantly easier competition at Aqueduct might be all Amuse needs to turn things around under leading local rider Kendrick Carmouche.

#6 Awesome Debate (7-2), victorious in three of her last four starts against allowance company, can duel with #2 Sadie Lady (6-1) for the minor awards.

$9 exacta: 3 with 2,6 ($18)
$2 trifecta: 3 with 2,6 with 2,5,6,7 ($12)
Total: $30

Gulfstream Park, Race 11: Silks Run S. (5:19 p.m. ET)

The majority of the entrants in this five-furlong turf dash are ascending the class ladder or sticking to the same class level. The only runner dropping in class is #3 Harry’s Ontheloose (6-1), which might be sufficient to trigger a victory at a fair price.

It’s hard to knock the caliber of competition Harry’s Ontheloose has faced. Last time out, he finished third in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint (G3), where he was beaten just 1 3/4 lengths by four-time graded stakes winner and Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) third-place finisher Leinster. Two starts back, Harry’s Ontheloose came home fourth in the Janus S., where he was beaten 2 3/4 lengths by multiple stakes winners Imprimis, Extravagant Kid, and The Critical Way.

Harry’s Ontheloose is a pure five-furlong turf sprinter, with both tactical speed and versatility in running style. I expect him to spring a mild surprise against easier competition in the Silks Run, with either #4 Carotari (3-1) or #6 Mai Ty One On (4-1) rounding out the exacta.

$20 to win on #3
$5 exacta: 3 with 4,6 ($10)
Total: $30

Good luck!