Pick 4 of the Week: Aqueduct Saturday, April 11

The Pick 4 of the Week will come from Aqueduct, where I will take aim at the closing four-race sequence. 

Race 5 Wager

• 50-cent Pick 4: all with 1,4,5 with 1,3,5 with 3 ($27)

Race 5 – Claiming

A cast of six boys will speed 6 1/2 furlongs on the main surface to commence the play. The race is filled with inconsistent runners who can be dangerous on their best days, so using each contender makes sense to me. I will utilize the ‘all’ button in the opening leg of the wager. 

Race 6 – Mind Your Biscuits S. 

Excellent maiden winner, #4 Illmatic, earned a 100 Brisnet Speed rating in his first run on the dirt coming off the long absence last time out for Miguel Clement. The $290,000 juvenile purchase has posted four works in the interim to avoid a potential ‘bounce,’ and I feel that he is a nice prospect going forward. Manny Franco inherits the mount. 

#5 Sculcus Folly dominated open foes two back, which preceded a wire-to-wire romp in the Gander S. on the oval last time out. The Richard Dutrow pupil has been quite good since having blinkers added four back, and it’s also worth noting that Rodriguez opts to ride this one instead of the aforementioned contender. In the case that the top two duel every step of the way and wear each other down, then #1 Sunday Boy could pick up the pieces and win his second stakes race in succession from off the pace. The Jimmy Ryerson trainee will have Christopher Elliot in the irons. 

Race 7 – Cupecoy’s Joy S. 

Eight three-year-old ladies will dash 6 1/2 dirt furlongs in the third leg. The stakes-placed #5 Hot Currency is the one to beat for conditioner Linda Rice and will be formidable with her best run off the layoff. The $200,000 daughter of Central Banker has checked in first or second in all but one lifetime assignment to date and landed in a very winnable spot for her second race as a sophomore. The bay will force the action from the opening bell with Manny Franco guiding the favorite. 

I’ll also include the pair of debut winners in the field – #1 Miss Jane Hathaway and #3 Greek Goddess – for insurance.

Race 8 – Claiming

A cast of eight fillies and mares will run six panels on the main oval in the closing piece. #3 Chocolatechocolate lacks consistent form for Rice, but the Vino Rosso five-year-old will take a major class drop in the finale and is a must-use. The bay has won or placed in six of her nine local runs to date and will have Civaci on board. I’ll single her to conclude the wager.