Pick 4 of the Week: Aqueduct Saturday [Oct. 25]

A huge day of racing for New York-bred runners will highlight a big day of action at Aqueduct on Saturday. I’ll take a swing at the middle Pick 4 on the card that commences with a stakes race for juvenile fillies. 

Race 4 Wager:

50-cent Pick 4: 3,4,5,7,8 with 2,4,6,7,8 with 2 with 2,3,4,5 ($50)

Race 4 – Maid of the Mist S. 

An especially well-matched cast will run one mile on the dirt to kick off the play. I’ll use multiple runners in the opening leg with Todd Pletcher’s #3 Angel Gift, Frizette S. (G1) eighth #4 Rina’s Revenge, Delaware allowance heroine #5 Victory Hall, the dual stakes placed #7 Grazie, and fine debut victress #8 Letmecounttheways, making the ticket. 

Race 5 – Maiden Claiming

A total of 10 fillies and mares are on board for the 6 1/2-furlong dash on the dirt. The race lacks a standout and is not full of quality, so I will use half of the contenders in the heat. Jamie Ness’ #2 Alyvia Mavis, Eddie Barker’s #4 Calling an Audible, the Melanie Giddings-trained #6 In Fact Sheza Zask, class dropper #7 A. P. Slingshot, and Linda Rice’s returnee #8 Observer are the ones. 

Race 6 – Mohawk S. 

The boys will run 1 1/16 grassy furlongs in the third leg. I feel that the lightly raced #2 George Briggs is a fine prospect with good ability, and I will aggressively single him in a talented cast. The Chad Brown-trained son of Fog of War was a resilient stakes winner on the dirt most recently, but I feel that he will ultimately be best on the lawn going forward. The colt was a facile debut winner on the surface last season and will have Dylan Davis on board. 

Race 7 – Empire Distaff S. 

Sophomore fillies will travel nine panels in the closing piece. #2 Bernietakescharge is a two-time stakes vixen who loves the surface and comes in fresh. She is not super consistent, but the speedy sort has to be included. 

I’ll also include the top-three finishers from the Fleet Indian S. at Saratoga in August. #5 Vehemente, #4 Kay Cup, and #3 Valtellina are on my ticket.