I usually avoid Aqueduct like the plague, but it has been great weather for us that live above the Mason-Dixon Line this fall, and it should be near 50 degrees Spring-like weather at the Big A today. Throw in a pretty good 10 horse field, and the Cigar Mile Handicap caps a nice day of racing in New York.
Of note, TimeformUS has this as their Race of the Day and are pegging the
in upset fashion with a
finish.
Mind Your Biscuits: He has undoubtedly been one of the best sprinters in the country the past 2 years while finishing tough beaten 3rds in the last 2 BC Sprints. The biggest problem facing this guy is the 1 mile distance as he has only ran it once in 18 career starts, and proceeded to run one of the worst races of his career. Tough to kick one of my favorite horses here, but a sprint closer at a mile just isn't intriguing enough for me other than bottom end exotics, especially when I think he'll take more money than his 5/1 ML. If he does indeed go off at 5/1 or more, that is an awfully damn good horse to get at those kinds of odds. Especially for a horse that has a dominating G2 win at 7F just 3 races back.
SUMMATION: Biscuits could be loaded with gravy at an appetizing 5/1 or better price.
Seymourdini: A really interesting 4YO that they have been patient with. After his flop in the Woody Stephens last year, they took him to the sidelines for awhile and returned him in lower end OCs at Parx and Laurel. After a couple of dominating double digit length romps, they got him in a $100K stakes race where he romped again, and then last out he got the taste of Graded Stakes company again while facing a couple rivals he'll see here today. He certainly didn't embarrass himself in that one, and was full of run late and could be a guy ready for this type of field today. Very interesting entry that could really be anything at this point in time.
SUMMATION: We need to see more, and may well get that today.
Just Call Kenny: A nice 6YO horse that has won nearly $500K, but looks to be simply over matched in here. His lone run against Sharp Azteca resulted in a 10 length beat down. Looks to be a bit of an ambitious entry that has never won at 1 mile in 7 career tries. Hard to see this being the time he pops his 1 mile cherry.
SUMMATION: Probably not the time to dial up JCK.
Tom's Ready: A newly minted millionaire after his last victory has run some big one's in his 20 race career. He'll be coming late, and will need a bit of a pace meltdown to have a real shot, but a board finish is very attainable for him in here. Smith gets the call as Rosario is on Practical Joke, so certainly another factor for consideration. He is gonna likely be one of the one's I'll let beat me.
SUMMATION: I'm just not ready to back a horse at appetizing odds that I can't see finishing better than 3rd.
Americanize: The 'now' horse comes in off back-to-back wins, but is making a massive class jump in back-to-races as he just ran in his 1st ever stakes company race, and now takes on G1 company for his first ever Grades Stakes race. Hard to really say who he has actually beat, but he is 8 for 9 in the exacta, and should be on or near the lead. With Sharp Azteca in here, it will be interesting to see if he pushes for the lead or settles in a stalking manner. I'm just not sure he can win against these without being in the lead. The always dangerous Bejarano gets the mount, and the 12/1 ML is a bit intriguing for a horse on a massive upswing.
SUMMATION: Huge jump in class, but a good post position and improving form could equate to this guy's American coming out party.
Sharp Azteca: The most likely speed of the speed, and arguably the best dirt miler in the states coming in off a crushing loss in the BC Dirt Mile. He is 5 for 8 at the distance, and 7 for 8 in the Exacta while hitting the board in all 8 tries at 1 mile. He is a must include on any Exotic ticket, and is the horse to beat in here.
SUMMATION: Sharp and THE one to beat.
Vulcan's Forge: An in form horse whose last 3 races are all pretty darn good. This is his 2nd try at Graded Stakes company, but it looks like they have found a home for this guy at 1 mile on the dirt. He should be sitting near the back end early in here, and if a speed duel plays out, he could be the one most full of run late. He'll need to keep improving in here, but a career best race doesn't look to be out of the question if he gets the right set up. At 20/1, I definitely wouldn't exclude from exotics, and if you are looking for the shocking bomber, he could fit that ticket.
SUMMATION: An in form horse in which you could live long and prosper if this 20/1 shot comes rolling home late.
Practical Joke: Probably my favorite 3YO that was on the Derby Trail this year. He always seems to give you an honest effort, and just doesn't ever run a bad race. He'd need things to go his way, and I feel a couple of others would need to come up short for him to cross the wire first. At a 7/2 ML, that isn't exactly the feeling I want for that kind of price. Throw in Chad Brown in New York, and he may not even go off at 7/2. He is still a dangerous entry however, that is still in his 3YO campaign that is as good or better than most in here.
SUMMATION: Nothing funny about this gutty 3YO who isn't an easy one to pass on.
Summer Revolution: This 4YO was off for nearly a year leading into his last race at Belmont, and he responded nicely with a comfortable 2 length win. He possesses tactical speed, but will likely need to be up close to have a real shot in here. One of a few wildcards in this field has a ton of talent. Is he ready to pop huge against these at a big price? Just not sure he is ready coming from this post position at 1 mile at this point in time in his 2nd race off a near 1 year layoff.
SUMMATION: Took a couple of season's off, including Summer, and it is hard to see a fall revolution coming in this field.
Beasley: A lot of hype has been around this horse since day 1. He was on the Derby trail for a bit, but after a clunker in the Tampa Bay Derby, he was sent to the bench and then fired back in August with 2 straight wins against decent, but not great competition. They upped the ante last out in G3 company against a couple other rivals in here, and he responded pretty well as he was making up ground late at 7Fs. Is the extra furlong what he needs for this improving and dangerous 3YO? Could be. And while the 10 hole is far from optimum, he could fit in a decent trip. A 1 turn mile may also well be right in this guy's wheelhouse. Throw in a 12/1 ML, and I'll be very interested in what the tote board says on this guy.
SUMMATION: Beasley may well turn beastly today.
SUMMARY: This very well could be
Sharp Azteca's race to win or lose as he could get on an easy lead and simply walk. That isn't hard to see, so everybody knows that and you'd like to think somebody like Seymourdini or Americanize or Summer Revolution will make him at least earn it on the front end. There are some interesting 3YOs and horses making significant class jumps while in big upswings in form. Horizontals, you may just want to single the
Sharp Azteca, but that always seems to be a bit dangerous the next race out after the Breeder's Cup. If it isn't the
, then you are looking at a wide open field with upwards to 5 to 6 others that could pop and win this thing.