With this being the last "big" graded stakes weekend in New York and the last "At the Post" column for 2011, we are going to do a old fashioned handicapping selections for the four stake races on the Aqueduct card. We have two evenly matched stake races for the two year old colts and fillies, plus a three year old stake for fillies and the last grade I on the NYRA circuit for 2011. The four stake races comprise the popular "Grand Slam" wager at NYRA, where you choose a horse to finish "in-the-money" the first three legs of the wager (6th, 7th, 8th) and in the final leg (9th) your selection must win to complete the bet. I give out my top two selections in each race, horses to use in exotic & multi-race wagers and a Grand Slam play.
The first of the four stake races is for the two year old fillies; the Demoiselle at the route distance of a mile and a eighth. A field of 10 are entered with a entry and the group assembled has no standout runner. All of these runners are trying this distance for the first time in their career and breeding may play a big part in the outcome of this race. With that said, I'm selecting on top a runner who is bred to get the added distance of ground. Captivating Lass (#2) draws the rail and this is her second career start after breaking her maiden in debut at PARX going two turns. Her sire was AP Indy and dam was Folk, both were winners going two turns and this distance. Plus the Darley Stable connections mean business with future stakes runners. For 2nd, I'm going with another offspring of AP Indy racing from the far outside post; Indyniable (#9). She recently broke her maiden in a second career start at Keeneland going seven furlongs on the polytrack track surface. She tries dirt for the first time and stretches out. Disposablepleasure (#8) and Lady Cohiba (#1) are your exotic & multi-race runners.
The boys are up next in the Remsen Stakes; same distance, same number of runners and just as wide open. Again I'm going with a AP Indy runner who is a half brother to Preakness Stakes winner; Shackleford. Stephanoatsee (#6) after stumbling at the start, broke his maiden in his 2nd career start in a one mile off-the-turf event. His trainer knows how to get them to the winners circle with winning this year's Kentucky Derby with Animal Kingdom. In the runner-up spot, I'm selecting a horse who has already won at this distance. Speightscity (#9) was no factor in the Breeder's Cup Juvenile at 42-1, but broke his maiden at Saratoga in a rare mile and a eighth race. Managed Account (#7) and Our Entourage (#4) are the runners to use underneath.
The final grade I stake in New York is the Cigar Mile and this year we have a short elite field of seven entered with an entry that was scratched from Thanksgiving day's Fall Highweight race (Calibrachoa & Caixa Eletronica ). I'm going with the horse I picked just a few week's ago in the Breeder's Cup Classic; To Honor and Serve (#5). He tired at 10-1 with a good effort forwardly placed and has two victories over the Aqueduct main track. Haynesfield (#3) is the "horse to beat" and my 2nd choice. Second best in this race last year, he won the state bred Empire Classic in his last start.
The last of the four stake races is Gazelle Stakes for three year old fillies at the same distance as the Demoiselle and Remsen Stakes (mile & a eighth). Awesome Feather (#7) is my top selection coming off a return to the races victory at Belmont in a overnight stake. It was her first start of the year and first for new trainer Chad Brown. Draw It (#5) is my second pick and has finished as the runner-up four straight times, the logical place horse! Horses for exotic and multi-race runners are; R Gypsy Gold (#2) and Love and Pride (#8).
The Grand Slam ($1.00 plays) for the four stake races are the following; 2/9 - 4/6/7/9 - 5 -7 : ($8.00) 1/8 - 4/9 - 3/5 - 7 : ($8.00) 2 - 9 - 3/5 - 2/8 : ($4.00) total : ($20)
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