Steve Matthews' Aqueduct selections for April 23-26
Thursday, April 23
Best bet: PATIENCE N GRACE (8)
Best value: BENJI STAR (7)
FIRST: Bellamy makes peak start of form cycle after even fourth in last; forward move predicted. Sports Hero owns speed and gets favorable cutback; dangerous. Asked and Answered is from a dam that has produced two winners from two foals to race; could be the goods.
SECOND: Snowy Evening owns fast late-pace figures and returns from five-month layoff with tight work tab; ready. Mischief Lady is speedy and could prove very tough on a soft lead. Turriga also is fleet-footed and training with a purpose; dangerous.
THIRD: Marketplaceofideas is working consistently for return from two-month layoff for Chad Brown; signature pattern. Pinch of Bourbon is quick from gate and could prove tough on soft lead. Quadrate is from a dam that has thrown two turf winners; follow the money.
FOURTH: Saratoga Party should pack enhanced wallop with cutback to 7 furlongs. Flying Hawley and Hand Over Heart are newcomers that are training swiftly for top-shelf barns; charting a must.
FIFTH: On the Ledge is 1-for-1 on Big A sod; sharp work tab seals the deal. Chummers could be in the garden spot if pace meltdown ensues. Funny Factor is rested and gets first-time Lasix; don't ignore.
SIXTH: Sequential gets confident price boost in first start for new barn. Smallchangegeep bested top selection by a head when a more game second in last; very dangerous. Magnanimous Max makes first start since claimed by Linda Rice; must be factored into the mix.
SEVENTH: Benji Star logged four tight works for first start in seven weeks; gets favorable setup in contentious group. My Mitole makes first start since gelded and is another that could be aided by potential pace dynamics; worth long look. Bostontonian is speedy and working swiftly for Wes Ward; big-time player.
EIGHTH: Patience N Grace moves to grass after useful fourth in last; crisp half-mile drill last week seals the deal. Saint Margaret is rested, owns speed and gets first-time Lasix; dangerous. Juliet On Approach worked three times since last start; right in the thick of this. Pismo Beach is from a dam that has produced a turf winner; worth long look.
Friday, April 24
Best bet: SMOOTH BREEZE (4)
Best value: LANGUID (5)
FIRST: Grayosh has the rail and fits Chad Brown's signature pattern; need more? Matilda, also from Brown barn, makes stateside debut; ho hum. Macanga is speedy and could prove tough on a soft lead.
SECOND: Grand Commander wheels back in a hurry after dominant win on April 12; more to come. First Trumpet is fleet-footed and should be aided by cutback to mile. Hey Buddy makes local debut after clear-cut placing at Parx last out; don't ignore.
THIRD: Riyadh Moon makes peak start of form cycle after grabbing brief lead at quarter pole last out; three works in the interim seal the deal. Master of Arms exits pace-pressing score in last; dangerous. Motorcade owns three wins and two seconds from eight starts but has been sidelined for nearly two years; mixed message.
FOURTH: Smooth Breeze consistently logs field's fast late-pace figures; rail draw seals the deal. Sounds Like a Plan is training with a purpose for first start since October; big-time player. Spirit of St. Louis is 5-for-5 on Big A sod; guaranteed underlay.
FIFTH: Languid moves to grass after useful fourth in debut; class boost after claim is the clincher. In the Dark is fresh and owns fast turf numbers; very interesting. Swiss Army Knife displayed improved speed in last; worth long look.
SIXTH: Our Preferred Pal regressed last time after game placing in prior; rebounds. Lady Delilah could be in the garden spot if pace meltdown ensues. Factory Setting hails from Chad Brown barn but has failed as the favorite in all three starts; your move.
SEVENTH: Soontobeking owns stalker's style in turf sprint that's jammed with speed. Tall Paul is fleet-footed and could be aided by outside draw. Longshoreman, another that's quick from gate, gets first-time Lasix for Wes Ward; likely to attract too much cash.
EIGHTH: Sassy Sats owns sprinter's speed and could get early jump in bulky field. Valiant Diva runs late and could be the prime beneficiary if top selection hits the wall. Sky Low Low was second in last start at Fair Grounds; must be factored into the mix. Raynham Hall returns to grass with solid back turf numbers; right in the thick of this.
Saturday, April 25
Best bet: THREE B'S (9)
Best value: KAY ROAD (10)
FIRST: White Smoke Rising is firing bullets for first start since game placing in debut; gets there today. Gordy is riding a forward line on the numbers; dangerous. Sea Strike is training swiftly for debut for Chad Brown; could be the goods.
SECOND: Alan Turing tallied sharp final fraction when winning last; more to come. Brazenly worked twice since game second in last; dangerous. Vassimo owns fast figures but has been on the bench for nearly a year; mixed message.
THIRD: Pretty Boy Miah overcame fast, pressured pace to win last; pairs up. Bold Love was nearly 10 lengths clear of third runner when a solid second in last. Bala de Plata is a front-running threat on "A" efforts.
FOURTH: Teddy's Rocket compiled sharp work tab for first start since September; fires big race. Longshoreman owns sprinter's speed and could prove very tough on a soft lead. Blue Forty Two could land in exotics at beefy number if pace meltdown ensues.
FIFTH: Graywing drops after front-end score last out; hard to bet on or against. Bar Fourteen is speedy and should be aided by cutback to 7 furlongs. Glint could impact if fractions get fast and furious.
SIXTH: Power Seeker exits fast-figured win last out; more to give. Lonesome Road was done in by blistering fractions last time; very dangerous on soft lead. Contrary Thinking has been idle since being eased in BC Classic last November; obvious threat on best.
SEVENTH: What's Up Bro projects as the speed of the speed with heads-up handling. John the Beer Man won last at Fair Grounds and is 1-for-1 on Big A sod; very playable. Final Verdict is rested and fires big efforts with machinelike consistency.
EIGHTH: Bookitwithhaddad owns five wins from 15 starts and ships in from Laurel base to make 4-year-old debut. Carc Brothers bested a next-out winner when a front-running victor in debut; very dangerous. Just for Luck packs potent late kick on best efforts.
NINTH: Three B's should pack amplified wallop with cutback to 7 furlongs. Unbroken Chain exits front-running score in last and could capitalize on unchallenged lead once again. Trust Fund took backward step in last after clear-cut win in prior; bounce-back threat.
10TH: Kay Road drops, moves to grass and compiled six tight works since last start; breakthrough predicted. Bashful Baby will be the prime beneficiary if pace meltdown ensues. Fraudster is another that would be aided by swift splits. Mo Complex makes first start with maiden-claiming tag; must be factored into the mix.
Sunday, April 26
Best Bet: ARTISTIC SUCCESS (6)
Best Value: EYE ON THE BALL (9)
FIRST: Sheer Will owns stalker's style that should be well served in probable pace matchup. Meg's Foxy Grey gets favorable cutback to 6 furlongs. Majestic Return is speedy and could prove very tough on a soft lead.
SECOND: Unlimitedpotential fired crisp half-mile drill since speed and fade versus pricier last out; set for best. Shadow Dragon could be in the garden spot if top selection hits the wall. Emirates Road is another that would be aided by fast fractions; very dangerous.
THIRD: Always Angels makes first start since claimed after clear-cut second in last; more to come. Khali Magic drops and turns back to more manageable distance; worth long look. Will Not Be Swayed should move forward with return to dirt.
FOURTH: Whistler's Style makes quick return after second to a much-the-best winner last week. Floge exits determined score for this price last out,.Curlin's Magic drops two price levels after subpar fifth in last; fire sale?
FIFTH: Geostoblame logged four tight works since breaking maiden last time; transfers form to turf. Sandborn has the benefit of the rail but has been idle since last summer; mixed message. Desperate Proposal is fresh and could land in exotics at beefy number; very interesting.
SIXTH: Artistic Success projects as the main speed with Kendrick Carmouche aboard. Heads in Beds makes first start since moving to Saffie Joseph barn; big-time player. Boston's Phinest is training with a purpose for first start since last August; don't ignore.
SEVENTH: Quick to Accuse outworked 146 rivals in half-mile drill since game placing in last; more to give. Toxic Gray was freshened after winning last by more than seventh lengths; dangerous. Raise the Bar fits Chad Brown's signature pattern; can't ignore.
EIGHTH: Fitz Right tallied swift late-pace figure when winning last start on Jan. 18; training with a purpose for return for Chad Brown. Ultimate Love started career with three straight wins before failing to deliver in BC Juvenile Filly Turf last fall; more than good enough on "A" game. Imperatrice owns speed and moves to grass for Todd Pletcher; very playable.
NINTH: Eye On the Ball could get the early jump with heads-up handling in wide-open nightcap. Ryan's Shadow packs solid late kick on best efforts; worth long look. Alzero returns to maiden-claiming ranks in third start of form cycle; must consider. Mykonos could move forward with return to turf for Mike Maker; don't overlook.
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