Courtesy of Mike Dempsey

Here is today's opening race from Aqueduct to get our day off to a good start:

AQU Race 1 Clm $7,500 (1:00 ET)

#3 Saratoga Lulaby 4/1
#4 Who Needs to Know 9/5
#1 Castle Harbour 6/1
#2 Metulla 3/1

Analysis: #3 Saratoga Lulaby gets the nod in the opener, a rather dull six hose field where none of these look very appealing. The six year old was a smart looking winner two back for this tag, but failed to fire when finding a good spot last out against $10K non winners of two in six months. He should be closer to the pace here and while he is just 1 for 11 on wet tracks, that victory was against Alw-3 optional claimers and he earned a 100 Beyer, his career best. He has lost a few steps since then, but this sure is a weak spot.
#4 Who Needs to Know held on gamely to win by a head last out for this tag. The gelding has been running consistent figs in recent starts and is two for seven on wet tracks. He fits but the price will be on the light side.
#1 Castle Harbour stretches out so he could be a threat to steal this on the front. The barn is 30% winners (with a +ROI) moving runners from sprint to route, but most of those wins came at Suffolk and Finger Lakes and he is just 1 for 22 on the stretch out here in the Big Apple going back five years.


Wagering

WIN: #3 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 3,4 / 1,3,4
TRI: no play

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 7 Alw $16,000s (3:55 ET)

#7 Three in the Bag 7/2
#3 Reptilian Smarts 3/1
#1 Stealth Missile 9/2
#4 More Than a Reason 5/2

Analysis: #7 Three in the Bag is stepping into a tougher spot here after beating $16K non winners of a race in six months last out in his first go for Rice off the claim. The gelding was making his first start off a six month break. The eight year old loves the inner surface (13-7-2-1) and loves running on a wet track (8-5-1-0). He faces a solid group here but looks up to the task for a barn that is 36% winners (with a +ROI) with horses making their second start off a +180 day layoff.
#3 Reptilian Smarts was a sharp winner last out versus $25K claimers, his eighth career start in 13 trips on the inner. This guy reeled off six wins in a row in '08-'09, and looks back on track now as he makes his third start off the bench. The only question is the off track. The six year old has only raced on a wet track once in his 25 race career, a third place finish three back over a good track at Belmont Park versus Alw-3 optional claimers.

Wagering

WIN: #7 to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 3,7 / 1,3,4,7
TRI: 3,7 / 1,3,4,7 / 1,3,4,5,7


Live Longshots:

These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.


Aqueduct

R4: #1 Triple Latte 8/1
R4: #4 Seattle Dynasty 12/1
R5: #3 Hank the Billymax 10/1
R6: #7 Tonga 15/1
R8: #8 Laylaben 10/1
R9: #5 Penalty Due 10/1
R9: #7 Glance My Way 12/1


Good luck today!

AQU 4th (2:27)

5 1/2 Furlongs | Fillies and Mares | 3 Year Olds And Up Maiden Special Weight | Purse: $38,000

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 1 Triple Latte Hill C Sciacca Gary 118 L 8-1
2 2 Buddys Dream Lopez A Martin Frank 111 7 L 9-2
3 3 A Smart Judge Samyn J L Hertler John O 123 L 12-1
4 4 Seattle Dynasty Jara F Toscano John T Jr 118 FTL 12-1
5 5 Royal Waltz Lezcano A Ubillo Rodrigo A 113 5 L 4-1
6 6 Hed Deputy Dominguez R A Dutrow Anthony W 118 FTL 5-2
7 7 Lights Out Lisa Luzzi M J Contessa Gary C 118 L 3-1
8 8 Hookedon Karakorum Studart M Odintz Jeff 118 15-1

Exacta, Quinella, Trifecta, Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (4-6) Pick 6 Races (4-9), Daily Double Wagers

Brian Blessing's Pick's 2-5-7

Buddys Dream ran a decent race in her debut at longs odds. The winner of that dash has returned to score a victory. The price may still be decent today.

GPX 6th (3:42)

Inside Information S. (G2)

7 Furlongs | Fillies and Mares | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $200,000

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 1 Honchis'n Ponchis Castanon J L Romans Dale 117 L 12-1
2 2 Pinkarella Trujillo E O'Neill Doug 117 L 6-1
3 3 Pretty Prolific Prado E S Baker James E 119 L 10-1
4 4 Warbling Leparoux J R Kenneally Eddie 117 L 4-1
5 5 Saratoga Tango Castellano J J Wolfson Martin D 117 L 20-1
6 6 First Passage Velazquez J R Wolfson Martin D 119 L 6-1
7 7 Thunders Dove Lopez P Zito Nicholas P 117 L 8-1
8 8 Cuvee Uncorked Frazier R L Walters Timothy G 117 L 12-1
9 9 Tar Heel Mom Garcia Alan Hough Stanley M 117 L 5-1
10 10 Kays and Jays Lezcano J Ward Wesley A 119 L 3-1

Exacta / Trifecta / Superfecta / 10 Cent Superfecta / Daily Double (Races 6&7) Bet 3 (Races 6-7-8)

Battagliaspicks 4-9-2

#4 Warbling- won her first two races then missed by a head here on a sloppy track. She has a bullet work since her last race and get Leparoux back in the saddle.

SA 8th (4:08)
Clocker's Corner H.

About 6 1/2 Furlongs (Downhill turf) | Fillies and Mares | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $55,000

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 1 Manhattan Beach (IRE) Gomez G K Mitchell Mike 113 L 12-1
2 2 Porto Marmay (IRE) Sutherland C Canani Julio C 119 L 4-1
3 3 Empressive Lady Espinoza V Mullins Jeff 115 L 12-1
4 4 Theodora Smith M E Shirreffs John 117 L 15-1
5 5 Dreamt (GB) Baze M C Mott William I 114 L 8-1
6 6 Annihilation Solis A Hendricks Dan L 118 L 8-1
7 7 Christmas Ship Garcia M Hollendorfer Jerry 116 L 20-1
8 8 Czechers Bejarano R Glatt Mark 118 L 4-1
9 9 Bella Roja Talamo J Dollase Craig 115 L 12-1
10 10 Sweeter Still (IRE) Baze T C Mullins Jeff 120 L 7-2
11 11 Emmy Darling Rosario J Sadler John W 116 L 8-1

$1 Exacta / $1 Trifecta $2 Rolling Double / $1 Superfecta (.10 Min.)

Battagliaspicks 2-8-10

#2 Porto Marmay (IRE) came off a 5 month layoff and beat a full field in the Wishing Well stake on this course 4 weeks ago at 12-1. She had plenty more to give and she loves this course.

Oaklawn 7th (4:08)

1 Mile | Fillies and Mares | 3 Year Olds And Up Allowance | Purse: $39,000

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 1 Tappin 'n Preachin Berry M C Morse Randy L 118 Blk-On L 8-1
2 2 South in Dixie Hamilton Q Von Hemel Donnie K 115 L 4-1
3 3 Missy Lou Court J K Fires William H 115 L 8-1
4 4 Queen Hazel Ocampo I Sanner Daniel E 115 L 10-1
5 5 Toccetup Quinonez L S Hardin Jerry K 124 L 5-1
6 6 Cat Onthe Town Thompson T J Holthus Robert E 118 L 4-1
7 7 Hidden Value Nakatani C S Lukas D Wayne 115 L 5-2
8 8 Persistent Penny Castellano A Jr Dollase Wallace 118 L 10-1

Exacta / 50 Cent Trifecta / Pick 4 (Races 7-8-9-10)

Battagliaspicks 5-7-1

#5 Toccetup- came in from FG and like so many others, was dead fit and passed them all late. She is the only runner in here with two wins and should payoff again today.