Fall Horse Racing Picks from Aqueduct - First Race 2:48 PM ET

It will be a crisp fall day at Aqueduct today, complete with a nine race card that looks on the cheap side as far as class goes, but there are several very competitive races, and ample opportunity to pad our bankroll.

The play of the day is a $16,000 claiming race on the turf, which drew an overflowing field. My top pick is Flying Dismount, who will need to stick the landing breaking from the outside with a short run to the first turn.

Our Late Pick 3 play starts chalky as we single a 7/5 morning line favorite, something I despise doing.

However, it looks as if we can catch a price in the second leg, and the final leg of the three race sequence is a wide open race with a full field, so we can still get a decent payoff on our $24 investment.

Today's Play of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 6 Clm $16,000 (2:48 ET)

• 
  
• #10 Flying Dismount 4/1
• #9 Missing Blue 6/1
• #12 Bon Marie 2/1
• #3 Of All Times 5/2

Analysis: #10 Flying Dismount is returning off a two month break, last out a fifth place finish versus $25K claimers. The winner of that race was Adagio, who came back to beat $25K foes at the Big M on Oct. 12. This guy ran into a repeat winner two back as well, a fourth place finish behind winner Optimer, who beat $25K claimers at Monmouth Park on Sept. 25, then again on Nov. 6 at the Big M. This guy hung out with much tougher last year, including a neck loss in the Palm Beach (G3) and a fifth place finish behind Justenuffhumor in Alw-2 company. Weaver finds a good spot here dropping him in for a $16K tag.

#9 Missing Blue ships in from Laurel Park and goes from Barr to the Johnson barn while staying with the same owner. The gelding was beaten just a nose last out against Alw-2 company. He has landed in the exacta in 13 of his 23 starts on the weeds including 5 of 7 this year. He drops into an easier spot and his 6/1 ML looks very generous.

Wagering

• 
  
• WIN: #10 to win at 3/1 or better. A win bet on #9 at 4/1 or better.
• EX: 9,10 / 3,9,10,12
• TRI: 9,10 / 3,9,10,12 / 1,3,9,10,11,12

Today’s Pick 3 Play from Aqueduct:

Starting in Race 7: $2: 3 / 4,8,10 / 4,7,10,12 = $24

AQU Race 7 Alw $43,000N1X (3:16 ET)

#3 City Trooper

#3 City Trooper exits a solid runner up finish in the state bred Sleepy Hollow where he was beaten just a length for the top spot. The third place finisher Make Note returned to win the NY Stallion series Great White Way Stakes in his next outing on Nov. 15. The colt caught wet tracks in each of his last three starts and figures to catch a fast track here. By City Zip out of a Polish Numbers mare, the cut back to seven furlongs figures to suit him. Looks like he is going to be tough to beat in this spot at a short price.

AQU Race 8 Flitalong S. (3:44 ET)

#4 Bum Bum, #10 Denomination, #8 West Ocean

#4 Bum Bum is coming off a third place finish over yielding ground at Keeneland trying to get nine furlongs. She tracked the early pace, made a move to get into the mix and ran out of gas, finish 2 1/2 lengths behind the winner. Two back in her U.S. debut she had to check in traffic on the far turn and finished with some run for third. That race has produced four next out winners including the winner Miss World, who won the Garden City (G1) in her next outing. The fact that Motion tries her in stakes company here bodes well and we should catch a decent price.