Horse Pick of the Day from Aqueduct

Horse Pick of the Day: Aqueduct – Race 8

Race-day: 10/27/2009

Race-time: 3:44 pm EST

Racing at Aqueduct is back. The famous New York track has returned just in time to provide warm up handicapping for horseplayers looking to get their juices flowing before the 2009 Breeders’ Cup.

Aqueduct has always been one of the better tracks for gamblers to bet. The races at Aqueduct usually provide plenty of opportunities for bettors to make money.

Let’s take a look at Race 8 at Aqueduct.

Aqueduct – Race 8

$25,000 Handicap

For Three Year Olds and Upward Which Have Started For a Claiming Price of $25,000 or Less in 2007 – 2009

6 furlongs on dirt

Starforaday/West Coast Flier - - 4/1 morning line odds

Gary Contessa sends out two that have a chance in this race. West Coast Flier is a stalker/front-runner that only must deal with Digger, who will sit inside of him, on the front end. If West Coast Flier can track around 1 to 2 lengths off, he will have a good shot of taking the lead at the top of the stretch. At that point, it will all be about keeping the closers away. One closer who could catch both Digger and West Coast Flier is Starforaday. The son of Five Star Day has a mean closing kick. Of course, he’ll need a pace up front in order to show it.

Digger - - 9/5 morning line odds

There is precious little speed in this race which is why Digger, running first time for trainer Bruce Brown, is the strong morning line favorite. Digger should get the lead in this race and is 5 and 6 out of 14 races lifetime at this distance. The one knock is that Digger goes to Brown after running for Scott Lake. Rarely does a horse improve coming from Lake. They usually improve going to Lake.

Base Commander - - 4/1 morning line odds

Anything that trainer Todd Pletcher saddles should be considered. This is even true if Pletcher saddles the horse in a $25,000 handicap. Base Commander has a 2-3-1 record out of 7 starts at this distance and has finished 2 nd, 2 nd and 3 rd in his three last races. Base Commander has a shot in this race, but his inability to close the deal so to speak might hurt him.

Wagering Strategy

If Contessa sends both, Starforaday and West Coast Flier, to the gate then they are the horse bet. I will bet the entry to win and place. I will also use the entry as a key in an exacta over Digger and Base Commander. I will reverse for less.