Aqueduct Saturday: Small Fields Haunt NYRA Winter Stakes

The Saturday card from Aqueduct features the Heavenly Prize Invitational. Battle Bling was installed as a solid favorite in a short field of just 5 runners.

Aqueduct- Race 1

Post: 12:50 PM ET; $35k Maiden Claiming going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 8

• #7 SORPRESO (7-2) gets the top selection. He looks to be the class of the field. This one has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot.
• #5 LAUREL VALLEY (3-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Pletcher and Lezcano. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #1A M. C. DOUBLE R (7-2) has races good enough to beat this group. This one is well bred for this spot.
• #3 SARATOGA RED (8-1) debuts here and the bloodlines say this one is live. The morning line disagrees.

Selections: 7 – 5 – 1A- 3

Aqueduct- Race 2

Post: 1:20 PM ET; $84k Allowance Optional Claiming going 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 6

• #3 SHERIFF BIANCO (7-5) is the top pick. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Rice and Lezcano.
• #1 NABOKOV (8-5) appears to be a major player in this race. He has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.
• #4 MONDAY MORNING QB (10-1) is a price horse and feels like a fringe contender in this spot. He looks to be the class of the field. This one could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #6 BIG ENGINE (8-1) isn't without hope. He seems to fit well enough here.

Selections: 3 – 1 – 4 – 6

Aqueduct- Race 3

Post: 1:50 PM ET; $125k Heavenly Prize Invitational S. going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 5

• #2 BATTLE BLING (8-5) looks best here. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Atras and Davis. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #1 FROST POINT (3-1) should be competitive in this spot. She seems to fit well enough here. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #4 PIECE OF MY HEART (8-1) comes into the race in really good form. She makes sense on class.
• #5 FALCONET (6-5) could be in with a shot in this race. She has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 2 – 1 – 4 – 5

Aqueduct- Race 4

Post: 2:20 PM ET; $39k Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #3 CINDERELLA'S CAUSE (9-5) gets the top selection. She shouldn't have trouble with the 6 furlong distance. This one has really consistent pace figures which should work well in a moderately paced race.
• #1 CHAYSENBRYN (5-2) appears to be a major player in this race. She will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #4 LEFT LEANING LUCY (3-1) has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip.
• #6 MERAVIGLIOSO (8-1) should be competitive in this spot. She has races good enough to beat this group.

Selections: 3 – 1 – 4 – 6

Aqueduct- Race 5

Post: 2:51 PM ET; $35k Maiden Claiming going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 8

• #5 K D KAKES (9-5) is the top pick. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Falcone and Davis. This one will be rolling late and has a good closing kick that could get the job done here.
• #3 AMANDA'S FOLLY (5-2) appears to be a major player in this race. She has races good enough to beat this group. This one is well bred for this spot.
• #4 MY GORGEOUS (8-1) should be competitive in this spot. She makes sense on speed figures. This one has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #1 DERWIN'S PAYNTER (4-1) could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end if no one else goes. Speed has been holding in recent weeks.

Selections: 5 – 3 – 4 – 1

Aqueduct- Race 6

Post: 3:22 PM ET; $28k Claiming going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 9

• #6 ONE MORE SCORE (6-1) looks best here. He shouldn't have trouble with the 1 mile distance. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #2 BREADMAN (4-1) isn't without hope. He is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #7 JONNY QUIST (10-1) is a price horse and is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. He has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #5 SEANAN (5-2) could get the right setup in this race.

Selections: 6 – 2 – 7 – 5

Aqueduct- Race 7

Post: 3:55 PM ET; $80k Maiden Special Weight going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 10

• #1 REGISTER (7-2) gets the top selection. He has tactical speed and can sit just off the leaders for a stalk and pounce trip. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #2 EGYPT (10-1) is a price horse and appears to be a major player in this race. He comes into the race in really good form. This one runs evenly and looks to get a very fair pace scenario here.
• #5 ASMODEUS (8-1) should improve off the first start and has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here. This one projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #10 MCCULLOUGH (8-1) goes out for the Brown barn and gets Davis in the irons.

Selections: 1 – 2 – 5 – 10

Aqueduct- Race 8

Post: 4:26 PM ET; $82k Allowance going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #6 TODAY'S FLAVOR (1-1) is the top pick. He could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #3 TWELTH MAN (7-2) could be in with a shot in this race. He will likely have a lot to do in the lane, but could get up with a competitive run. This one makes sense on speed figures.
• #8 RYAN'S CAT (5-1) is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Rodriguez and Davis.
• #7 HANDSOME CAT (10-1) isn't without hope. He has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.

Selections: 6 – 3 – 8 – 7

Aqueduct- Race 9

Post: 4:57 PM ET; $55k Starter Allowance going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 11

• #11 CALLALOO (4-1) looks best here. He should be part of the early pace in this spot. This one has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.
• #5 ALLABOUTTHEMONEY (7-2) should be competitive in this spot. He has races good enough to beat this group.
• #2 BIG VENEZUELA (6-1) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. He is a good bet to hit the board in this type of race.
• #4 MACH ONE (15-1) is a price horse and has performed well at this level in the past.

Selections: 11- 5 – 2 – 4

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