Aqueduct Winter Meet: NYRA Thursday Analysis, Selections

The Thursday card from Aqueduct features a slew of hard knocking horses. With the official winter season here, all races are on the dirt surface.

Aqueduct- Race 1

Post: 12:20 PM ET; $54k Maiden Claiming going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 7

• #4 WINNING CONNECTION (4-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He has the pedigree to be a major player in this spot.
• #6 KAON (8-5) goes out for the Brown barn and gets Franco in the irons. This one shouldn't have trouble with the 1 mile distance.
• #3 NARCISO DALI (9-2) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. The bloodlines say this one should be well spotted here. This one has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #5 WISECRAKEN (8-1) isn't without hope. He comes into the race in really good form.

Selections: 4 – 6 – 3 – 5

Aqueduct- Race 2

Post: 12:50 PM ET; $48k Maiden Claiming going 7 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 8

• #2 MULLINGAR (2-1) is the top pick. He looks to be the class of the field. This one has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #1A WEST STAR (8-1) has experience and gets the benefit of a stablemate to run with here. Prices are common in these maiden claiming races as we head to winter.
• #1 PRACTICALLYMINE (8-1) should improve off the first start and has to be respected going out for the combination of Kantarmaci and Gonzalez.
• #6 NIEUWENDYK (7-2) is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. He shouldn't have trouble with the 7 furlong distance. This one should be part of the early pace in this spot.

Selections: 2 – 1A- 1 – 6

Aqueduct- Race 3

Post: 1:18 PM ET; $43k Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 7

• #4 FUNNY JOKE (5-2) looks best here. He has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #6 COUSIN ANDREW (3-1) should be competitive in this spot. He projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #1 JOEY LOOSE LIPS (7-2) feels like a fringe contender in this spot. He makes sense on speed figures. This one could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #3 IKIGAI (7-2) isn't without hope. He looks to be the class of the field. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.

Selections: 4 – 6 – 1 – 3

Aqueduct- Race 4

Post: 1:46 PM ET; $28k Claiming going 6 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 10

• #3 MONSHUN (5-2) gets the top selection. She has the top overall power rating in the group. This one could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #5 HIGH SCHOOL CRUSH (5-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She goes out for the Barker barn and gets Franco in the irons. This one projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.
• #4 SWEET AS SUGAR (7-2) could be in with a shot in this race. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Englehart and Carmouche.
• #7 TRIPLE P (3-1) makes sense on speed figures. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Atras and Ortiz.

Selections: 3 – 5 – 4 – 7

Aqueduct- Race 5

Post: 2:16 PM ET; $35k Maiden Claiming going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 8

• #2 SENSE A GIANT (7-5) is the top pick. He shouldn't have trouble with the 1 mile distance. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Pletcher and Ortiz.
• #4 GIMMEBACKMYBULLETS (8-5) will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. This one goes out for the Atras barn and gets Carmouche in the irons.
• #3 SALTY HEIR (20-1) is a price horse and is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. He could be a dangerous threat to get loose on the front end.
• #6 MAKART (7-2) makes sense on speed figures. This one projects to sit mid pack and come with one run.

Selections: 2 – 4 – 3 – 6

Aqueduct- Race 6

Post: 2:44 PM ET; $28k Claiming going 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt; Entries: 9

• #7 BIG BEAN CHRISTINE (5-2) looks best here. She has solid early pace figures in a race that looks to lack a ton of front running speed.
• #9 PREDETERMINED (9-2) projects to sit mid pack and come with one run. This one should be involved in a moderate early pace.
• #4 SHEZA RAJUN CAJUN (2-1) goes out for the Noda barn and gets Ortiz in the irons.
• #1 ARABELLAS GIRL (10-1) is a price horse and is probably best to put underneath on most tickets. She has proven to be able to handle these conditions in previous starts.

Selections: 7 – 9 – 4 – 1

Aqueduct- Race 7

Post: 3:14 PM ET; $80k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 9

• #3 CARAGATE (9-2) gets the top selection. She could get the right setup in this race.
• #2 BUSTIN BAY (8-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She has races good enough to beat this group. This one may benefit from a hot pace up front.
• #9 SWEET MYSTERY (3-1) should be competitive in this spot. She has to be respected going out for the combination of Quick and Lezcano. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.
• #8 PRETTY CLEVER (15-1) is a price horse and could be in with a shot in this race. She could get a nice trip. This one seems to fit well enough here.

Selections: 3 – 2 – 9 – 8

Aqueduct- Race 8

Post: 3:43 PM ET; $95k Allowance Optional Claiming going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 6

• #4 MISSY GREER (5-2) is the top pick. She has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #1 HOODOOLAND (4-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She will likely be in the first flight of runners and should be in with a chance late. This one has to be respected going out for the combination of Mcgaughey and Gomez.
• #6 TONED UP (6-1) appears to be a major player in this race. She has races good enough to beat this group. This one seems to fit well enough here.
• #2 COREY (7-2) should be competitive in this spot. She has races that would win at this level. This one has the top overall power rating in the group.

Selections: 4 – 1 – 6 – 2

Aqueduct- Race 9

Post: 4:12 PM ET; $28k Claiming going 1 mile on dirt; Entries: 12

• #10 RUSSIAN TO WIN (7-2) looks best here. He shouldn't have trouble with the 1 mile distance.
• #4 VOLIERO (3-1) appears to be a major player in this race. He makes sense on speed figures. This one has been really solid in recent starts and should be ready to run a big one here.
• #2 WILL E SUTTON (5-1) should be competitive in this spot as he stacks up well enough with this group.
• #2B MR. BRIGGS (5-1) is the other half of the entry and should be competitive in this spot. He has to be respected going out for the combination of Kantarmaci and Gonzalez.

Selections: 10- 4 – 2 – 2B

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