It’s a Belmont Stakes preview day of sorts Saturday at Aqueduct, four weeks out from the big card at Saratoga. The 1/ST BET and Xpressbet Late Pick 5 Hit & Split promotion includes 3 stakes races as horseplayers on those platforms will be playing for an additional 1 million 1/ST Rewards Points.

Race 7: Grade 2 Ruffian Stakes

#3 Eunomia ran a sharp race at Keeneland in the Doubledogdare, winning the pace battle but losing the war late to a rail-skimming Brad Cox trainee when that barn was rolling. Should love this 1-turn trip and continue her ascent since arriving in Saffie Joseph Jr.’s barn. Expect her to be forward throughout vs. Parx sprinter Irish Maxima. Class test for #5 Inefficiency after 2 easy wins vs. lesser at this trip. Can’t dismiss Prat-Brown charge.

Race 8: Take the A Train Stakes

The “LTB” handicapping angle has long been part of my process, particularly in turf sprints. That’s a horse exiting a Layoff, Turning back in distance while working Bullets in the morning. Those types tend to fire fresh and fitness isn’t at a premium given the shorter trips. #7 Just Philtored fits that bill for one of the best turf-sprint trainers in the country, Mike Trombetta. Plus, this filly is 2-for-2 in races that she’s entered coming in off just workouts (debut, layoff). #6 Cadenza has been smashed in the betting each time, winning her only turf start and has a fantastic pedigree to be a turf sprinter. Back to what she likely does best for Brad Cox. I’m not willing to increase the ticket cost by one-third to include #2 Pillar of Beauty but would consider in the event of a scratch. (If moved to dirt, #7 & #3 the plays.)


Race 9: Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes

The promising #3 Growth Equity has to answer the 2-turn question in this traditional Belmont Stakes prep, improving in each start as the distances have increased around 1 turn. The Chad Brown trainee is by Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, obviously good for distance, but the damside of the pedigree is purely sprint. His BRIS late pace figures match up similar to the best in this race, but there’s no guarantee they translate the same around 2 bends. #5 Talk to Me Jimmy won the Withers over this trip in a “where’d that come from?” performance in February (pictured). He’s another with a sprint damside that makes you question him at this kind of distance – and if the Withers score was a random result. #1 Trendsetter sprinted 6 times before being given a route bid and has spent only half his career on dirt. But it seems his 3-for-4 dirt mark would indicate he’s finally doing what he should be after a 32-1 upset in Keeneland’s Lexington.

Race 10: allowance

Trainer Chad Brown should have this first-level turf allowance circled with #3 Arkhipov and #1 Right to Vote. The former showed promise in New York last summer when second behind the barn’s highly regarded, eventual Grade 2 winner Asbury Park. He disappointed at Keeneland last out, but the Brown brigade all underperformed during that meet. Expect a wakeup back in New York. Right to Vote hasn’t started since November 2024, but broke his maiden off a 10-month break and has shown an ability to ramp up off workouts alone. There appears to be enough dirt speed in here to set the table for the finishers, so I’ll keep next-best #7 Golden Channel off my ticket but could be considered if some of that speed were to withdraw from the race. (If moved to dirt #9 becomes a single.)

Race 11: maiden

#8 Ice House goes for a good turf sprint barn in George Weaver and may be fastest early if he takes to turf. Like More Than Ready on the damside of the pedigree as a grass influence. #1 High Leverage must show speed from the rail while trimming distance, but knocked on the door vs. similar in his state-bred unveiling April 18. Bids in open company at Gulfstream weren’t off-putting to his overall ledger vs. this bunch. Very little obvious turf sprint early speed in the lineup. #2 Muisc in Motion looks like turf sprints are what he’ll do best and the Linda Rice-Flavien Prat combo wins 35% together while this layoff returnee adds Lasix. Something went obviously wrong with #5 Super Dave in his Saratoga debut last summer; treat this Wesley Ward trainee like a first-time starter. (Will include same horses if race moves to dirt.)

The Ticket

3,5 with 7,6 with 3,5,1 with 3,1 with 8,1,2,5 = $48 for 50 cents

Singling any of the 2-deep legs reduces ticket cost to $24 (preference to Race 7 in that regard).