Best Horse Racing Bets Today | Aqueduct, November 9

After a profitable weekend at the Breeders’ Cup, it’s time to move on from the world championships and focus on some normal fall racing. This week, I will look to keep the winners coming with a nice afternoon of racing from Aqueduct in New York. Saturday’s 10-race card includes a trio of stakes races and all of them are on the grass. Leading the way is the Grade 2 Red Smith for older turf males. The 11-furlong turf test is headlined by Integration and Master Piece.

The other stakes on Saturday at the Big A include the Grade 3 Hill Prince for 3-year-old males and the $150,000 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship. In the former, Deterministic is the likely favorite for trainer Christophe Clement, while in the latter Senbai should be tough in the 6-furlong affair. Without further ado, let’s get to my top picks and plays for this excellent afternoon of racing from New York.

Race #5 Hill Prince Stakes (Grade 3) $200,000 1 1/8-Miles Turf - 1:40pm EST

In the money in four straight graded stakes since switching to the turf, Deterministic is the one they will all have to beat among seven set to go in Saturday’s Grade 3 Hill Prince Stakes at Aqueduct.

A sophomore son of Liam’s Map, he was a graded stakes winner on the dirt, but appears to be better on grass for top turf trainer Christophe Clement. After knocking on the door in his first two starts on the surface, he broke through with a win in the Grade 3 Virginia Derby in September. Most recently, he was a solid second to Carson’s Run in the Jockey Club Derby at Aqueduct.

A top threat to the morning line favorite is Cugino, who has also run a number of strong performances on the grass as well. The Shug McGaughey-trainee did not fire going longer at Kentucky Downs last time, but before that, he ran nothing but well. Two starts back he was a romping winner of the Audubon Stakes at Churchill Downs at the same 9-furlong distance he will see here. 

All the others in this field deserve respect, including a lightly raced Chad Brown pair, the English-bred Royal Majesty, and the speedy Bartlett. Returning to a preferable distance on Saturday, I like Cugino best of all in here. He should get a good trip under Flavien Prat, and is the top pick.

My Play

• $20 Win & Place - Cugino = $40

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Race #7 Starter Allowance $50,000 7-Furlongs Dirt - 2:40pm EST

In a race for horses who have started for a claiming price of $50,000 or less, it’s easy to see we are no longer at Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup. A field of nine males is entered in this one and Magnificent Mile looks like a legitimate favorite.

Having finished well in this class going 6-furlongs last time, the added furlong on Saturday should be helpful for the Quality Road gelding. A sharp winner of the race before that, he also should have a solid early pace in front of him to set the table for his rally. He is a deserving favorite here and the horse to beat.

Chief among his competition here is the 6-year-old Best Bet. A speedy son of Uncle Mo, he has rolled to victory over the track in two of his last three starts. Most recently, he went gate to wire against $35,000 claimers, but that victory came six months ago. Running fresh, he should be out there on the front early, but will likely have company. 

Another dangerous speed horse in the field is the New York-bred Sorority Prank. He has finished in the top three in 10-of-15 career starts, but only has one win. That came two starts ago at Aqueduct. In his first try against winners, he set a strong pace before fading to third. Because of all the speed in here, it’s advantage Magnificent Mile. He is the top pick.

My Play

• $10 Daily Double Part Wheel - Magnificent Mile with Grooms All Bizness and Senbai = $20

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Race #8 Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship $150,000 6 Furlongs Turf - 3:10pm EST

Coming off an impressive graded stakes victory in his last, Senbai should rule as the favorite in a full field of ten older males set for the Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship on Saturday.

The Candy Ride gelding has won 7-of-17 lifetime and really seems to be hitting his stride on the grass of late. An easy allowance winner over the course three starts back, he was beaten only a head in the Select Stakes at Monmouth Park next out. Continuing his good form for trainer Christophe Clement last time, he powered home late to win the Grade 3 Belmont Turf Sprint at the same 6-furlong distance he will see here.

The second choice on the morning line is Alogon finished evenly to be third behind Senbai last time. Before that, the son of California Chrome was a game winner of the Parx Dash. Top rider Irad Ortiz, will pick up the mount on Saturday.

Grooms All Bizness is another one to give serious consideration to here. A turf sprint specialist, the Fed Biz gelding seldom runs a bad race, and although his rally fell short as the favorite against Alogon last time in the Parx Dash, he has won four of his last six races. I think he can add another stakes win on Saturday. Grooms All Bizness is the top pick.

My Play 

• $10 Exacta Part Wheel - Grooms All Bizness and Senbai with Grooms All Bizness, Senbai, and Alogon = $40

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Race #9 Red Smith Stakes (Grade 2) $300,000 1 3/8-Miles Turf - 3:40pm EST

A romping graded stakes winner in his only previous start at Aqueduct, Integration will look to make his return to New York a winning one when he headlines a competitive field of nine in the Grade 2 Red Smith Stakes on Saturday. 

The son of Quality Road won a pair of graded stakes early in his career for trainer Shug McGaughey, including Aqueduct’s Hill Prince last year, but has only won once in six starts since. Having said that, he continues to run well against top company and is well spotted here. Never having been farther than 1 1/4-miles before, the morning line choice will need to prove himself at the distance in this 11-furlong test.

His top rival here could be hard-hitting veteran Master Piece. Bred in Chile, the 8-year-old has found success on both coasts and comes in off a solid third-place finish in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Cup at Santa Anita. Proven at the distance, he is a two-time stakes winner at Aqueduct in as many tries, including this race last year.

Another to watch out for in the Red Smith is the improving Rebel Red. Trained by Cherie DeVaux, the Frankel colt came over from Europe after a long layoff and has won three times in five tries in America. His last race, in which he rallied from eighth in the stretch to win going away, was very impressive. He looks ready to prove himself in stakes company and is the top pick.

My Play

• $10 Exacta Part Wheel - Rebel Red and Integration with Rebel Red, Integration, Master Piece and Limited Liability = $60

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