Terry "Hollywood" Hays' Handicapping
Aqueduct Race 8 - $150,000 EXCELSIOR STAKE – GRADE III
#5 - Modernist is trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott. He
registered a career-high 106 Speed Figure in a second-place finish in $100,000
Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay.
#7 - Mr. Buffis has finished in the money 65% of the time
winning 38% of those starts during his career and has accumulated over $1.3
million in earnings.
#2 - Grumps Little Tots has finished in the money 80% of the
time winning 25% of those starts during his career. He likes the distance and
track.
Aqueduct Race 9 - $250,000 GAZELLE STAKES – GRADE III
#8 - Search Results is trained by Chad Brown and ridden by
Irad Ortiz a formable combination. She has been perfect since her debut winning
both starts accumulating over $161,000.00.
#5 - The Grass Is Blue is the second starter trained by Chad
Brown. She captured the mile and an eight Busanda in late January but was a
non-threatening third to Search Results in the Busher.
#2 - Maracuja has finished in the money in all three of her
starts, improving each race. She has Jockey Kendrick Carmouche and will be
closing from far back.
Aqueduct Race 10: $750,000 WOOD MEMORIAL STAKES – GRADE
II
#1 Brooklyn Strong won the Remsen (G2) on Dec. 5 at Aqueduct
and has won three out of four of his career starts. He has been working well
since his last start for his return.
#4 Risk Taking is going for a hat trick after winning his
last two races. He likes the distance and track. He is trained by Chad Brown
and is ridden by Irad Ortiz.
#2 Crowded Trade got to the lead after a poor start in the
Gotham (G3), where he battled down the stretch to finish second by a nose
behind Weyburn.
$.50 Pick 4-$81.00
·
#8 –
2-5-7
·
#9 –
2-5-8
·
#10 – 1-2-4
·
#12 – 1-2-7-8-9-10
Race 8-$6.00 Win #5
Race 9-$6.00 Win #8
Race 10-$6.00 Win #1
Swiss Army Shawn's Selections
Aqueduct Race 8 - $150,000 EXCELSIOR STAKE – GRADE III
#7 Mr.Buff- Will go straight to the lead from the outside
post and not look back. Is the class of the field. He has won 17 of 44
lifetime, 10 of 20 at Aqueduct, and 11 of 17 at this distance. He is looking
for his 3rd straight win.
# 4 Limonite- Just came up a half-length short to #7 Mr.Buff
last race. I think it will be pretty much the same here besides I think with
the pace advantage #7 Mr.Buff wins by more here.
#5 Modernist – I could see him closing and getting a share
here. Has only run in 8 career races but has run against some top competition
including in last year's Belmont Stakes.
Plays : $2 Tri 7/4/all $10 exacta 7/4,5
Aqueduct Race 9 - $250,000 GAZELLE STAKES – GRADE III
#4 Army Wife- Has loved the dirt the last 3 races after
starting his career on turf and not doing so well. Has Won 2 out of 3 on dirt
with a 2nd. Jockey Trevor McCarthy has been on a tear of late.
#8 Search Results – 2 for 2 to open his career. I'm
projecting as the early leader in this race. I don't expect a fast tempo or
much pressure so he should get a nice trip. Gets Irad Ortiz Jr. for the second
time in his career. Beat #5 The Grass Is Blue last time out by 6 ¼ lengths.
#1 Hybrid Eclipse – I expect him to be close to the pace and
get a nice trip. Has won two races in a row nicely.
Plays: $20 win #4 $1 exbox 1,4,8
Aqueduct Race 10: $750,000 WOOD MEMORIAL STAKES – GRADE
II
#6 Prevalence – Has been really impressive in both of his
starts and wins. Will be going another 1/8 of the mile longer but it doesn't
look like that will be a problem. He has been stretching his lead even further
at the finish line. After this race he
will really start getting people's attention to be on the lookout for him come
Kentucky Derby day.
#1 Brooklyn Strong-
Has won 3 of 4 career starts and won the one race he had at this distance. The
pace I'm projecting with a few horses going for the lead could really help this
horse. Has been off for 4 months but workouts have been good, and the trainer
Daniel Velazquez does well with that kind of layoff. This will be his 5th
different jockeys in as many races.
#4 Risk Taking- Another horse the potential hot pace could
really help. Has won 2 in a row and both were at Aqueduct and this distance. He
gets Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard.
Plays: $2 Ex box 1,4,6 $1 Tri 1,4,6 $26 win #6
20 to 1 Tom's Tips and International Thoughts
Aqueduct Race 8 - $150,000 EXCELSIOR STAKE – GRADE III
#1 Haikai. This horse must not like the Florida weather or
something else because 3 really awful races. Back to Aqueduct with a record of
6 starts 3 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third. There is enough speed up front for
Haikai to have something to run at and the jockey change is a very positive one
to Irad Ortiz, Jr.
#4 – Limonite – very good pace/speed numbers last 2 races vs
some of these horses. He has not been out of the money in 2021.
#5 – Modernist – after a layoff, he ran second at Tampa in a
grade 3 event. Nice tune up for this race.
Aqueduct Race 9 - $250,000 GAZELLE STAKES – GRADE III
#4 Army Wife – since taking her off the turf (3 races and ok
results but no wins) and run on the dirt, she's a different horse. She had a
very gutsy run last out and won by a head bobble. The 2 races before, she had
to overcome problems in the running of the races to win her maiden race and
finish second in the next race. The breeding says 2 turns, no problem. And I
like the way she has finished races.
#8 – Search Results has run 2 races and won both, now it's
the 2-turn test and she should be able to handle that, my question is where
Irad will place her in the race? The one to beat.
#5 – The Grass is Blue I think her last race was too short
of a distance for her. She has 2 very good efforts around 2 turns with 1 win.
Aqueduct Race 10: $750,000 WOOD MEMORIAL STAKES – GRADE
II
When was the last time a Wood Memorial winner won the
Kentucky Derby? Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000. We have a some very good horse run in
the Wood, an example is Tapit won the Wood and finished nineth in the Kentucky
Derby. So, out of this group, do we have a Kentucky Derby winner? The answer is
most likely no.
#1 Brooklyn Strong he's run some nice races; he beat Known
Agenda. His last race was a very game effort in the grade 3. He will sit off
the pace with cover and the one post position doesn't bother me at all. I like
his last 2 works coming into the race and the trainer Daniel Velazquez is very
high on this horses' chances. Me too.
#4 – Risk Taking with adding blinkers, the horse hasn't lost
a race yet. 2 turns have not been an issue. Should be running strong at the
end.
#6 – Prevalence is the now horse and I think the one to beat
in this race. Like other horses, 2 turns with his breeding isn't an issue. He's
gotten 2 very good and I think easy trips in his races now let's see what
happens this time around.
Blue Grass
Essential Quality is the best 3 year in training right now
and the one to beat.
Santa Anita Derby
Parnelli
Lingfield Park Selection
Palavecino in the 4:15 (at 10:15A Central Time) Friday,
April 2 at Lingfield Park
Lingfield is an all-weather track located south of England.
Palavecino is a five-time winner and performs well fresh. He should be on the
lead. His trainer bypassed a race last week to run here. I wouldn't take less
than 15-1 on this horse.
Rich B's Picks
Aqueduct Race 8 - $150,000 EXCELSIOR STAKE – GRADE III
#7 MR. BUFF is speed, loves Aqueduct with 10 wins in 17
races and the distance with 11 wins in 17 efforts.
#1 HAIKAL rides the high win percentage rail (23%) and never
missed the board at AQ with three wins, two seconds and a third in a half-dozen
starts.
#4 LIMONITE just missed versus MR. BUFF in his last effort,
getting off to a slow start and racing wide in the slop.
#5 MODERNIST is all or nothing at the distance with two wins
in four tries, and the only two wins in his eight career starts.
Aqueduct Race 9 - $250,000 GAZELLE STAKES – GRADE III
#8 SEARCH RESULTS looks the best, only needs to answer two
turns question.
#2 MARACUJA's trainer Rob Atras is sneaky good on the main
track, 23% winners and nearly 63% in the money.
#5 THE GRASS IS BLUE has three wins and two thirds in six
races.
#1 HYBRID ECLIPSE won two in a row including at Aqueduct on
the 23% winning rail.
Aqueduct Race 10: $750,000 WOOD MEMORIAL STAKES – GRADE
II
#4 RISK TAKING has answered all the questions, he can handle
two turns and trainer Chad Brown hits the board at more than 70% on the main
track.
#1 BROOKLYN STRONG might not be the second-best horse, but
he has the best position with the 3% winning rail.
#6 PREVALENCE and #2 CROWDED TRADE will me running in their
first two-turn routes. PREVALANCE has the better route pedigree.