Steve Matthews' Aqueduct selections for Saturday, March 14
Best bet: SHE'S GRAND (8)
Best value: EGYPTIAN (2)
FIRST: Smokin' Hot Kitty, a subpar eighth at Laurel last out, logged four of seven wins at the Big A; forward move predicted. Moonlight Gal should be favorably positioned near the front in compact field. Royal Bobbie should be aided by cutback to mile; don't ignore.
SECOND: Egyptian tallied improved internal numbers in last; class drop seals the deal. Carlin Contention runs late and starts from the fence; very interesting. Magnanimous Max makes first start since claimed by Linda Rice; worth long look.
THIRD: Confabulation is fleet-footed and projects as the speed of the speed with heads-up handling. Texas Red Hot, an uncoupled barn mate of top selection, could be in the garden spot if that one hits the wall. Unbridled Bomber logs competitive numbers on best efforts.
FOURTH: Twenty Four Mamba drilled twice since useful third in last; improvement expected. Treaty Obligation and Big Hat Willie are last-race winners that loom serious players with repeat efforts. Tuskegee Airmen bested top selection by more than a length last time and would benefit from pace meltdown.
FIFTH: Caitlins Threes gets first-time Lasix after compiling tight work tab for first start in more than seven months. Chardonnay Derby also has been sidelined since last summer and done blinkers and gets the meds for return; dangerous. Neeka is from a dam that has thrown five winners from five foals to race; could be the goods.
SIXTH: Yo Banana Boy noticeably picked up the tempo in last work and projects as the swiftest of the swift with aggressive handling. Pair of Socks won last and could be the prime beneficiary if top selection gets dueled into defeat. Vibrant Express owns four wins from five starts; right in the thick of this.
SEVENTH: Blue Forty Two was compromised by soft splits when second in last; call based on price. Igniter bested top selection by more than four lengths when winning on Feb. 11; could easily take another. Easy Decision was an easy winner in well-bet debut; big-time player.
EIGHTH: She's Grand was freshened after front-end score on Jan. 17; picks up where she left off. Malu, also from Linda Rice barn, is speedy and could prove very tough on a soft lead. Lika Rolling Stone could be ideally positioned in the stalker's seat; don't ignore.
NINTH: Pride of the Union needed last and sheds the shades for potent blinkers-off barn; weak field helps, too. Hurricane Kaz is speedy and could play out as the controlling front-runner. B Provocateur was a sharp second in last; dangerous. Love Coin (Miguel Clement) and Irish Goodbye (Brad Cox) are newcomers that must be factored into the mix.
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