Steve Matthews' Aqueduct selections for Thursday, Dec. 4
Best bet: SMILENSAYCHEESE (8)
Best value: SPRING MAGIC (6)
FIRST: Laylani Lou owns speed and moves to dirt; forward move predicted in weak opener. Formaggio was a clear-cut second in last; dangerous. Relevate tallied swift number in lone main track start; be no surprise.
SECOND: Love'm Or Liam fired half-mile bullet since non-stressful sixth in last; improvement expected. Salvation was a fast-figured second in same race as top pick; dangerous. Time to Win has failed as the favorite in all three starts; your move.
THIRD: Shadow Surge bounced last time after two hard-fought efforts; rebounds. Spirit Dragon was less than two lengths behind top pick when third on Nov. 1; worth long look. Dark Vector owns fast figures on best efforts; don't ignore.
FOURTH: Breslau is fresh and training swiftly. Acoustic Ave fires big efforts with machinelike consistency; very dangerous. Over and Ollie is right in the thick of this on best races; price will be tempting.
FIFTH: Will of a Womanne should pack intensified wallop at 6 furlongs. Forever to Go is speedy but has lost ground in the lane in all eight starts; you've been warned. Patience N Grace could impact if pace meltdown ensues.
SIXTH: Spring Magic projects as the main speed with heads-up handling. Floge drops and could be in the garden spot if top selection hits the wall. Dolce Sera is a juicy-priced inclusion in exotics.
SEVENTH: Wynstock returns to NYRA circuit and gets class relief; big effort on tap. Russian Realm, on the bench for eight weeks, noticeably picked up the tempo in works as race day neared; big-time player. Chief Liam, a wire-to-wire winner in last; could prove tough once again on an unchallenged lead.
EIGHTH: Smilensaycheese tallied fast late-pace figure when winning last; takes another. Elvis Himself is fleet-footed and could prove tough on a soft lead. Two's a Crowd is another that's quick from gate; very interesting. Frizzante was a game second in last; right in the thick of this.
