Steve Matthews' Aqueduct selections for Saturday, Feb. 14
Best bet: BLUE NOTE (2)
Best value: WAITLIST (8)
FIRST: Pens Street gets confident price boost by Linda Rice in first start since 48-day freshener; ready. I'm Buzzy fires big efforts with machinelike consistency; dangerous. Sassy Princess is a last-race winner that owns faster back numbers; worth long look.
SECOND: Blue Note made sustained rally to win debut; amplified kick with cutback to 7 furlongs. Galinda tallied front-end score in first start; big-time player. Pinky Brier owns speed and fast figures; right in the thick of this.
THIRD: Good Lord should pack intensified wallop with turnback to sprint. Middle Market was an improved third in last; price will be tempting. Seeker's Hope was a determined maiden winner in last; nice fit with these.
FOURTH: Combat Mission logged three works since clear-cut maiden score in last; more to come. Time to Roll is another last-race maiden winner that's trained sharply in the interim; worth long look. Arctic Beast owns three wins and a second from four starts; likely underlay.
FIFTH: Signifying Nothing makes first start with claiming tag; weak field helps, too. La Gran Artesana is speedy and should be aided by cutback to 6 furlongs. Mo Attitude was an even third in first start since two-month absence; must consider.
SIXTH: Lost in Rome drops after tough-trip fifth in last; crisp half-mile work last week seals the deal. Leading Role owns speed and could prove tough on a soft lead. Divine Leader fired 3-furlong bullet since last start; don't ignore.
SEVENTH: Baron of Sealand, a game second in last, should pack amplified wallop with cutback to mile. Morlock could play out as the main speed in first start since claimed by Linda Rice. Confabulation also is fleet-footed and figures to be right in the thick of this if able to clear Morlock.
EIGHTH: Waitlist was done in by wide trip in last; takes forward step today. Shadow Banking exits fast-figured maiden win in last; dangerous. Bold Strength, another last-race maiden winner, has trained swiftly in the interim.
NINTH: National Identity is riding a three-race winning streak; more to come. The Wine Steward is rested and logs fast figures on "A" efforts. Quick to Accuse is a five-time winner on Aqueduct loam; must consider.
10TH: Mach Seven drops into NY-bred ranks after being dueled into defeat in debut at Gulfstream; improvement predicted. Hurricane Kaz exits front-end second in last; dangerous. Classic Commander is rested and gets blinkers and Lasix; very interesting. Dinghy Bar also gets the meds and is training swiftly; don't dismiss.
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