Steve Matthews' Aqueduct selections for Sunday, Feb. 22
Best bet: CADDIEMASTER (2)
Best value: CRUSHED IT (7)
FIRST: Irish Jackson is training sharply for first start since July; fires big efforts off layoffs. Proud Foot could be the prime beneficiary if top selection fails to deliver best. A Maize Zing Dotie is speedy and could prove tough on soft lead.
SECOND: Caddiemaster should pack intensified wallop with cutback to mile. Carvellian Quest could play as the main speed with aggressive handling; dangerous. Oil Capital, an uncoupled barn mate of top pick, logged clear-cut maiden score the first time he touched Big A loam.
THIRD: Carolina Smokeshow is fleet-footed and starts from the fence; controlling front-runner with hustling tactics. Mezcalifornia owns fast figures on "A" efforts. Current Climate takes suspicious price plunge after faltering in the lane last time; fire sale?
FOURTH: Stewie gets confident price boost in first start since claimed; jockey-trainer combo is 3-for-3 in last 60 days. Timaeus needed last, drops and owns fast back figures; very interesting. Catch the Smoke compiled solid work tab for first start since July; don't ignore.
FIFTH: Lady Meringue will offer the best odds of the two Linda Rice-trained runners; price is everything. Will of a Womanne, the other Rice entrant, owns fast figures but looms a big-time underlay; not how we play the game. Celeslia owns win-early breeding on both sides of pedigree; stay tuned to the tote.
SIXTH: Queen Sally makes first start with maiden-claiming tag and third start of form cycle; breakthrough predicted. Icy Legs exits improved placing in last; very interesting. Imnobodysfool adds blinkers and gets class relief; worth long look.
SEVENTH: Crushed It was a change-of-pace fourth in last; fast back numbers seal the deal. Bourbon Day is fresh and is 3-for-4 on the Big A main track; dangerous. Wynstock was rested after top-figured score on New Year's Day; right in the thick of this.
EIGHTH: Projectability tallied solid late-pace figure when making sustained run for fourth in last; more to come. Good Cop could get the early jump from cozy, outside slot; worth long look. Noguchi, an uncoupled barn mate of second selection, wheels back quickly after clear-cut placing just 10 days ago. Inonit could end in exotics at beefy number if pace meltdown ensues.
