Steve Matthews' Aqueduct selections for April 9 through April 12
THURSDAY, APRIL 9
Best bet: JACKIE THE JOKER (7)
Best value: PROVE WORTHY (6)
FIRST: Brightline Bullet compiled tight work tab for first start since last summer. Frostelle owns fast figures and should be aided by slight cutback. Two Ducks owns speed and could prove tough on a soft lead.
SECOND: Maldini was a determined winner in last; pairs up. Gunner Bay is rested, drops and is fleet-footed; dangerous. Quiet Wisdom makes third start of form cycle.
THIRD: Tuthilltown compiled tight work tab for first start since December; first-time Lasix seals the deal. Garden of Grace was a clear-cut second in last; dangerous. Karley B is training swiftly for debut; follow the money.
FOURTH: It's Carol's Way was second by nearly a pole last out; breakthrough predicted. Ubique makes first start since moving to Saffie Joseph barn; big-time player. Pulling Threads should pack enhanced kick with cutback to sprint.
FIFTH: Catch the Smoke gets class relief and should move forward in second start since eight-month absence. Secured Landing is fleet-footed and could prove very tough to catch on a soft lead. Shootersgottashoot owns competitive back numbers; price will be tempting.
SIXTH: Prove Worthy is training with a purpose for first start in more than 10 months; ready to roll. Remi's Moon regressed in last after determined win in prior; rebound potential. Kavanaugh delivers big efforts with machinelike consistency; right in the thick of this.
SEVENTH: Jackie the Joker fired two swift works since front-end score last out; more to come. Best Impression owns stalker's style and could be in the garden spot if top selection hits the wall. Patty Cakes makes first start since claimed by Linda Rice; must be factored into the mix. She's Cool bounced last time after hard-fought win in prior; very interesting.
FRIDAY, APRIL 10
Best bet: SLAY SADIE SLAY (6)
Best value: HEAVENS LEE (7)
FIRST: Kyle's Mom is riding a two-race winning streak; more to come. Vino Frizzante should be aided by cutback to 6 furlongs. Snide is fresh and training with a purpose; must consider.
SECOND: Into Inspiration logged fast internal and final numbers when breaking maiden last time; takes another. Sir Kartrite makes peak start of form cycle and would be aided by pace meltdown; dangerous. Toga d'Oro drops after being eased in last; damaged goods?
THIRD: Principia was dueled into defeat last out; better setup predicted. Elegant also owns speed and could prove tough on a soft lead. Moon Gate should be aided by cutback to sprint.
FOURTH: Gualillo drops and gets favorable turnback to 6 furlongs. Solutions is training with a purpose for first start since last summer; worth long look. Trapping Hands could land in exotics at beefy ticket if pace meltdown ensues.
FIFTH: Winegold exits game placing in last; more to give in second start since three-month layoff. Killybegs Kid was freshened after fast-figured placing on Feb. 21; dangerous. Jamaica Redd fired half-mile bullet since speed and fade in last; very interesting.
SIXTH: Slay Sadie Slay never threatened in last at Laurel but logged lone score on Big A loam; forward move predicted. The Toy Cannon could play out as the speed of the speed with aggressive handling. Tiger Rocket regressed in last after fast-figured win two back; rebound threat.
SEVENTH: Heavens Lee was compromised by soft fractions when a clear-cut second in last; half-mile drill in the interim seals the deal. Scarlett's Dream was second to a repeat winner last time; dangerous. Purpose could impact at fat number if fractions get hot and hectic.
EIGHTH: Fightforallegiance was an improved second in last; outside draw is the clincher. Felonious owns speed and is rested; dangerous. Stream It was less than a length behind top pick when third on March 20; must consider. Bishop Booming debuts for Chad Brown after outworking 140 rivals in half-mile bullet on March 28; could be the goods.
SATURDAY, APRIL 11
Best Bet: ILLMATIC (6)
Best Value: RUBY'S TROUBLE (4)
FIRST: Castle Chaos drops, gets favorable cutback and owns fast numbers on best efforts. Caramel Chip is fresh and training with a purpose. Good Lord logs competitive figures on best efforts.
SECOND: Panagiotis logged crisp half-mile work after sharp third last time; more to come. Enduring Spirit drops after even third in most recent; dangerous. Focusyn owns fast back figures; must be factored into the mix.
THIRD: Magni was claimed by suddenly live barn (Ferraro) last out; forward move predicted. Dat Dares Right is speedy and rested; price will be tempting. Majestic Arc makes third start of form cycle; don't dismiss.
FOURTH: Ruby's Trouble drilled three times since speed and fade in debut; improvement predicted. Crowbar Artist makes quick return after useful fourth on April 3; dangerous. Restless Renegade hails from white-hot Linda Rice barn; be no surprise.
FIFTH: Timaeus, a front-end winner in last, projects as the main speed once again in first start since claimed. Graywing is fleet-footed and could prove very tough on a soft lead. Screaming Uncle needed last and drops; competitive on "A" game.
SIXTH: Illmatic set swift fractions when a wire-to-wire maiden winner last out; takes another. Sculcos Folly is riding a two-race winning streak and owns four scores from six starts; big-time danger. Sunday Boy is training with a purpose for first start since December; must be factored into the mix.
SEVENTH: Hot Currency projects as the speed of the speed with aggressive handling. Greek Goddess bested a next-out winner when a clear-cut victor in debut; very playable. Power of Woman holds razor-sharp current form.
EIGHTH: Itwillbefun is riding a forward line on the numbers and now makes third start of form cycle; breakthrough predicted. Chocolatechocolate drops and gets favorable cutback; big-time player. Take Me to Londyn was a game second in last; very dangerous. Cathedral Aisle exits clear-cut maiden score in last; don't dismiss.
SUNDAY, APRIL 12
Best Bet: TEN CENT TOWN (8)
Best Value: HOUDINI'S BRIDE (5)
FIRST: Copious owns field's fastest late-pace and final figures. Fateful Lightning fired 5-furlong bullet since clear-cut second in last; dangerous. Print has trained with a purpose since game placing in last; must consider.
SECOND: Three Little Birds was a hard-charging winner in last and owns faster back figures; pairs up. Capt Jax Parrow could pack enhanced kick with cutback to 6 furlongs. Fric and Frac owns speed and could prove tough on a soft lead.
THIRD: Natural Hunk tallied sharp late-pace figure when winning last; takes another. Grand Commander compiled tight work tab for first start in seven weeks; dangerous. Thorsness drilled four times since determined maiden score in last; worth long look.
FOURTH: Baseball Lady drops after displaying improved speed in last. Cravings owns two wins and a second from last three starts; dangerous. Purple Divine was a clear-cut second in most recent; must consider.
FIFTH: Houdini's Bride gets confident price boost after tallying improved internal numbers in last; set for breakthrough. Ishkabibble is riding a forward line on the numbers; very interesting. My Devine One gets class relief after regressing in last start; bounce-back threat.
SIXTH: Brzina projects as the speed of the speed with aggressive handling from the rail. Proud Foot, a determined last-race winner, could be in the garden spot if top selection hits the wall. Jackson's Dixie, an uncoupled barn mate of second selection, gets confident price boost in first start since claimed; right in the thick of this.
SEVENTH: Majestic Return gets price hike for new barn after clear-cut, front-end win in last; more to come. City Blocks needed last and packs potent late kick on "A" efforts. Naive Melody hails from Wes Ward barn and owns two wins and a third from three starts; underlay material.
EIGHTH: Ten Cent Town owns speed and could secure clear lead with heads-up handling from the fence. Miles Ahead owns fast figures but has been on the bench since June and take suspicious price plunge; mixed message. Awesome Empire wheels back in a hurry after subpar seventh last week; more than good enough on "A" game. Jackson Heights could land in exotics at beefy number if pace meltdown ensues.
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