Aqueduct Picks: Plenty of Grace Stakes offers tough 'capping challenge on April 16

Fast fact ... NYRA spends more time at Aqueduct Racetrack than any other venue ... Its Spring Meet is in high gear! The turf blankets are off, and although the weather does not always cooperate, wagering opportunities are aplenty. Cruising into another Saturday, we have 10 races scheduled, so enjoy! With Belmont around the corner ... it will not be long now ...

At Horseracing.net/us we have you covered, including all of the action! It is a good time for some of the best that North American racing has to offer. Stay tuned! If you're looking for picks elsewhere around the country this Saturday be sure to check out our free Horse Racing Picks via the gold button below. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter ... Horseracing_USA !!!

Most Likely Winner: (Race 6: High Opinion #5, 2/1):

We know that Tony Dutrow has experience on his side … He might not have an expansive stable, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a strong conditioning program. Here is a mare by Lemon Drop Kid that had a strong ’21 campaign. She started her year at Belmont, before competing at Saratoga in the Ballston Spa (G2). She just missed winning that race by a nose against Viadera (GB), a Brown turfer … Ending her season on a high, she was 2nd in the Nobel Damsel (G3) @Bel in late October. If Dutrow has her ready to fire off=the-bench, then she could be a solid selection with Eric Cancel in the irons.

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Win, #5

Off-the-Pace Play of the Day: (Race 9: Thegoddessofsnakes #12, 10/1):

With the turf at Aqueduct only available for a few weeks, it is tough to get a gauge on how different types of runners will fare when they draw-in. Do you go with a dirt horse that is in-form? Or take a lay-off runner that ran-on nicely last year on the turf? Dealing with such a quandary, I am going to pursue the former because I like the look of Chad Summers’ Street Boss filly. She fits in with these Starter-types, and maybe a return to the turf will be a successful venture. Jockey Trevor McCarthy could use a boost in the standings … and an improvement when it comes to riding on this surface.

Wagering Recommendation: $100 Bankroll, Graduated Wager WPS #12 ($10-W, $15-P, $75-S)

Spotlight Race of the Day: (Race 4: Turf, 1 Mile, Plenty of Grace S., $100k, F&M 4+):

The “feature” on this Saturday continues the “grass theme” … green grass equals green money … with this 2-turn, 1-mile affair. Even though it is not a huge field, there is some major quality that has assembled here. If you haven’t heard of Christophe Clement’s Plum Ali #3, then you have probably been living under a rock. The filly has already built a strong dossier over the course of the past year, and she capped her ’21 with a nice front-running score in the Winter Memories $150k with Manny Franco aboard. He returns, but it will not be easy going up against Shug McGaughey’s Flower Point #5 and Chad Brown’s Technical Analysis #6. The former was a NYRA turf warrior after coming east from John Sadler’s outfit. A Steve Feiger homebred, she was victorious in the Forever Together $150k (vs. Giacosa #2), when we last saw her in late November. Regular rider, Jose Lezcano gets the call once again … As for Brown’s Klaravich filly, the red-lettered “KS” is the classiest off-the-shelf, after a year that saw her score “Graded” wins in the Lake George (G3) and the Lake Placid (G2). AQU’s best … Dylan Davis spells Jose Ortiz, and he has the ability to take over this race. Brown gets them ready, and this daughter of Kingman (GB) will be formidable. My antidote to each of these vacationers is back a runner that ships from Gulfstream Park. Mike Stidham’s Godolphin homebred, Alms #1, will not need to beg for a spot on the podium because the seasoned mare by City Zip competed against some tough company in several stakes. Running against the likes of Sweet Melania and Regal Glory only makes you better. I like the choice of Javier Castellano, even if his turf numbers are not what they once were. He still has experience by his side. This is the right spot for this one … Here is the bet …

Wagering Recommendation: $2 Trifecta Wheel, 1 w 3/5/6 w 3/5/6

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Enjoy some racing from the “Big A!” Best of luck on another run at Aqueduct! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter … Horseracing_USA !!!