Derby Trail Forums - 12/31: Aqueduct ($21k Must Pay C/O)

Will be a challenge to duplicate the walk-off home run of 12/31/13, but the circumstances are eerily similar as we come to the year end. After a largely middling season of play in 2013, the $12k+ P6/P4 scores tipped the balance sheet in a positive direction and I could use the same heroics today to finish the year even or better. Today's sequence feels more difficult than the one on New Year's Eve last, but 'must pay' means 'must play'!

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season and had a good year playing the horses. It was a pretty dramatic season overall that saw positive momentum steadily build and the pieces appear in place for 2015 to be another excellent year for the game despite what naysayers and brickbatters try to tell you. Warm wishes to Derby Trailers, ATR listeners, Dee Tee partners and industry stakeholders and their families for a bountiful New Year filled with health and contentment..

AQUEDUCT

POST-SCRATCHES

4th: CLM/N2L, 3+, 1m-70y (P6, P3, DD)

Best Value: #2 Inca Saint 6-1 4th
Next Best: #4 Empower 4-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #5 Speeding Comet 3-1 WON ($7.40)
Super Add: #8 My Name Is Michael 6-1 5th

5th: Bay Ridge-NY, F&M-3+, 8.5f (G/S, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #1a (POE) Carameaway 3-1 8th
Next Best: #8 Miss Da Point 5-1 2nd
Best Value: #10 Storied Lady 8-1 WON ($14.60)
Exotics Use: #5 Flipcup 7-2 9th

6th: CLM/N2L, F&M-3+, 6f (P4, P3, DD)

Have had a bit of a trying year as a Stable in 2014 with a 20/1-2-3 mark going into the start by William'sluckygray here. The on track performance was highlighted by the terrific outcome involved in the claim of and win by Pretension, but was muted by limited, injury-marred campaigns from One Revolution, Corybant and My Pal of Pals. The lowest point came mid-year with the unfair death of the beautiful Disco Rico colt produced by My Nina Rose. 2015 hopefully dawns well however with our Dunkirk filly running today, My Beholder back training in Florida, Ausable Chasm's lovely Macho Uno yearling filly, a beautiful Artie Schiller 2yo filly and more. Thanks to all the partners and casual Stable fans for their support as Dee Tee continues to try and help introduce people to the game. And of course another note of gratitude to Gary Sciacca, Chuck Simon and Mike Lecesse and their teams who make any success possible..

Most Likely: #9 Kleptocrat 6-1 7th
Best Value: #5 Marriedtomichael 12-1 5th
Next Best: #2 Jubilant Vision 2-1 2nd
Exotics UseL: #10 William'sluckygray 20-1 8th

7th: NY-ALW/N1X, F&M-3+, 1m-70y (P3, DD)

Sheriffa obviously horse to beat but giving Graceful Gal another chance on main track..

Most Likely: #1 Sheriffa 2-1 WON ($4.00)
Best Value: #6 Graceful Gal 8-1 3rd
Next Best: #2 Kate Is a Ten 4-1 4th
Exotics Use: #4 Swift Taylor 12-1 7th

8th: Alex M. Robb-NY, 3+, 8.5f (DD)

Outstanding season-ending stake with highly accomplished state bred males looking to close out '14 with a bang..

Most Likely: #3 Effinex 7-2: J. Jerkens' Mineshaft colt looks to end great year for barn.. 4th
Best Value: #4 Readbytheline 9-2: Can wire this but hasn't been past 1m in 13 months.. 7th
Next Best: #1 Big Business 5-2: Tremendous campaign but placing more than winning.. WON ($7.10)
Exotics Use: #2 Awesome Vision 4-1: Loves the strip; Couldn't have been better in prep.. 6th

9th: NY-MCLM-$25k, 2yo, 1m

Oooph.. Tough way to end sequence and annum with a murky group of about-to-be 3yo's. Stretchouts, Lasix, blinkers, Rudy Rod firster. Likely need to use as many as you can afford..

Most Likely: #2 Black Friday Rush 3-1 3rd
Next Best: #8 Rockjaz 4-1 4th
Best Value: #7 Shamaley Late SCR
Exotics Use: #1 Meetinghouse Road 8-1 5th

$152 P6 Grid:

4: 2 (A), 4-5-8 (B), 3 (C)
5: 1 (A), 8-10 (B), 4-5 (C)
6: 9 (A), 2-5 (B), 1-4-7-8-10 (C)
7: 1 (A), 6 (B), 2-4 (C)
8: 3 (A), 4 (B), 1-2 (C)
9: 2 (A), 7/SCR-8 (B) 1-5-6 (C)

Full (A/B/C): $152

<$75 P4 Grid:

6: 5-9 (A), 2 (B), 1-4-7-8-10 (C)
7: 1 (A), 6 (B), 2-4 (C)
8: 3-4 (A), 1-2 (B), 5-8 (C)
9: 2-8 (A), 1-7/SCR (B), 5-6 (C)

Full (A/B/C): $68.00 (All A's for $1)
Simple (A+B): 3x2x4x4 = 96 x .50 = $48

Good luck!
Steve