Thoroughbreds: A pair of late-race picks from McMudder at Aqueduct and Laurel Park

(An email problem made McMudder’s first two race picks obsolete by the time we were able to post this, so we deleted them. It’s a shame because he won the first at Aqueduct, then placed in the 2nd at Laurel but won the exacta and trifecta with his boxed picks.)

Turf, turf, turf. Mick could go on all day about turf. It’s pretty and green and brings out full fields. In addition, it completely changes handicapping. Turf races are often paced for the first 90% and then a cavalry charge to the line. Ben’s Cat was an expert at getting the nose to the line first in these kinds of races after trailing for the entire race, often behind a wall of horses. Two turn races often help spread the field but not always. Saratoga even had a 6 way photo finish on their turf course in 2009. Ultimately, bigger fields should lead to bigger prices and that goes for the punter and house both. So today’s eye is out for the fast closers on the turf.

Picks for April 5, 2019:

Assuming the rains hold off, it should be fast and FIRM…that’s right….it’s TURF Season.

Aqueduct Race 9
NY bred maiden fillies and mares at 8f ON THE TURF. Ring the bell…it’s turf season. Time to relearn all of those NY bred young sires. Will they get turf? We will all find out together. A sneaky good turf sire with a real outsider here is 11-Violetas Visions. At 50/1 on the M/L and a 0% trainer, why not? The pedigree is solid for turf, there is a sib that won on the turf and maiden races on the turf bring box cars more often than most races. Not up for the bomb? 6-Star of the East and 7-Lough Na Mona both benefit from both pedigree and connections. Try them all around.
$10 W/P/S 11-Violetas Visions
$2 Exacta Box 6,7,11
$0.50 Trifecta Box 6,7,11

Laurel Race 8
Optional $25K boys at 8 f. Make this one very easy . . .2-Shortlist is the class and gets a class break off the layoff. If ready, he’s your winner.
$20 W/P/S 2-Shortlist