aqueduct | Horse Racing Free Tips

Fastnet Filly Flies to ‘TDN Rising Star’-dom

Dispatched at debut odds of 9-1 in Thursday's fourth race from Aqueduct, Lawrence Goichman's Star Devine (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) gave her rivals a bit of a head start after hopping slightly at the break, but she was handled perfectly thereafter by Trevor McCarthy and stormed home down the center of the track to graduate in sharp time to become a new 'TDN Rising Star.'

Spotting the field a couple of lengths after that slow break, Star Devine–a 200,000gns purchase by Mike Ryan out of the 2019 Tattersalls October Sale–Book 1–was allowed to find her feet and settled last but one as the leaders went a good gallop up front. Tracking favored Dovima (Union Rags) through in about the three path on the turn, she was steered out decisively to the grandstand side as they hit the top of the lane and she covered her final two furlongs in a slick :22.53 (per Trakus data) to take it by 1 1/2 lengths.

Star Devine is the second foal for her dam, who was purchased by Mick Flanagan for 350,000gns in foal to Mastercraftsman (Ire) at the 2016 Tattersalls December Mares sale. Stars At Night is a half-sister to 2011 G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas and G1 Darley Yorshire Oaks winner Blue Bunting (Dynaformer) and a full-sister to MGSP Exemplar (Ire). Star Devine has a 2-year-old full-brother named Poker Face (Ire) and a yearling full-sister. Star Devine is bred on the exact same cross responsible for GI Man o' War S. heroine Zhukova (Ire), G1 Investec Oaks winner Qualify (Ire), G1 Moyglare Stud S. victress Intricately (Ire) and Australian Group 1 winners Personal (Aus), Age of Fire (Aus) and Magicool (Aus).

4th-Aqueduct, $80,000, Msw, 4-8, 3yo/up, f/m, 6fT, 1:07.83, fm, 1 1/2 lengths.
STAR DEVINE (IRE), f, 3, by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
1st Dam: Stars At Night (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Miarixa (Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
3rd Dam: Mrs Arkada (Fr), by Akarad (Fr)
Sales history: 200,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $44,000.
O-Lawrence Goichman; B-Rockhart Trading Ltd (IRE); T-Jorge R Abreu. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.

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Cross Country Pick 5 Features Stakes From Aqueduct, Oaklawn, Keeneland

The New York Racing Association, Inc. [NYRA] will host a Cross Country Pick 5 on Saturday, April 10, featuring racing action from Aqueduct Racetrack, Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas and Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky.

Free Equibase past performances for the Cross Country Pick 5 sequence are now available for download at https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/cross-country-wagers.

The Big A will kick off the sequence with a one-mile allowance contest for 3-year-olds and up on the main track in Race 7 at 4:42 p.m. Eastern. An eight-horse field will see the Rudy Rodriguez-trained Yankee Division, who was third in the Alex M. Robb in December at the same track, take on challengers including Arham, a Todd Pletcher trainee making just his third career start after a debut win and a runner-up effort last out.

Keeneland will open the Cross Country Pick 5's stakes action with the $100,000 Giant's Causeway for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up going 5 ½ furlongs on the Haggin turf course in Race 8 at 4:57 p.m. Into Mystic, trained by Brendan Walsh, is the 2-1 morning-line favorite and boasts a record of 17-5-4-3 with purse earnings of $340,273.

Aqueduct will feature the first turf stakes of the year on the NYRA circuit when three-time graded stakes-winner Decorated Invader will take aim of the $100,000 Danger's Hour for 4-year-olds and up going one mile in Race 8 at 5:19 p.m. Decorated Invader, trained by Christophe Clement, enters his 4-year-old year after posting three victories in six starts as a sophomore, including back-to-back Grade 2 scores in the one-mile Pennine Ridge by 4 3/4 lengths in June at Belmont Park and following with a 1 1/4-length victory in the Hall of Fame in July at Saratoga Race Course.

Trainer Chad Brown will send out two in the Danger's Hour with Analyze It and the British-bred Delaware. Analyze It is also a three-time graded stakes-winner, including the Grade 3 Red Bank going one mile in September at Monmouth Park.

Action shifts back to Keeneland for the Grade 3, $200,000 Lexington for 3-year-olds competing at 1 1/16 miles in a qualifier for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby with 20-8-4-2 points on the line to the top-four finishers. The Lexington, slated for Race 9 at 5:30 p.m., will see Proxy look to add to the 34 Derby points he has already accumulated after runner-up finishes in the Grade 3 Lecomte and the Grade 2 Risen Star before running fourth in last month's Grade 2 Louisiana Derby. Hall of Famer John Velazquez has the mount and will break from post position seven aboard the Michael Stidham trainee. Bezos, a maiden winner last out on March 26 at Santa Anita, will make his first stakes appearance for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

Oaklawn will get in on the stakes action with an exciting conclusion, hosting the $400,000 Oaklawn Mile for 4-year-olds and up in Race 9 at 5:49 p.m. By My Standards, who earned more than $1 million as a 4-year-old in 2020, will make his first start as a 5-year-old when trainer Bret Calhoun sends the multiple Grade 2-winner out to face an accomplished field that includes fellow Grade 2-winner Rushie, who is also Grade 1-placed. Wells Bayou, who won the 2020 Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, will also be in the mix for reigning Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on ADW platforms and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool. The Cross Country Pick 5 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit www.NYRABets.com.

Cross Country Pick 5 – Saturday, April 10:
Leg A: Aqueduct– Race 7 (4:42 p.m.)
Leg B: Keeneland – Race 8 Giant's Causeway (4:57 p.m.)
Leg C: Aqueduct – Race 8 Danger's Hour (5:19 p.m.)
Leg D: Keeneland – Race 9 G3 Lexington (5:30 p.m.)
Leg E: Oaklawn – Race 9 Oaklawn Mile (5:49 p.m.)

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America’s Day At The Races Telecast To Feature Stakes Action From Aqueduct, Oaklawn

America's Day at the Races, the acclaimed national telecast produced by the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) in partnership with FOX Sports, will air 23.5 hours of coverage Thursday through Sunday, with stakes action at Aqueduct Racetrack and Oaklawn Park.

Presented by America's Best Racing and Claiborne Farm, America's Day at the Races will broadcast live racing action this week highlighted by a lucrative Arkansas Derby Day card on Saturday from Oaklawn Park as well as a trio of stakes events from the Big A.

Broadcast schedule for America's Day at the Races (all times Eastern):

Thursday, April 8
FS2: 1 – 6:30 p.m.

Friday, April 9
FS2: 1 – 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 10
FS1: 1 – 3:00 p.m.
FS2: 3 – 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 11
FS2: 1 – 4:00 p.m.
FS1: 4 – 6:30 p.m.

The 85th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby [Race 12, 7:41 p.m.] will air on NBSCN as part of a live national broadcast from 7 – 8:00 p.m. The nine-furlong test, offering 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers, is led by Gary and Mary West's undefeated Grade 2 Rebel-winner Concert Tour for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. One race prior, Oaklawn offers the Grade 3, $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap in Race 11 [7:05 p.m.], a six-furlong event for 3-year-olds and up topped by reigning champion sprinter Whitmore, who seeks his fourth Count Fleet win in his fifth consecutive appearance when taking on familiar foe C Z Rocket.

Prior to the NBCSN broadcast, national television coverage of the Arkansas Derby Day card on FS2 will showcase exciting stakes action from the Hot Springs, Arkansas oval, including the $250,000 Carousel, a six-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares in Race 6 [3:55 p.m.] headlined by multiple graded stakes winner Frank's Rockette; and the $400,000 Oaklawn Mile for older horses in Race 9 [5:49 p.m.] featuring $1.8 million earning multiple graded stakes winner By My Standards taking on division stalwarts Long Range Toddy and Wells Bayou.

Live racing from Aqueduct is highlighted by a pair of stakes on Saturday, including the $100,000 Top Flight Invitational Handicap, a nine-furlong dirt route for older fillies and mares; and the $100,000 Danger's Hour, a one-mile turf test for older horses.

Sunday's Big A stakes action offers the $100,000 Plenty of Grace at one-mile for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up.

America's Day at the Races is also broadcast on NYRA's YouTube channel which boasts more than 65,000 subscribers. Fans can subscribe to NYRA's channel and set a reminder to watch the show on YouTube Live. NYRA's YouTube channel also hosts a plethora of race replays, special features, America's Day at the Races replays and more.

Free Equibase-provided past performances are available for races that are part of the America's Day at the Races broadcast and can be accessed at https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the winter meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Pletcher Barn Suddenly Flooded With Quartet Of Kentucky Derby Prospects

Calumet Farm homebred Bourbonic, trained by Todd Pletcher and piloted by Kendrick Carmouche, garnered an 89 Beyer Speed Figure and 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for his dramatic head score over stablemate Dynamic One in Saturday's Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino at Aqueduct racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.

The victory capped a sensational day for the Pletcher barn, which successfully debuted promising New York-bred maiden Great Workout on the Wood Memorial undercard and also included a closing second from Haikal in the Grade 3 Excelsior.

Bourbonic, a dark bay Bernardini colt, was sent to post as the longest shot on the board at 72-1 and topped an unlikely exacta over 15-1 stablemate Dynamic One that returned $453 for a $1 wager.

Patiently handled by Carmouche, Bourbonic closed from last of nine runners to edge Dynamic One, who had made the lead at top of the lane after tracking the early foot of the prominent Grade 3 Gotham-winner Weyburn.

“It was a very patient ride,” said Byron Hughes, the New York-based assistant for Pletcher. “That track often plays to frontrunners or horses closer to the pace. Yesterday, it was playing fair and there were some closers. He waited as long as he could and made one run and it paid off.”

A late bloomer, Bourbonic graduated at third asking in a $50,000 maiden claiming mile in December at the Big A and followed with a score against winners in January traveling a one-turn mile at Aqueduct. He entered the Wood Memorial from a runner-up effort in a mile and 70 yards optional-claiming tilt at Parx in February.

While many of the Pletcher-trained Kentucky Derby hopefuls wintered at Palm Beach Downs in Florida, Bourbonic remained with Hughes in New York. He said the added distance was beneficial for the improving dark bay.

“We always thought he wanted more distance and two turns is something he needed,” said Hughes. “It was a good day for the team. He's been a forward training horse here. He loves to train and it's been great to have him up here this winter.”

Repole Stable, Phipps Stable, and St. Elias Stable's Dynamic One earned 40 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for his runner-up effort under Jose Ortiz. The Union Rags chestnut was piloted to a nine-furlong maiden victory in March by Carmouche at Aqueduct.

“He ran a game race,” said Hughes. “I was looking at the Trakus this morning and he actually ran 43 feet more than Bourbonic did. It was a game race and we were happy with his effort.”

Hughes said he was pleased with how both horses came out of the race.

“They both look good. They both ate up last night and are walking around here this morning with a purpose,” said Hughes.

Pletcher also enjoyed a successful Saturday at Keeneland with Kentucky Oaks hopeful Malathaat remaining undefeated after taking the Grade 1 Ashland. Also victorious at the Lexington oval were 3-year-old turf filly Jouster in the Grade 2 Appalachian and well-regarded sophomore colt Ghazaaly, who graduated in the day's opening race.

“It was a big day for us at Keeneland, too. Malathaat is undefeated and looked great doing it,” said Hughes.

Hughes said the barn is excited at their prospects for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby slated for May 1 at Churchill Downs. They currently have four contenders on the leaderboard, including Florida Derby-winner Known Agenda [102 points], Bourbonic [100], Dynamic One [40] and Sainthood [40].

“It's exciting. We went from not having any to having four in two weekends,” said Hughes. “These last shots paid off and the barn is excited for the Derby. All the hard work getting here at 4:30 in the morning, it pays off for everybody.”

Kentucky Derby Leaderboard

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