Sunday’s 8th race from Aqueduct is the $100,000 Rego Park Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds dashing six and one-half furlongs on the main track (Post Time 3:35 p.m. ET).
I selected #3 UNO (2-1) on top as my best bet in the New York Stallion Series Stakes Great White Way Division Dec. 6, but he scratched that day. Todd Pletcher’s $255k purchase stalked from the outside post and pulled well clear in his local six furlong dash in the mud Nov. 12. The promising son of Laoban figures to sit a decent inner tactical trip under his new rider Jose Lezcano, and Pletcher has strong stats with recent graduates trying winners for the first time. His stablemate #8 Perfect Munnings (4-1) stalked and scored in his turf sprint bow Nov. 29, and clear runner-up Dancing Buck easily graduated second time out in a local dirt sprint Dec. 31. An outside stalking trip is expected.
#4 Blue Gator (5-2) fired exacta shots in all three starts at six furlongs. I like his tactical speed and he should be forwardly placed, but the expected contested pace and added ground might be his undoing.
Wagers:
#3 to win
Exacta 3-8/3-4-8
Recent Best Bet Winners
Jan. 1 - GULF COAST ($6.40), Exacta ($27.20)
Jan. 2 - ANOTHERTWISTAFATE ($7.60), Exacta ($40.40)
Jan. 7 - Real Talk/Willy Boi Exacta ($34.40)
Jan. 9 - SANENUS ($17.00)
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