Happy New Year! 2014 is the Year of the Horse according to the Chinese Zodiac, and we’ll kick off the year with a few plays to get your bankroll working. Be sure to down load your E-Z Win Forms to get the complete picture, as our selections did very well in 2013 winning $10,548,263. We look forward to the New Year, and it won’t be long and we’ll be talking Derby and the Triple Crown! – So, grab your E-Z Win Forms and start handicapping. – This is going to be a great year!!

 

Aqueduct

The weather forecast calls for 38 degrees and partly cloudy. 

 

Race #1 – Claiming $20,000 – 6f – 12:25 p.m. ET 

#1 – Point Taken (3-1) = Cornelio Velasquez (25%) in the saddle for Rudy Rodriguez (29%). This son of Point Given is fresh off a claim from the David Jacobson barn, and they have a good eye for horse-flesh. Rodriguez wins (27%) off the claim, and is 3/5 ITM at the “Big A” and 4/5 ITM at the distance. Both trainers are excellent with new runners off the claim, and he turns back from a route to a sprint where the barn wins (20%).  

 

Race #3 – The $100,000 Affectionately – 1 1/16 – 1:23 p.m. ET 

#3 – Royal Lahaina (2-1) = Jose Ortiz (22%) gets the mount for Todd Pletcher (32%). This daughter of Chapel Royal is a horse-for-the-course, and is a perfect 4/4 ITM over the course. The barn wins (27%) with runners making the 31-60 days away return. 3^rd off the layoff, and exits a win in the (G-2) Go for Wand. The trainer gets his picture taken at a (28%) clip off a last race win. She has plenty of back class, and takes to the inner-track well. 

 

                                             ***Longshot Play***

Race #8 – The $100,000 Interborough – 6f – 3:48 p.m. ET 

#7 – Miss Mischief (12-1) = Rajiv Maragh up for Steve Asmussen. 3/6 ITM lifetime, and you might want to toss out the last race on a muddy track. 3^rd off the layoff for this daughter of Into Mischief.  Impressive victory two races back in the $100,000 Garland of Roses. The barn wins (20%) on dirt, and (20%) with sprinters.