Aqueduct | Race 8 | Post Time 4:43 p.m. (ET)
As is often the case in races during the winter at Aqueduct, Linda Rice has two strong contenders in this allowance/optional claimer. Munnings Express (#3) has the stronger overall form, having hit the board in all five prior starts while progressing through her allowance conditions. She tried this level last time and was a good second to the streaking Bam's Bliss Kiss, who has now won four races in a row. I didn't love the trip she got, as she has more natural speed than Jose Lezcano used last time but she was probably going to be no better than second regardless.
That one's main rival is her stablemate, Nina Kay (#1), who may be overbet with Flavien Prat picking up the mount from Lezcano, who sticks with Munnings Express. She is stepping up in class after beating a weaker field at the N1X level. Her overall form is solid enough, but she has struggled to put top races back to back without a layoff.
I'll try to beat these two with Majestic Return (#6). I know she looks too cheap for these on paper, but she did run her best race in a long time when trouncing low-level conditioned claimers last time. Perhaps that was a needed confidence boost after being routinely beaten by tougher foes in open-company races last season. Yet, most importantly she's been claimed by a very sharp barn. Steven Schauer is 11 for 39 (28%, $2.49 ROI) with all starters on the NYRA circuit and two for 10 first off the claim. I like the confident jump in class and she should sit a good trip stalking outside.