Aqueduct | Race 5 | Post Time 2:10 p.m. (ET)
This statebred maiden special weight is fairly open, lacking a clear standout. The lukewarm favorite could be Royal Riddle (#9), who has hit the board in both prior starts over seven furlongs. It's not that much of a leap to get a mile here, and he acts like a horse who should handle the distance. He stayed on well after being rated off the pace on debut, and then faced late when ridden more aggressively last time. I don’t think either race featured as deep a field as this one, and I wanted to look elsewhere.
Sunday Boy (#4) is the younger full-brother to multiple sprint stakes winner Sunday Girl, but this son of Central Banker seems better suited to route distances based on his stride length and finishing ability. He stretched out on turf last time and didn't get the most comfortable trip, jostled at the start and shuffled back out of the chute before steadying behind tiring rivals in upper stretch. He's better than that effort, and deserves another chance on dirt over this longer distance.
A couple of horses coming back on relatively short rest out of that Oct. 24 maiden race merit consideration. One of those is Kaz Dominator (#5), who has checked in fifth in both career starts. He didn't improve much on his debut, where he faced a very tough field led by subsequent stakes winner Bravaro. He has pedigree to handle this longer trip.
My top pick is Whiskey Point (#6), who finished just behind that rival in his career debut. He took some money into the highly touted Pantherian, who got put up for the victory, but this colt ran like a newcomer who needed the race. He broke well, but got outrun through the middle stages of the race. He was never a threat late, but I liked the way he kept staying on under pressure through the lane despite having to run through kickback. He was finishing best of all across the wire, and galloped out best of all as if there was intention to get something more out of that race. He now stretches out to a more appropriate distance with plenty of route pedigree on his dam's side.