Steve Matthews' Aqueduct selections for Saturday, April 19
Best bet: SCOTTISH STORM (7)
Best value: HOP SING (4)
FIRST: Goldcrest makes quick return (nine days) and drops after bouncing in last; rebounds. Ghostly Girl was second to top selection on March 28 after doing the dirty work up front; dangerous. Lika Rolling Stone ships in from Parx after clear-cut score in last; must consider.
SECOND: Shared Success worked three times since tough-trip third in last; more to come. Senegal bested top selection by nearly a length when second on March 8; be no surprise. Cumberland Blues owns fast back numbers; don't ignore.
THIRD: Nilruc puts blinkers back on after regressing in last two starts; forward move predicted. Prairie Dunes would be aided by pace meltdown; very interesting. Her Sugar Baby (drops and moves to dirt) and Limits of Power (fresh and owns speed) are two more that must be factored into the mix.
FOURTH: Hop Sing tallied fast late-pace and final figures when dead heating for second with next-out winner on Feb. 27; his turn today. Sturdy packs potent late kick on "A" efforts; very playable. Barb gets blinkers and Lasix after useful fourth in debut; don't ignore.
FIFTH: Inonit fired half-mile bullet since clear-cut placing in last; breaks through today. Roadie debuts for solid first-out barn (John Kimmel); follow the money. Pandemic Hero was a front-running second just nine days ago; right in the thick of this.
SIXTH: Grammy Girl should pack amplified wallop with cutback to 7 furlongs. All Class delivers solid efforts with machinelike consistency. Mursal was a wire-to-wire winner in last; must be factored into the mix.
SEVENTH: Scottish Storm was second to a repeat winner in last; tight work tab for return seals the deal. Radauti has finished second in last three starts; runner-up again? Commander of Truth is a rested and forwardly working runner from Chad Brown barn; big-time player.
EIGHTH: Pascaline, 2-for-2, is firing bullets for 3-year-old debut; picks up where he left off. Faster Gator ships in for high-octane barn (Anthony Farrior) after also starting career with two straight wins; worth long look. Share the Ludt tallied six-length score in 12-horse maiden field last out; very interesting.
NINTH: Rudy Rodriguez entry: Funny Joke owns speed and makes first start since claimed and mate Beachwalker would be aided by pace meltdown; complementary coupling. Conniving was a clear-cut winner in last; very playable. Dillinger is firing bullets for first start since last fall; dangerous. Masterwork gets class relief and makes third start of form cycle; don't dismiss.
More horse racing
