Saturday’s Race Card at Aqueduct Features Four Graded Events

For avid horse bettors, Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York is the place to be this Saturday with four major graded events on the daily race card.

The Grade 3 $250,000 Go For Wand Handicap and the Grade 2 $250,000 Demoiselle Stakes for the fillies and mares get things started.

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The undercard to the main event also includes the Grade 2 $250,000 Remsen Stakes as key 2022 Kentucky Derby prep for two-year old thoroughbreds closing out their juvenile campaign. The highlight of Saturday’s card is the Grade 1 $750,000 Cigar Mile Handicap for thoroughbreds three and older.

The following are my Win-Place-Show picks for both the Remsen and the Cigar Mile.

2021 Remsen Stakes Predictions

Win: Zandon

Trained by Chad Brown, this Kentucky-bred colt won his racing debut at Belmont with a victory in a six-furlong Maiden Special Weight race on Oct. 9. He covered that distance on dirt in 1:10.61. The son of Upstart comes into this race with a Horse Racing Nation rating of 5.23.

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Place: Who Hoo Thats Me

Bred in New York, this juvenile colt should feel right at home this Saturday. Trainer Jorge Abreu is looking for a stronger performance in the Remsen coming off a third-place finish in this year’s ungraded Sleepy Hollow Stakes at Belmont on Oct. 30. Sired by Keen Ice, he has finished in the money in three of four events this year.

Show: Overstep

As one of two probable entries by trainer Todd Pletcher, this New York-bred juvenile has the third-highest HRN rating in the projected field (4.87). The son of Into Mischief took second in the Sleepy Hollow after winning a Maiden Special Weight race at Belmont on Sept. 25.

2021 Cigar Mile Handicap Predictions

Win: Ginobili

This four-year old gelding finished second in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar against some stiff competition. Trained by Richard Baltas, he has now finished in the money in his last three events. This includes an impressive victory in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Handicap at Del Mar in late August.

Sired by Munnings, he will be tough to beat among the projected nine-horse field if he is running at his best.

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Place: Code of Honor

With the actual field for Saturday’s main event still coming together, this five-year old Kentucky- bred colt could be the clear favorite with a lofty HRN rating of 7.28. Trained by Claude “Shug” McGaughey, the son of Noble Mission placed second in the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes on Oct. 30 at Keeneland. He started this season with a victory at Monmouth Park in the Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Stakes.

Code of Honor had his best season racing was as a three-year old when he placed second in the Kentucky Derby.

Show: Independence Hall

This four-year colt is coming off a victory in the Fayette Stakes by covering the 1 1/8 miles on dirt in 1:50.30. He has placed in the money in four of six events this year. Trained by Michael McCarthy, the son of Constitution is looking to close out 2021 with another strong showing.

Prior to the win at Keeneland, he placed second in this year’s Grade 3 Lukas Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs in early October as another plus to his current racing form.

Read our horse betting guide and Kentucky Derby betting guide.