Steve Matthews' Aqueduct selections for Thursday, Nov. 13
Best bet: MORTAL LOCK (9)
Best value: DIRAND (6)
FIRST: Wajda is rested and projects as the main speed with heads-up handling. Dark Vector looms the prime beneficiary if top selection hits the wall. Leading Role adds blinkers and could make life miserable for those who wager on Wajda.
SECOND: Cicciobello wheels back in a hurry after non-threatening seventh versus pricier last Friday. Systemic Change bounced last time after determined win in prior; rebound threat. Suerte owns speed and adds blinkers; don't ignore.
THIRD: Stanza packs potent late wallop; needs to escape AE list. Snare worked twice since useful fourth in last; dangerous. Joker On Fire could play out as the controlling speed for potent layoff barn. How About It, an even third in last, should move forward in second start since five-month layoff.
FOURTH: Run Happy Pappy drops and returns to dirt; improvement predicted. Peek drilled three times since winning on Sept. 18; dangerous. O P Firecracker is competitive on best efforts.
FIFTH: Starship Ava fired crisp half-mile work since a willing third in last; needs scratches to get in. Hanna's Hideaway owns speed and will offer beefy odds; not the worst place to land. Cara's Dreamchaser, dq'd from top honors two starts back, was overmatched in stakes field last time; worth long look. Livin the Breeze regressed in last after solid third in prior; rebound threat.
SIXTH: Dirand worked three times since clear-cut maiden score in last; more to come. Mutaawid drops and makes peak start of form cycle; very playable. King d'Oro could impact if pace meltdown ensues.
SEVENTH: Army Gal tallied fast final fraction when winning on Sept. 11; tight work tab for return seals the deal. Senza Parole is fresh, training with a purpose and hails from Chad Brown barn; big-time player. Filly Crystal is a wire-to-wire threat on best efforts.
EIGHTH: Boomington never got into the flow after rough start last time; rebounds today. Maria Callas drew off to more than four-length win in last; could easily take another. Neshika made sustained run to break maiden in last; must be factored into the mix.
NINTH: Mortal Lock was pace- and trip-compromised in most recent; breakthrough predicted in third start since 10-month layoff. A Bourbon for Toby returns to maiden ranks and packs potent kick on "A" efforts; dangerous. Limo fired half-mile bullet since improved third in last; worth long look. Operation Overlord was a two-move second in same last race as Limo; right in the thick of this.
