Aqueduct: Exotic plays for undercard stakes April 3

A total of five graded stakes events will top a huge card at Aqueduct on Saturday. While the Wood Memorial S. (G2) will take much of the attention, the supporting stakes events have a lot of interest to me, nearly as much as the feature does.

The races look mostly formful to me in each of the leading undercard events as far as tabbing the winner is concerned, but I think that there is value to be found in the vertical exotics in each contest.

Race 4 -- Bay Shore S. (G3)

Fountain of Youth S. (G2) runner-up #3 Drain the Clock (1-2) looks like the most formidable favorite on the card to me and I will not try to beat him. Instead, I will key him on top in a pair of trifecta tickets.

#1 Too Boss (6-1) has good value in the small field and is a sure inclusion in my opinion. Pletcher pupil was very impressive in his maiden conquest two back, and I will toss his unplaced run over a sloppy surface at Parx most recently.

#4 Whiskey Double (3-1) proved capable of winning from off the pace at Oaklawn Park last time out for Asmussen. Expensive Into Mischief colt will be a formidable top-three contender with anything close to his latest.

Wagers

• $15 trifecta 3 with 1 with 4
• $5 trifecta 3 with 4 with 1

Race 6 -- Carter H. (G1)

#4 Mischevious Alex (6-5) is the classiest while #5 Chateau (8-5) is the swiftest from the gate. Assuming this pair will run one-two throughout, I will go with #2 Super Stonehenge (12-1) to finish. Casse trainee doesn’t have a lot of dirt experience, but his narrow miss in the Pelican S. looks awfully good following the tour-de-force that the ill-fated Zenden put forth in the Golden Shaheen (G1) at Meydan last weekend.

Wagers

• $10 trifecta 4,5 with 4,5 with 2
• $2 trifecta 4,5 with 2 with 4,5

Race 8 -- Excelsior S. (G3)

I do feel that morning-line choice #7 Mr. Buff (4-5) will be tough, as the Empire State-bred has a favorable post and running style for the event. It will be tough to deny the Kimmel trainee a top-three result with something close to his best effort.

But I am expecting a huge return to form from #1 Haikal (10-1) for Pletcher. The stout late runner never lifted his feet in the Hooper (G3) at Gulfstream Park last time out, but he comes in fresh and returns to his favorite surface. The Grade 3 winner will save ground every step of the way on Saturday, and he is an upset contender under Irad.

Wagers

• $4 trifecta 1 with 7 with all ($20)
• $2 trifecta 7 with 1 with all  ($10)
• 20-cent superfecta 1,7 with 1,7 with all with all ($8)

Race 9 -- Gazelle S. (G2)

Nine-furlong affair for sophomore fillies attracted eight, and I believe that #8 Search Results (1-1) will move her mark to 3-for-3 following this initial two-turn test. Chad Brown trainee will get a great trip forcing the pace from the start, and if her last effort didn’t take too much out of her, I envision her drawing off in the lane.

The battle for the minor awards will be more dramatic, however. I will side with #4 Army Wife (6-1) to be runner-up on the day for trainer Mike Maker. Declaration of War filly has improved in each start on the dirt in her career, and I think the move to two-turn racing will suit her as well.

Wager

• $25 Exacta 8 with 4