Aqueduct Stakes Plays for March 7

The $300,000 Gotham (G3) caps a big day of action at Aqueduct on Saturday. The 2020 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series contest will offer qualifying points to the top four finishers on a 50-20-10-5 basis.

Four stakes in total will be contested on the 10-race card, and I think that there is value to be found in each of the black-type events.

Gotham (G3)

The improvement made by #3 War Stopper (5-1) when he added blinkers last out was substantial, and I will come right back with the Declaration of War colt. Rudy Rodriguez trainee comes in fresh with good morning drills, and he is proven both on the oval and at the distance.

Tom Fool (G3)

#8 Skyler’s Scramjet (8-1) tailed off in his final two races in 2019, but the Nevin trainee was twice graded stakes placed last campaign. Creative Cause gelding was fourth as the favorite in the race last season, and he offers much better value in this edition of the Tom Fool.

Busher

A fine field of eight sophomore fillies will vie in the $250,000 affair. The top-two finishers of the Demoiselle (G2), #5 Lake Avenue (1-1) and #4 Maedean (5-2), both make their 3-year-old debuts and look formidable with their best.

But I am intrigued by Rudy Rodriguez’ #6 Water White (8-1), who was fifth in the aforementioned Demoiselle. Conveyance filly should thrive on the cutback in distance second time off the layoff.

Stymie

Seven will travel one-mile in a competitive field. #5 Wicked Trick (5-2) rides in on a six-race win streak and has to be on most or all tickets. Hat Trick gelding will have to overcome the class rise, but the 5-year-old is 3-for-3 at Aqueduct and put in a bullet morning drill most recently.

I think #7 Backsideofthemoon (8-1) will also be live. Claimed for $100,000 three back, the 8-year-old has run well in two tries for his new connections and could sit a perfect trip while stalking the pace under Cancel.