Aqueduct: Stakes Spot Plays for April 8

A quartet of excellent graded stakes races will highlight the action at Aqueduct on Saturday, led by the $750,000 Wood Memorial S. (G2). In this piece, I will focus on the trio of competitive undercard events.

Race 3 – Gazelle S. (G3)

A total of six sophomore fillies will go postward in the nine-furlong dirt affair. The Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying event lacks a clear standout in my opinion and I will side with the Brad Cox-trained #1 Capella (3-1) under Kendrick Carmouche. The Juddmonte homebred suffered her first setback when third in the recent Busher Invitational S. over a muddy, sealed oval, but she will move forward on Saturday off that sneaky-good performance. The daughter of Quality Road has some speed in a race lacking early pace, and I expect her to go straight to the front from this post slot en route to victory at a fair price.

Race 6 – Bay Shore S. (G3)

Sophomores will dash seven-eighths on the main oval in this contest. I expect #2 Gilmore (7-2) to thrive on the cutback in distance, as well as the surface change, in his second try since arriving in the barn of conditioner Brendan Walsh. The gray son of Twirling Candy has routed on synthetic surfaces in his last two assignments, and the $250,000 yearling looks set to peak while making his third run off the bench on the dirt. Jose Ortiz taking the reins atop the colt adds to his appeal.

Race 8 – Carter H. (G1)

2022 Florida Derby (G1) winner #6 White Abarrio draws outside of the pace in the race and figures to sit a perfect voyage in the seven-furlong dirt tussle. The Saffie Joseph pupil was a huge third in the Cigar Mile H. (G1) in December in his lone prior try on the surface, and he exits a fine allowance romp at Gulfstream Park to prove that he is in form. The son of Race Day will be rallying into a swift and contested pace with Paco Lopez in the irons.