Betting With, and Against, Early Adopter in the Central Park Stakes

An overflow field of 11 juveniles will travel one mile on the Aqueduct lawn in Saturday’s $150,000 Central Park S. The two-turn test is led by morning-line choice #9 Early Adopter (3-1), who checked in third in the Pilgrim S. (G2) in his second lifetime showing. The chestnut son of Lope de Vega merits a lot of consideration after having improved off of his maiden victory last time out, and this outfit is deadly when it comes to stakes races on the lawn in the Empire State, in general. 

Early Adopter – With 

• 50-cent superfecta 9 with 4,6,10 with 4,6,10 with all ($21)
• 50-cent superfecta 9 with 4,6,10 with all with 4,6,10 ($21)

Early Adopter – Against

• $7 exacta box 4,6,10 ($42)

Trained by Chad Brown, the chestnut ran into a nice top pair in the Pilgrim, and I expect him to move forward in his second local appearance. Flavien Prat will guide the February foal and have him stalking a potentially lively pace in the early stages of the contest. 

For those looking for alternatives to the favorite, #6 Not For Hire (6-1) is a fine option for conditioner George Weaver. By Not This Time, the New York-bred colt led at every call in a sharp debut win sprinting on this lawn and looks like an excellent prospect going forward. The $200,000 weanling purchase combined good early speed with a fine turn of foot in his unveiling, and the move to eight furlongs seems to be well within his scope with Jose Lezcano returning to the silks. 

#4 Jack and Jim (9-2) rallied from behind a soft pace to graduate in his first offering, and the son of Slumber could be a nice one with additional seasoning. The Madaket homebred is out of a turf stakes heroine and comes in fresh with five morning moves for a trainer who does some of his best work off the shelf. If the dark bay colt takes a step forward on Saturday, then the Empire State-bred will be a major presence inside the final furlong with Manny Franco retaining the ride. 

Weaver’s #10 Super Swift (8-1) has appeal in his first try going long, too. Vekoma colt ran into a fine winner sprinting on the surface in the Atlantic Beach S. last time and gives the impression of a horse who will thrive going long. The bay homebred gets a tricky outside draw, but he can be a player with a sensible voyage under John Velazquez.