How to bet the 2023 Gravesend Stakes

A compact, but talented, field of five will speed six panels on the Aqueduct dirt in Saturday’s $150,000 Gravesend S. The cast features two contenders with a good amount of early foot, and a trio of deep closing types, and I will tab the pace players to settle the event inside the final furlong. 

Gravesend Wagers

• $30 exacta 5 with 2 ($30)
• $10 exacta 5 with 4 ($10)
  $5 trifecta key 5 with 2,4 ($10)

#5 Durante has been in superb form since joining the David Jacobson barn in August with four wins and two seconds from six tries, led by a fine tally in the Bold Ruler S. (G3) on the oval two starts back. By Distorted Humor, the gelding dons a 4-2-2-0 local line in advance of Saturday and was last seen posting a game runner-up result in the Fall Highweight (G3) here most recently. 

The four-year-old bay gets a perfect post outside of the group and will likely force the action from the opening bell with clear sailing throughout. Regular pilot Manny Franco will guide the Kentucky bred who will be difficult to upend with his top performance. 

Multiple stakes victor #2 Rotknee is swift and is the other early type in the cast for conditioner Mike Maker. Third in the recent Fall Highweight, the Runhappy colt is a three-time winner on the surface with two additional placings, and he will move forward on this occasion after traveling wide in the stretch in his most recent endeavor. The New York-bred four-year-old has good gate presence and might try to go to the front early on from this post slot under Jose Lezcano.

Trainer Bill Mott has #4 Bold Journey going especially well right now and the chestnut possesses the best turn of foot in the field among the late runners. By Hard Spun, the Fall Highweight (G3) victor has picked up five of his six career victories at Aqueduct, and if anything close to a speed duel occurs in the dash, then the New York-bred will benefit most in the field. The colt shows a trio of solid morning moves in preparation for this event and will be doing his best work inside the final furlong with Eric Cancel in the stirrups.