How to bet the 2024 Long Island Stakes

A total of 11 fillies and mares will vie in Sunday’s $300,000 Long Island S. (G3) at Aqueduct. The 1 3/8-mile event on the green lacks a clear-cut standout and is an intriguing betting affair with numerous viable options in the cast. 

Long Island Wagers

• $5 trifecta key 4 with 2,3,5 ($30)
• $2 trifecta 2,3,5 with 4 with 2,3,5 ($12) 

#4 Blush is one that I expect to perform well while making her second run in North America. Now in the hands of Graham Motion, the Group 3 heroine has compiled four wins from seven starts in 2024, and she ran fairly well when fourth behind a very good trio in the E. P. Taylor S. (G1) at Woodbine last time out. I feel that the distance will be right in her wheelhouse, and the daughter of Kingman will have a more reasonable pace with which to work with on Sunday, as well. John Velazquez has the call. 

#2 Avenue Niel is the less heralded of the Christophe Clement trainees in the group, but the consistently good Irish bred rarely runs a bad one and also got a nice draw near the rail to save ground throughout the contest. The five-year-old daughter of Helmet was a useful fourth in the Waya S. (G3) at the trip over this lawn in her most recent showing, and slight improvement will have her right there late at a solid number. Joel Rosario taking the reins is a benefit, too. 

#3 Dancing Dean is facing a hefty class hike up from the first-level allowance ranks, but the Bill Mott charge sure looked good in winning last time out at today’s distance, and the sophomore intrigues me as an exotics contender with Irad Ortiz, Jr. accepting the mount. The Lawrence Goichman homebred didn’t defeat a strong cast in her latest showing, but the sophomore looked sharp from a visual perspective, and I could see her making up a lot of ground in the stretch at a fair price for excellent connections. 

#5 La Mehana, also from the Clement barn, rallied into a soft pace to eclipse the Waya last time and is an obvious contender right back. The Group-1-placed bay has put in a pair of fine tries from two local assignments in advance of the race, and the five-year-old bay retains the services of Kendrick Carmouche, as well.