How to bet the Aqueduct stakes on Nov. 21

A pair of stakes events for two-year-olds will highlight a bright Sunday card at Aqueduct.

Race 3 - Notebook S.

The six-furlong dirt dash for juveniles attracted six Empire State-bred runners, with all but one coming off of a victory in their latest endeavors. #4 Senbei appears to be the class and speed of the cast for Christophe Clement. A two-time stakes winner, the son of Candy Ride also showed a new dimension at Finger Lakes last time out when forcing the pace en route to a dominant black-type tally. The chestnut is hard to go against with Manny Franco up.

I was more impressed with the runner-up showing from #5 Bali’s Shade in his initial offering, then I was with his maiden victory off the bench last time out. The Rudy Rodriguez pupil is eligible to improve second time back, and the son of Bal a Bali figures to receive a fine trip while following the top pick throughout. He is my choice to complete the exacta beneath Jose Lezcano.

Wager

• $30 exacta 4 with 5 ($30)

Race 9 - Key Cents S.

A total of eight juvenile fillies will vie in the second stakes race on the slate. Todd Pletcher’s #6 Classy Edition is living up to her expensive $550,000 price tag following two career starts to date. The daughter of young sire Classic Empire has dominated two fields to start her career, led by a waltz in the Joseph A. Gimma S. at Belmont Park most recently. The April foal is the one to beat with Irad Ortiz in the silks.

#5 Cupid’s Heart will make the favorite earn it on Sunday if she shows even minor improvement off a superb debut score for Bruce Levine. The gray filly broke last at first asking, but she displayed a fine turn of foot to dust her foes while clocking a fantastic final quarter. The $50,000 yearling purchase will be worth a win ticket if she goes off at reasonable odds, in what I envision to be a virtual two-horse race in the stretch.

Wagers

• $15 exacta box 5-6 ($30)
• $12 win #5 Cupid’s Heart ($12)