How to bet the Gravesend Stakes

The Sunday feature at Aqueduct on Sunday is the $100,000 Gravesend S. Run at 6 furlongs, just five will challenge standout Firenze Fire in what looks like a tough task to upend the four-year-old.

Analysis

The surging #6 Happy Farm could be the one to catch despite drawing outside in the dash. He will be forcing the pace, while #4 Wonderful Light and #2 Firenze Fire will always be in the mix from the start.

I expect Wonderful Light to be a bit sharper second off the layoff and to inch to the lead in early stretch. The classy Firenze Fire will be tough to deny inside the final furlong, however.

Wagers

$30 Exacta 2 with 4 = $30
$10 Exacta 4 with 2 = $10

Contenders

#1 T LOVES A FIGHT (12-1) -- Girolamo gelding brings solid form to the Gravesend for Noda. Five-year-old bay has placed in two straight stakes tries and rates a top-three chance while making his 16th start of 2019. Dylan Davis has the call.

#2 FIRENZE FIRE (2-5) -- Class of the field rebounded from a fifth-place showing in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) with a daylight score at Penn National most recently. Florida-bred colt is twice Grade 1-placed this campaign for Servis, and his best performance will make him formidable today. Jose Lezcano inherits the mount.

#3 NO DISTORTION (30-1) -- Longshot was no match in the Fall Highweight H. (G3) most recently and faces a more daunting task in this endeavor. Bob Dunham pupil dominated claiming foes on the course two prior, but he will need a lifetime best to challenge this cast under Cancel.

#4 WONDERFUL LIGHT (5-1) -- Michelle Nevin trainee ran a winning race in defeat when runner-up in the Fall Highweight last time out. Talented son of Tiz Wonderful has won or placed in each of his five outings this season, and he could be sitting on a big effort today second off the bench. Jorge Vargas Jr. will guide the upset contender.

#5 SEETHISQUICK (15-1) -- Discreet Cat five-year-old is winless since the spring, and he will have to improve off of his fourth-place run in the Fall Highweight most recently. Kentucky-bred bay will need to reach new heights to upend this talented cast.

#6 HAPPY FARM (7-2) -- 'Other' Servis pupil rides in on a four-race win streak and gets a good outer post slot in the compact field. Ghostzapper gelding has turned out to be a fantastic claim, and he proved that he was no fluke when beating graded foes on the oval in advance of today. Logical contender will be prompting the issue from the opening bell.