How to bet the Great White Way Stakes

A total of 11 Empire State-bred juveniles will travel seven panels on the Aqueduct dirt in Saturday’s lucrative $500,000 New York Stallion Series Great White Way S. The highly competitive heat appears to be a fine betting endeavor and I will take a shot with a maiden to break through as a value play.

#8 Lifetime of Chance (6-1) didn’t show a lot on debut when finishing a distant third in a maiden special weight attempt on the surface, but the son of The Lieutenant showed marked improvement when runner-up in a similar spot in his second career voyage. Trained by Linda Rice, the $135,000 juvenile purchase lost to a nice prospect over a muddy, sealed strip most recently, and with another move forward, the bay will be in a prime spot at the top of the stretch at a nice price. Jose Lezcano retains the mount atop the upset pick.

#11 Vacation Dance (3-1) proved his class with a score in the grassy Atlantic Beach S. last time out and will transfer the dirt for the first time on Saturday. Also by The Lieutenant, the gray has shown the ability to win from on or off the pace in his young career, and the colt has been training well on dirt in preparation of this tilt. The John Kimmel trainee has improved his Brisnet Speed number in each career assignment and looms large from the outside post beneath Kendrick Carmouche.

Orlando Noda’s #1 Jackson Heights (7-2) broke his maiden in the stakes ranks two prior and will be a major player with something resembling that performance under Javier Castellano. The $70,000 son of Union Jackson never factored following a slow break in the Sleepy Hollow S. in his latest test, but the dark bay has trained well in the interim and will save ground before putting in his late run from the rail. He has a lot of top-three appeal.

Todd Pletcher will send out first-time starter #10 Laurel Valley (8-1). The Laoban colt is a mystery in the field, obviously, but the January foal shows steady morning drills and I can never ignore a juvenile from this shedrow. Jorge Vargas, Jr. will take the reins.

 Great White Way Selections

• Lifetime of Chance
• Vacation Dance
• Jackson Heights

Great White Way Wagers

• $10 win and place: #8 Lifetime of Chance ($20)
• $5 exacta: key box 8 with 1, 11 ($20)
• 50-cent trifecta: 8 with 1, 10, 11 with all ($13.50)