Tabbing a Cold Exacta in the Aspirant Stakes

A total of nine New York-bred juveniles will dash 5 1/2 furlongs on the Finger Lakes main strip in Monday’s $132,000 Aspirant S. I like two runners in the dash, both sired by King For A Day, to finish first and second in the heat and will play a straight exacta with the duo. 

Aspirant Wager

• $25 exacta 8 with 3 ($25)

#8 Soontobeking (8-5) is an obvious one for conditioner George Weaver. A maiden winner at Aqueduct in May, the $80,000 two-year-old purchase finished a useful fifth in the Sanford S. (G3) at Saratoga while enduring trouble in the dash, prior to missing by just a nose at the same venue in the Funny Cide S. in his latest showing. The February foal earned a lifetime-best 87 Brisnet Speed figure for that performance which is easily the best in the field, and he could surely improve on Monday with regular jockey Eric Cancel in the stirrups. 

#3 King’s Leap (8-1) graduated in his local bow last time out and I envision this one to give a nice account of himself from off the pace while making his stakes debut. The dark bay colt flashed some ability in the summer at Saratoga with a pair of thirds and a fourth from a trio of outings, and he appreciated the change of venue in his tally most recently when moving well late en route to a score. 

The Anthony Ferraro pupil has shown nice improvement since having blinkers added two back, and I like him coming back off two weeks of rest for a conditioner who does solid work with two-year-old runners, in general. An expected swift early pace will set things up for the March foal to make his late run with Luis Perez signed on for the ride. 

#4 Bostontonian (5-2) will vie for favoritism coming off a debut win at Churchill Downs over open company, and deservedly so, but I didn’t love that run from the Wesley Ward trainee. The gelding might make me look foolish, but I’m taking a stand against him and Frankie Dettori.