Through the Binocs
First post today is 11:25 a.m., with the last race set for 3:10 p.m. First post tomorrow and for Saturday’s Holiday Fest card is noon. On Sunday, we’re back to the regular 12:20 p.m. post.
Only six horses were entered for Aqueduct’s traditional Thanksgiving Day feature, the 99th running of the Grade 3, $150,000 Fall Highweight, and only five are certain to run, with Poseidon’s Warrior entered in last night’s Fabulous Strike at Penn National.
Seven horses were entered for Saturday’s Grade 1, $350,000 Cigar Mile, with the nation’s top female sprinter, Groupie Doll, tabbed the 85 favorite. The other three stakes on the card are the Grade 2, $250,000 Demoiselle for 2yearold fillies, the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen for 2yearolds, and the Grade 1, $350,000 Gazelle for 3yearold fillies.
FOURTH RACE: Going 1 1/16 miles on turf, Pianist, pounded late to 45, shot to the front under Javier Castellano and shook loose on the lead through fast splits (:22.49, :46.98). After shaking off a bid from 131 Baffle Me on the far turn, Pianist opened up again at the top of the stretch, but 441 Nayarra came after a rubberlegged Pianist and clawed past her in midstretch, then 41 Channel Lady came rolling outside under Ramon Dominguez to run right by them all.
EIGHTH RACE: They threw everything but the kitchen sink at Big Business, the 65 favorite under John Velazquez, and he still prevailed, almost. Down the backside, Big Business was caught in a hot early duel with 261 Coach to his inside and 95 Souper Speedy outside, then pressed Coach for the lead into the turn as Souper Speedy, Junior Alvarado up, couldn’t keep pace. As they turned for home and Coach called it quits, Souper Speedy reengaged Big Business for the lead, with 51 Last Gunfighter rallying alongside him. Down the stretch, Souper Speedy said no mas, leaving Big Business and Last Gunfighter, Javier Castellano up, to slug it out in a long drive. They hit the wire as one, with Last Gunfighter winning the bob.
PICK SIX Winning numbers:
7111061 3 (6 of 6) winners each paid $8,600 67 (5 of 6) consolation winners each paid $128
No carryover