Dec 29, 5:12am | 4 min read

Sunday's Racing Picks 12/29: Aqueduct

Horse Racing

Lou Monaco

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Racing expert Sweet Lou Monaco's picks for the Bay Ridge Stakes at Aqueduct

ANALYSIS

The last Sunday of the year brings us back to Aqueduct in New York for the $100,000 Bay Ridge Stakes for state-bred 3-year-olds and up (fillies & mares) over 1 1/8 miles on the dirt. The field of 7 will go to gate for race 8 on the 9-race card with an approximate post time of 3:46 p.m. ET.

#3, Held Accountable, Eric Cancel, 4-1

She is still looking for her first win since an allowance race here on Nov. 23, 2018. This will be her fifth start of the year (0-1-2) and her 17th and final overall (4-2-2). She has finished in the money in three of her last four races, including a third-place finish in her last in the Empire Distaff Handicap at Belmont Park on Oct. 19. Regular rider Eric Cancel is aboard for trainer Philip Serpe. A late closer and I think Cancel will have her right there at the end. The pick.

#5, Our Super Nova, Junior Alvarado, 4-5

The morning-line favorite has finished in the money in six of her seven starts this year (2-2-2) and will be making her 21st career start (6-4-3).In her last start, she finished third in the Grade 3 Go for Wand Handicap here on Dec. 7. She has won two of her last four starts, highlighted by a solid 4 ½ length win in the New York Stallion Stakes here on Nov. 10. Today, she will also be trying two turns for the first time since she won an allowance race at Finger Lakes back in September 2018. Runner-up.

#1, Out of Orbit, Manuel Franco, 6-1

Out of Orbit looks to regain her form two starts back where she won by 2 ¼ lengths over today’s entrants Held Accountable and Lucky Move in the Saratoga Dew Stakes on Aug. 8. Her last start was not as impressive, finishing a disappointing 10th in the Empire Distaff Handicap at Belmont Park on Oct. 19. This will be her 23rd and final career start (4-5-5) and her ninth this year (2-1-2). She certainly has something to prove from her last start 10 weeks ago as Manuel Franco is aboard for trainer Philip Serpe. Contender.

#6, Mrs. Orb, Dylan Davis, 6-1

Mrs. Orb comes into today’s race hot, having won three straight and four of her last five starts. Her last two wins have come right here in an allowance optional claiming race on Nov. 1 and an allowance race on Nov. 27. Dylan Davis has the call for trainer Michael Miceli. This will be her seventh start here (2-1-1) and she will be right there at the end at a nice price. In the mix.