Sunday's Racing Picks: Gander Stakes
Gander Stakes - PICKS: 6-7-4-5
The long Presidents’ Day Holiday weekend continues at Aqueduct in New York for the $100,000 Gander Stakes for 3-year-old state-breds over one mile 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 4:25 p.m. ET.
#6, Bourbon Bay, Manuel Franco, 2-1 - All three career starts are at Aqueduct (1-2-0), including a dead-heat second-place finish with Prince of Pharoahs both finishing four lengths behind winner Independence Hall in the $150,000 Jerome Stakes on New Year’s Day, his last start. Manuel Franco is aboard for the first time for trainer Mark Henning. He has a nose for the wire and has finished in the top two in all three of his starts. I think he improves off his last to get it done for the second time in his career. The pick.
#7, Scilly Cay, Dylan Davis, 9-5 - He is 2-1-1 in his four career starts, highlighted by a 2 ½ length win as the second choice in the $100,000 Rego Park Stakes here in his last on Jan. 12. The morning-line favorite gets Dylan Davis in the saddle for trainer Linda Rice. A start prior here, he finished second in the Notebook Stakes on Nov. 17. This will be his third time over the Aqueduct course. He will be there at the end, I just like another. Runner-up.
#4, Bank On Shea, Jose Lezcano, 5-2 – He has won two of his three career starts, highlighted by a nose win in his last in the New York Stallion Series Stakes as the fourth choice at 11-1 on Dec. 14. Prior to that, he finished third in the previously-mentioned Notebook Stakes on Nov. 17. Jose Lezcano was aboard for his last win and returns again today for trainer Jason Servis. Sneaky. Contender.
#5, Colormepazzi, Junior Alvarado, 20-1 – This will be his ninth career start (1-2-3) and he is looking for his first victory since a maiden special weight race at Finger Lakes on Sept. 24. He has finished in the money in six of his last seven starts. Junior Alvarado is aboard for trainer Chris Englehart. I think he can grab a minor piece or be right there for one. In the mix.
By Lou Monaco