NYRA Preview: Aqueduct 2/20

Race 1: $60,000 MSW for New-York-bred fillies and mares 4-years-old and upward going 6 furlongs on the dirt

#6 Midnight Banker is by far the most talented filly in the race and should not have a problem taking down a relatively weak field. Her biggest obstacle is herself as she historically doesn’t get off to the best of starts. In her last effort, she stumbled out of the gate and rushed up to take the lead over a sloppy track. She could not hold off the eventual winner, Doll, as she held on for second. The group she faced on January 19 is a few notches better than the one she will face today.

Ricky’s Picks: 6-1-2-5

Race 4: $60,000 MSW for New-York-bred 4-year-olds and upward going 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the dirt

It’s very rare we see a Chad Brown first-timer show no effort on the track in their debut. #6 Clever Fellow made his first start here at the Big A over a sloppy track going 7 furlongs. This is a very lightly raced horse and probably should not have made his debut over a sloppy track Clever Fellow is by Lookin at Lucky, so the pedigree is there, but he needs to prove out on the track. He should be the third or fourth choice on the tote board and provides some value at 5/1 or higher.

Ricky’s Picks: 6-7-4-3