NYRA Preview: Aqueduct 12/31

On the final day of 2019, I want to take a quick moment to thank everyone who has followed the NYRA circuit with me this past year. When I first started writing previews for Saratoga back in August, I didn’t know what to expect. I quickly learned the Racing Dudes had such an amazing following that really embraced what it means to be a fan of horse racing. This past year provided so many great moments in the sport and I’m so thankful the Racing Dudes family gave me a chance to be a part of the team. After what happened these past 12 months, I can’t wait to see what 2020 has in store. On the final day of 2019, the Big A has one maiden special weight (MSW) race that I’ve previewed. Today is also a mandatory payout in the Empire 6 of over $147,000 and gives everyone a great chance to cash in to end the year on a high note!

Aqueduct Fall Meet Statistics (11/7-12/30)

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Race 3: $68,000 MSW for 2-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on the dirt

In the final maiden special weight race of 2019, it’s only fitting that Todd Pletcher has the horse to beat in #6 Portos. After failing to show early speed in his first two races of his career, Jose Ortiz fired him out of the gate on November 11. He comes into this race with the only early speed to speak of and should have relatively slow fractions to work with. Portos has no excuse not to break his maiden status on the final day of the calendar year.

Ricky’s Picks: 6-5-3-2

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Good luck to everyone playing and be sure to follow me on Twitter @RickyP_15 for more NYRA race previews as we take a look at Aqueduct!

If you want further information on the other races for each card at Aqueduct and beyond, you can check the Racing Dudes’ Free Picks page or subscribe to their Premium Selections and get detailed analyses for every race, every card, every track around the country.