Aqueduct Racetrack in New York highlights the first weekend of horse betting in December. Saturday’s live card is packed with action led by a pair of major graded events.
Are you new to betting on horses? Follow these simple and actionable horse racing betting tips.
Get Horse Racing Rebates at Online Racebooks
A solid field of up and coming juveniles will compete in this year’s Remsen Stakes. Also on the board is the 2020 Cigar Mile featuring a veteran group of Thoroughbreds.
2020 Remsen Stakes Predictions
Date: Saturday, December 5th 2020
The Remsen is one of the last big events for juvenile Thoroughbreds ahead of the third birthday on Jan. 1. This Grade 2 stakes race will be contested on the dirt track at Aqueduct covering an extended distance of 1 1/8 miles.
This is one of the longer graded events for juveniles on the two-year old Kentucky Derby prep race schedule. The actual field is still coming together. Yet, Brooklyn Strong stands out from the rest with a 6.37 Horse Racing Nation rating. Trained by Daniel Velazquez, the son of Wicked Strong should be a local favorite as well.
Learn How to Bet on Horse Racing Exotic Bets
Bred in New York, he is coming off a victory in the ungraded Sleepy Hollow Stakes at Belmont Park on Oct. 24. He covered the mile on dirt in 1:37.16. This was Brooklyn Strong’s third finish in the money in three events.
You can add Pickin’ Time to the short list of favorites if trainer Kelly Breen decides to run the two-year old this Saturday. He has a matching 6.37 HRN rating coming off a victory in the Grade 3 Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 8. The New Jersey-bred colt has now won three of the first five events in his early racing career.
2020 Cigar Mile Predictions
Date: Saturday, December 5th 2020
This mile run on dirt is open to Thoroughbreds three and older. The Grade 1 stakes race has a total prize purse of $250,000 up for grabs.
The field has yet to be finalized for Saturday’s featured race at Aqueduct. Right now, HRN has eight horses listed as probable. Leading the way is trainer Kelly Breen’s Firenze Fire. This five- year old Florida-bred horse placed third at Keeneland in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
He started his 2020 season with a victory in the Grade 3 General George Stakes at Laurel Park on Feb. 15. Through seven events this year, the son of Poseidon’s Warrior has placed in the money four times. He has the highest HRN rating (7.45) in the projected field.
Expert Horse Racing Betting Guide
Trainer Juan Carlos Avila is hoping to run King Guillermo in the Cigar. This would mark the three-year old Kentucky-bred colt’s return to the track after placing second in this year’s Grade 1 Arkansas Derby. This followed his win in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby on March 7.
Mr. Bluff should capture some local interest if trainer John Kimmel opts to run him on Saturday. The six-year old gelding won the ungraded Empire Classic on Oct. 24 at Belmont Park. All six of his events this season have taken place at New York tracks. He placed in the money in four of the races, including a pair of victories at Aqueduct earlier in the year.
Famed trainer Shug McGaughey could go with Performer in the Cigar. The four-year old colt looked strong in a one-mile Allowance Claimer victory at Belmont on Oct. 17.
You can bet on these two horse races at BetOnline and Intertops.
