Saturday graded sprint overview and entries

Christian Abdo

Set for Aqueduct Racetrack on Saturday, Donna Wright’s Just Beat the Odds will tackle graded company for the first time in the Grade 3 Elite Power, a six-furlong dash for runners ages three and older worth a quarter-million dollars. Lined up for his shot, the gelding joins a fast group where a sharp break can matter, for example when sprinters cue off the bell and secure position early.

Known previously as the Runhappy during the Belmont at the Big A spring stand, the Elite Power now honors 2022–23 Champion Male Sprinter Elite Power, who captured nine of his final ten appearances for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, including consecutive victories in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Grade 1) in both 2022 and 2023. Framed as a tribute, the renaming reflects his dominance, such as when repeat winners stamp a division.

A 5-year-old son of Munnings conditioned by Gregg Sacco, Just Beat the Odds has finished in the top three in eleven of twelve lifetime starts and has strung together seven straight finishes of first or second. Returning from a hiatus of a bit more than seven months, he last missed by a neck to Surveillance at this same trip and venue on April 12, an example of a tight finish that often hinges on a final bob.

“While some horses typically require a tune-up, this one came to hand quickly this time around,” Sacco said, noting that the break should not be an obstacle. “He’s a tough, talented customer. Coming back at stakes level off the shelf is no small ask, but his weekly drills have been excellent, and all signs point to readiness,” he added, much as a handicapper would say when breezes match the form cycle.

Before that April effort, Just Beat the Odds [post 4, Manny Franco] blitzed a six-and-one-half-furlong optional claimer in wire-to-wire fashion by six lengths over the dual Grade 3-placed Twenty Four Mamba here in March, a performance that produced a career-best 103 on the Beyer scale. That big number came after time away dating to the previous April, when he dominated another six and one-half furlongs optional claimer at Tampa Bay Downs; think of it like a horse returning fresh and firing off the bench.

His final tune-up came last Saturday when he breezed four furlongs in 48 and two-fifths seconds over the Belmont Park dirt training strip, an efficient move that mirrored his prior works, for example a steady series that keeps a sprinter sharp.

“He’s very gifted and that breeze was excellent,” Sacco said. “He ended up engaging another horse—not by design—but he drew off, which was fine. He came back to the barn and cooled out the right way, so we’ll aim for the Elite Power. It’s either this or a conditions allowance—both are tough on paper. You’ve got to run a top figure to win either spot, but he’s fond of Aqueduct and is right on schedule for Saturday,” he continued, illustrating how connections weigh pace scenario and class.

Bred in Kentucky by Red Oak Stable, Just Beat the Odds is out of the winning Medaglia d’Oro mare Bella d’Oro, a half-sibling to dual Grade 3 winner Belleski. The meet’s leading trainer Linda Rice—who took last year’s Runhappy with Joey Freshwater—will saddle a home-state pair in the dual Grade 3-placed El Grande O [post 1, Flavien Prat] and the multiple New York-bred stakes winner Acoustic Ave [post 3, Jose Lezcano], a one-two that often shapes tactics, for instance when stablemates complement each other’s styles.

Barry Schwartz’s homebred El Grande O returns to the graded ranks for the first time since finishing third in the one-turn-mile Gotham (Grade 3) here last March. Most recently, the 4-year-old Take Charge Indy colt prevailed by a head over Acoustic Ave in a six-furlong optional claimer on October 9 at this track, the kind of tight decision that a photo can settle.

That effort earned a personal-best 99 Beyer and marked his first victory in four tries since a local optional claiming win last December. He was third in his seasonal opener here in February, then after more than half a year away was declared a non-starter in an August optional claimer at Saratoga, an outcome seen when a horse doesn’t get away cleanly, for example when the gate timing goes awry.

“That Saratoga comeback turned into a bit of a mess,” Rice said. “He didn’t break properly and was ruled a non-starter—he made a mid-race move, but he needed that run. He returned and fired a strong race, which pleased us. We spaced his starts deliberately, and I’m hopeful the extra time benefits him again,” she explained, as one might when spacing can reset a pattern.

At this venue, El Grande O owns an 11-5-2-2 slate, including juvenile wins in the seven-furlong state-bred Bertram F. Bongard and the one-turn-mile state-bred Sleepy Hollow. Early in his 3-year-old season, he also lost a nose decision to Uncle Heavy in the Withers (Grade 3) at nine furlongs, the kind of narrow margin that often flips with trip luck.

“I view him as most effective closing in sprints,” Rice said. “And he tends to thrive during the winter at Aqueduct,” she added, much like runners who relish cooler conditions.

A. Bianco Holding Limited’s Acoustic Ave exits a third-place finish in the six-and-a-half-furlong, state-bred Hudson on October 25 here. That was his third outing of the month after back-to-back runner-up finishes—by a head and by a nose—over Saturday’s same course and distance, examples of consistent form where tiny margins decide outcomes.

Bred by Chester and Mary Broman, Acoustic Ave was claimed for forty-five thousand dollars in March at this track and has hit the frame in all seven starts for Rice, a run that includes three optional claiming victories, two against open company. He is also cross-entered in a Thursday optional claimer here, a common hedge when barns watch field size and weather.

Completing the lineup are Grade 3 winner Full Moon Madness [post 2, Ricardo Santana, Jr.], third most recently at this course and distance in the Bold Ruler (Grade 3) on November 2 for trainer Michelle Nevin; stakes winner Subrogate [post 6, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] for trainer Jorge Duarte, Jr.; and the four-time winner St. Jude [post 5, Jaime Rodriguez], who makes his ninth start and stakes debut for conditioner Benjamin Perkins, Jr., a trio that brings speed and depth, for example pace on paper and proven class.

The Elite Power appears as the fifth race on an eleven-race Saturday program that also highlights the Cigar Mile (Grade 2, Race 10), the Remsen (Grade 2, Race 9), and the Demoiselle (Grade 2, Race 3). The latter two award qualifying points on a 10–5–3–2–1 scale toward the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, respectively. The blockbuster card also includes the NYSSS Great White Way (Race 11) for half a million dollars and the NYSSS Fifth Avenue (Race 8) for another half million; the opener is set for 11:20 a.m. ET, a schedule that helps fans plan their day.

Broadcast and wagering notes

America’s Day at the Races will air live coverage and analysis from the Aqueduct Racetrack fall meet across FOX Sports platforms. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, see the Aqueduct TV schedule page, a handy check before you tune in, for example when planning DVR times.

NYRA Bets serves as Aqueduct Racetrack’s official wagering platform and remains the preferred way to play every race of the fall meet. Available nationwide, the NYRA Bets app can be downloaded on iOS and Android via the NYRA Bets site, a convenience if you’re on the go or comparing odds in-app.