Aqueduct Racetrack Picks for Thursday, December 17, 2020

Aqueduct Racetrack’s nine-race card for Thursday is heavy on the maiden and claiming races, with a couple of allowance and starter matches rounding out day’s racing fare.

Remember that while I review Thursday’s three richest matches at Aqueduct, you can find their entire nine-race card — including horses, jockeys, M/L odds, and wagering options — at any of the best online racebooks.

Read on for my predictions for Thursday’s three richest races at Aqueduct Racetrack.

This is a maiden special weight race for two-year-old New York-foaled fillies running a distance of one mile for a purse of $70,000.

I agree with the morning line for this race — my money is on the 9/5 favorite, Chasing Cara, with Dylan Davis in the irons. This filly moneyed three of her seven career starts, with her latest two in Black Type stakes races at Belmont Park.

There are three longshots in this maiden race, including a 50/1, but sadly, none of them look to have the slightest chance of finishing anywhere near the money — no, not even the 20/1 longshot ridden by veteran jockey Pablo Morales. Let’s save our value show bet money for later.

This is an allowance optional claiming race for three-year-olds and upward running a distance of 1-1/8 miles for a purse of $84,000.

I like the third-favored (3/1) entry in this match — Someday Jones, with Jose Lezcano aboard. This seven-year-old finished in the money 21 of his 31 career starts, winning 12 of them. Neither of the coupled entry horses the morning line chose to favor with 7/5 odds has a record that comes close to that.

At 15/1, Malthael, ridden by Charlie Marquez looks like a good value show ticket. This four-year-old gelding has finished in the money 11 of his 14 career starts, winning two. He also has the advantage of Marquez’ five-pound apprentice allowance.

This is an allowance race for New York-foaled three-year-olds and upward running a distance of six furlongs for a purse of $72,000.

My money’s on the second-favored (3/1) entry in this race — Jemography, ridden by Dylan Davis. This four-year-old gelding moneyed 15 of his 21 career starts, winning five of them.

There are several longshots in this 11-horse field, but none of them are worth the risk of a show ticket.

Aqueduct Racetrack might have been stingy with the value show bet prospects, but it delivered on the underdogs — and you can find more of both at the other two tracks I reviewed for Thursday: