Stogie's Horse Racing Picks for Saturday, March 15, 2025

Aqueduct Race 4 Jimmy Winkfield Stakes

1 T Kraft enters here in fine form with back-to-back victories. Colt defeated winners at first asking last out over this main track here at the Big A. Jockey Jose Lezcano rides back off the win last month. Win Contender
2 Paula’s Star is a Filly who takes on the boys today. She exits from a front-running victory versus the gals here while breaking her Maiden. She now makes her second start off the layoff and enters here off a 9/154 bullet. Filly sports the best dirt speed figures in this group and should be a player against the boys today. Win Contender
6 Ican disappointed as the favorite in his most recent start finishing second by just over a length. Colt pressed the pace throughout the race that day and was no match for the winner. I expect a more patient ride from Jockey Manny Franco today. Major Threat

3 Giant Mischief hasn’t seen race day for over 3 months but this Brad Cox trainee has been training well at Payson Park. Cox hits at 29% winners off this type of layoff. This son of Into Mischief is a model of consistency, finishing in the money in 8 of 9 Lifetime starts while sporting 5 trips to the winner’s circle. Win Contender
2 Happy is a Choice is another in here who rarely runs a bad race. This gelding was a 5-time winner in 8 starts in 2024. He finished a game second in his 2025 debut over this strip in the King Cotton Stakes. Hard to leave this son of Runhappy off your tickets. Win Contender
1 Tejano Twist is a hard-trying 6-year-old Gelding, who incredibly went 0-9 in 2024, but did finish second twice in 2 Grade 3’s. He made his 2025 debut a winning one when defeated a depleted field of 4 in the King Cotton. He’s a stone closer in these 6-furlong sprints and I’m not crazy about the draw. He’ll come with his typical late run but will he get up in time, maybe? Major Threat

5 Early On looked very sharp when routing for the first time for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Filly broke Maiden by over 5 lengths that day and finished the last quarter mile in a very quick time. Seeing Flavien Prat on this 8-1 shot just adds to the intrigue. Top Pick
8 Fondly is another impressive Maiden winner facing winners for the first time. This Filly won on debut at Tampa at 7 furlongs while running a sharp 84 Bris number. Win Contender
3 Gowells Delight was no match against a very good horse in Good Cheer in the G2 Rachael Alexander. Filly faces no such animal in here today. Major Player

7 Rapture is a lightly raced son of the late Uncle Mo who just broke his Maiden in just his second start. As many of you know, I’ve always loved lightly raced Uncle Mo siblings stepping up in class. They tend to move forward at a very quick rate. Colt broke his Maiden by over 6 lengths at Oaklawn Park while clocking in at a sweet 88 Bris number. He’ll have to raise that number considerably to get the W here. I believe he’ll be up to the task. Win Contender
6 Getaway Car has been knocking heads with some of the best 3-year-olds in training and has performed well. He was last seen winning the Sunland Derby in gate-to-wire fashion. If they let this front-runner get an easy early lead, no one will catch this speedster at the wire. Win Contender
4 Omaha Omaha has been getting better in each consecutive start, he sports some of the best late-pace numbers of this group. If a speed duel ensues upfront, this Colt could make some noise at a price. Live Longshot

3 Mrs Astor enters here off back-to-back Grade 3 victories and gets a jockey upgrade to the red-hot Umberto Rispoli, who won 6 of his last 15 starts. The mare won 3 of her last 4 races of 2024 and has run well off a 2-month layoff. Win Contender
5 Starry Heavens is a European invader who has run against Graded company overseas but with not much success. Filly has been trying well for her North American debut. Win Contender
8 Kathynmarissa has been facing tougher. Major Player
4 Omaha Girl is a front-runner who usually gives it up like girls gone wild in the stretch run. However, in these marathons, it’s worth a shot on a horse like this. If he gets an uncontested lead and can lull them asleep on the front end, he can wire this group. Live Longshot