Aqueduct Friday

In the third at Aqueduct, Gentle Edwin (7-2) goes second off the claim for trainer Cody Autrey. This four-year old gelded son of Trust N Luck was moved smartly up in claiming price in his first race for Autrey, and won with a career high Beyer of 82 in what was his first dirt race around two turns. This barn is hitting at 34% (20 for 58) in the second-off-claim category, as compared to 21% first out over the same period, so perhaps further improvement is due, with David Cohen (30% for this trainer) aboard. This rich Starters Allowance is a chance for connections to make hay on this horse, claimed for 15K. African Diamond (3-1) is two-for-two in two turn dirt races, most recently in a short field at the Meadowlands for the live Bruce Brown barn. Looks like the likely winner should he run back to his win in open 35K claimers at Saratoga in August. I'll use him in exactas with the top choice with the morning line favorite El Tamberito (2-1) looking vulnerable in his first start around two turns; and the recent good form of Coach Gravy (7-2) having come over synthetic surfaces.