Aqueduct Odds: Betting Tips For Jockey Club Oaks and Knickerbocker

The bracingly cool mornings in the Northeast are the reminder that the turf racing season around here is winding down.

It will soon be all dirt or synthetic action until the warming trends of Springtime. So, let’s enjoy racing on the lawn while we still can!

Aqueduct is doing its best to tuck in as many grass races as possible while conditions permit. The 10-race card Saturday includes five grass races, including both stakes: the $350,000 Jockey Club Oaks (G3) for 3-year-old fillies and the $150,000 Knickerbocker.

Let’s analyze both, starting with the Jockey Club Oaks, where Laurelin looks to regroup following her first career defeat.

The Irish-bred filly trained by H. Graham Motion launched her career with five straight victories, including stakes wins at the Big A in the Tepin and the Memories of Silver.

Her career highlight, and most recent victory, came in the Saratoga Oaks (G2), a 1 ¾-length score over Evershed, who returns to challenge here.

The winning streak ended in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) at Keeneland. There was no shame in her game that day, as she ran second to Lush Lips by just over a length.

“I thought she ran great,” Motion said. “The winner ran a big race, and I thought we ran our race. It’s always tough when you’re undefeated but I thought she ran super.”

Back at the Big A, where she is a perfect 3-for-3, Laureli is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in this 1 3/8 miles test. This will be the longest race of her budding career.

“I think that’s what she wants to do,” Motion said of the added distance. “She’s kind of bred to do that.”

Kendrick Carmouche, who has been aboard for five of her six starts, has the return call.

Looking for a bit more value, we’re leaning toward Fionn (2-1) who also sports an impressive resume. Trained by Brad Cox, Fionn is the leading money-winner in the race with over $1.8 million in the bank with a record of 6-1-1 in 9 starts.

She set a course record in winning the Belmont Oaks (G1) at Saratoga and followed that with a stout rally to take the Dueling Grounds Oaks (G3) at Kentucky Downs.

Her next stop was also the Queen Elizabeth, where she was the 3-2 favorite. She broke poorly, dropped back to last and wound up settling for fourth.

We’re looking for a rebound effort as Cox removes the blinkers and retains Flavien Prat in the saddle.

We’ll round out the top three with Evershed at 5-1.

The picks: 1 Fionn 2 Laurelin 3 Evershed

The field for the $350,000 Jockey Club Oaks (G3), from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:

1. Scythian (Sahin Civaci, Bill Mott), 8-1

2. Hereforagoodtime (John Velazquez, Brendan Walsh), 18-1

3. National Archive (Manny Franco, Miguel Clement), 15-1

4. Fionn (Flavien Prat, Brad Cox), 2-1

5. Evershed (Dylan Davis, Arnaud Delacour), 5-1

6. Don't Jinx It (Jaime Rodriguez, Miguel Clement), 15-1

7. Laurelin (Kendrick Carmouche, H. Graham Motion), 8-5

8. Unmerited Favor (Chris Elliott, Kenny McPeek), 15-1

Motion tries for stakes double with Trikari; Knickerbocker odds, picks

The Maryland-based trainer could have a big day in New York with a pair of solid contenders in both Big A stakes.

Two races after Motion sends out Laurelin in the Jockey Club Oaks, he will saddle Trikari (4-1) in the Knickerbocker, a 1 1/8-mile turf test for older runners.

This will be the 4-year-old’s return to Aqueduct since winning the 2024 Belmont Derby (G1). He comes in well rested after taking most of the summer off.

His return was a solid third-place try in an Aqueduct allowance last month. John Velazquez retains the mount in the horse's bid for the first win since last year’s Secretariat Stakes (G2) at Colonial Downs.

Ohana Honor (7-5) disappointed as the 9-5 favorite in the Sycamore Stakes (G2) at Keeneland, a 1 ½-mile marathon. The cutback in distance should help, as he no longer appreciates the extended routes.

Signator was claimed for $100,000 last time out by trainer Panagiotis (you can call him Pete) Synnefias who will add blinkers for the gray horse’s debut for new ownership.

 The picks: 1 Trikari 2 Ohana Honor 3 Signator

The field for the $100,000 Knickerbocker Stakes, from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, odds:

1. Dear Dad (Jaime Rodriguez, Antonio Arriaga), 10-1

2. Fuerteventura (R Silvera, Antonio Arriaga), 15-1

3. Trikari (John Velazquez, H. Graham Motion), 4-1

4. Ohana Honor (Flavien Prat, Shug McGaughey), 7-5

5. Ohio Joe (Anthony Salgado, Lou Linder, Jr.), 30-1

6. Signator (Julio Hernandez, Pete Synnefias), 8-1

7. Air Recruit (Dylan Davis, Arnaud Delacour), 3-1

8. Naptown (Manny Franco, Jose Magana), 8-1

Also-eligible (main track only)

9. Bank Frenzy (Manny Franco, Rudy Rodriguez), 1-1

US Racing Team

The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.