Horse Racing Odds: 2024 Turf Season

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Pebbles and Autumn Days Open Aqueduct’s Exciting Turf Season

The Aqueduct fall meet kicks off with an exciting schedule, featuring nine turf stakes over the next two weeks, as horse racing odds take center stage in the Metropolitan area. With dry weather expected to hold, offtrack betting enthusiasts can look forward to top-notch turf action on Aqueduct’s courses before the turf season concludes on November 17.

Turf Stakes Begin With the Pebbles and Autumn Days

The turf stakes lineup begins with the Grade 3 Pebbles Stakes and the Autumn Days on Friday, followed by five significant events over the weekend, including the Grade 2 Red Smith, the Grade 3 Hill Prince, the Aqueduct Turf Sprint, and more. These turf races are part of a more extensive stakes program offering 26 races totaling $5.33 million in purses through December 29, making it a lucrative meet for horse owners and trainers.

Aqueduct’s most significant day of racing will be on December 7, featuring the Grade 2 Cigar Mile, the Grade 2 Remsen, the Grade 2 Demoiselle, and the Grade 3 Go for Wand. Racing will occur from Thursdays through Sundays, with Thanksgiving Day off and an 11-day break from December 16 to December 26.

Stellar Lineup for Opening Weekend

Friday’s opener features a $95,000 second-level allowance/optional-claiming race on dirt at 1 1/8 miles, headlined by Parx shipper Magic Michael. The seven-year-old gelding, trained by Jamie Ness, enters after a close second-place finish in the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup at 1 1/2 miles and a narrow loss at a shorter mile distance last time out. Magic Michael will be joined by Chad Brown’s duo of Army Times, returning from a 10-month layoff, and Moore’s Law, a recent first-level allowance winner.

The seventh race on Thursday, a 1 1/16-mile turf allowance, showcases trainer Horacio De Paz’s New York-breds Awesome Czech and Can’t Fool Me. Awesome Czech, a Mendelssohn filly, has shown strength at the distance with three wins in four tries and is ridden by Manny Franco, who returns to the saddle for this race. Can’t Fool Me moves to open company after a string of solid performances in state-bred races.

Essential Trainers and Jockeys at Aqueduct’s Fall Meet

Trainer Chad Brown, renowned for his turf contenders, returns with Rhiannon and Revalita on Thursday. Rhiannon is making her first start in a year after a solid seven-length turf debut win in September 2023. Revalita enters after a third-place finish in August at Saratoga. In this field, Vino Rouge aims to redeem herself after a fifth-place finish as the favorite in her last start.

Dylan Davis leads the jockey lineup, fresh off his first fall title in the Metropolitan circuit, winning 44 races at Belmont’s fall meet. Kendrick Carmouche, Manny Franco, and Flavien Prat followed Davis. Chad Brown claimed his 13th fall title on the training side, while Klaravich Stables dominated the owner standings with 11 wins.

As the Aqueduct fall meet continues, fans and bettors alike can expect intense competition, prime betting opportunities, and an engaging turf schedule before winter sets in.