Expert Pick of the Week: 2024 Central Park Stakes

Nov 13, 2024

An overflow field of 11 juveniles is entered in the $150,000 Central Park S. at Aqueduct on Saturday. The one-mile test on the lawn is led by the George Weaver-trained Not for Hire, who was most impressive in his debut victory on the oval on October 27. He is the Expert Pick of the Week.

By Not This Time, the $200,000 weanling purchase faced 10 foes in a six-furlong sprint at first asking, and the New York-bred led at every call in posting a five-length victory under today’s pilot Jose Lezcano. The February foal showed obvious speed in the heat, but it was the way he finished off the race that left such a good impression on me. Not for Hire earned a field-topping 95 Brisnet Speed figure for his efforts, and I don’t feel that the colt will regress to the move to open company, nor with the stretch out in distance.

The dark bay two-year-old runs for a conditioner who is good across the board with his turf runners, which includes a nice rate in the stakes ranks, as well. He posted a maintenance half-mile drill in preparation for his stakes bow and will be forwardly placed from the early stages on Saturday.

Jack and Jim, also an Empire State-bred colt, rallied for a nice score in his unveiling going 1 1/16 miles on the course, and looks like a nice prospect for trainer Graham Motion. The son of Slumber was produced from a stakes-winning mare and could be following in her footsteps going forward. A Madaket Stables homebred, the dark bay colt has posted a handful of solid morning drills in advance of his stakes debut and will have Manny Franco in the stirrups once again.

Chad Brown's Early Adopter was third over yielding ground in the Pilgrim S. (G2) in his second lifetime appearance and has plenty of room to move forward. By outstanding turf sire Lope de Vega, the chestnut was a game winner at Saratoga on August 31 and will come into this one while fresh for a potent layoff trainer. The win threat picks up the services of the superb Flavien Prat, as well.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #6 Not for Hire on top of #4 Jack and Jim and #9 Early Adopter in the 2024 Central Park Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.

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