The big betting race of the day at Aqueduct on Saturday comes in the form of the G3 Go For Wand Stakes. This race is the right on the card, and fillies and mares aged three and older will race over a mile.
The race has attracted a big field of eleven runners, and cases can be made for many. No trainer has dominated this race in recent renewals, with no trainer having won more than once since 2010.
Bank Sting
Bank Sting has been in very strong form throughout 2022 for trainer John Terranova II, and she will be looking to cap the year with a solid outing in the Go For Wand. She was last seen finishing second over 6 ½ furlongs in the Iroquois Stakes at Belmont at The Big A behind November Rain, but that did follow an impressive effort when winning the Dancin Renee at Belmont.
Her form over a mile isn’t as eye-catching, as she is yet to win over this distance in two starts. Her most recent effort saw her finish second to Make Mischief in the Critical Eye. But, she did beat Battle Bling over course and distance in March to claim the Heavenly Prize Invitational.
Dr. B
I think Dr. B may be one of a number of runners in this race that are still improving. This four-year-old has already placed in multiple stakes races, including at Belmont at the Big A over seven furlongs when finishing second to Boston Post Road. She is unexposed over a mile, but her form over seven furlongs does give her every chance.
Her record this season has been extremely sound, which includes a second to Goodnight Olive at Saratoga over 6 ½ furlongs. If this race becomes a charge to the line, you’d want her in your corner, as fewer are pacier than this Robert Reid runner.
Tonal Vision
Given we don’t yet have odds out for the Go For Wand, I think one that could go off at a bigger price of interest may be Tonal Vision. This five-year-old has been in steady form throughout this season, and has a ton of experience over this distance.
She was last seen winning in very muddy conditions at Parx, clocking a rating of 82 in the process. Tonal Vision has also impressed in graded company this term, having finished third in the G2 Delaware Handicap. She looks well treated at the weights this weekend, and I could easily see her running into a place position if at her best.
Go For Wand Pick- Battle Bling
Battle Bling will be on top weight for the race this weekend, but that isn’t enough to sway me from the Rob Altras runner. She has been very consistent throughout 2022, and there is clear evidence that she could still be improving. Her record at Aqueduct is solid, having won on two from five starts and finishing second on three occasions.
Her prowess at the track was clear in the G3 Turnback the Alarm, as she finished clear of Nostalgic over 1 1/8 miles. A mile may not be her preferred distance, but if at the level we have seen over the previous three months, she looks hard to oppose in search of a fourth straight win.
