US racing tips: Tom Collins heads to Aqueduct for his Saturday selections

Lost In Rome
5.49 Aqueduct
1pt win

Iconic Adventure
7.43 Aqueduct
2pts win

Trainer Bill Mott has a 15 per cent strike-rate with first-time starters this year but rarely has them fully tuned for their respective debuts.

I much prefer backing his horses second time up and, in Iconic Adventure, he has a promising two-year-old colt who appears ready to get off the mark in the $80,000 maiden special weight (7.43) at Aqueduct.

The Godolphin-owned son of Ghostzapper showed good promise in breezes over 4f and 5f before his debut, so it was a surprise he didn't take much money last month at Belmont Park.

A slow start from the inside post cost him any chance of winning, but he rallied powerfully from a mile off the pace to finish a clearcut second and shaped as if he only began to understand his job in the final two furlongs.

He's drawn well again and interestingly has Irad Ortiz in the saddle, who doesn't ride too many for Mott. I expect him to track the pace and prove strongest in the straight.

Orlando Noda did well at Aqueduct last year and is 2-7 with his runners at this meeting. He has a number of entries on the card, the best of whom could be Lost In Rome in the $44,000 claimer (5.49).

This gelding lacks gatespeed but quickly finds his stride and is drawn to lead against the rail rounding the bend. Four runs at Aqueduct last winter returned two victories and he should relish the slight drop in grade after competing for a $32,000 prize at Belmont Park last month.

The Linda Rice-trained Crypto Cash is the morning line favourite but has barely shown up on his last two attempts after winning at this track in the spring.

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