Greetings and welcome to Noel Michaels’ Weekend Victors, your ultimate source for prime weekend selections and strategic plays from the seasoned handicapper and pioneer in tournament gameplay, Noel Michaels. Remember to visit each week for specially highlighted selections crafted to assist you in securing successful wagers and increasing your earnings. Noel’s expertise has been showcased in numerous platforms where horse racing insights are shared, notably in publications like the Daily Racing Form, The HorsePlayer Magazine, and American Turf Monthly; on digital platforms such as DRF.com, Twinspires.com, and USRacing.com; from the paddock setting at Arlington International Racecourse; and through broadcasts on HRTV, TVG, NYC OTB Extra, NYRA’s Talking Horses, and television appearances on WAVE-3 Louisville, ABC KOLO-8 in Reno, Nevada, and Channel 72 Long Island Cablevision.
Six Foundational Wagering Resources
- Begin with simplicity using a straightforward guide on how to engage in horse race betting.
- Unclear on a term’s meaning? The lexicon of horse racing is unique. Allow us to provide the clarification you need.
- What precisely is a velocity metric? This introductory guide to velocity metrics contains all the necessary information.
- Participating in horse race wagering can be daunting. Team ABR has compiled a list of essential guidelines for newcomers to race wagering.
- Errors are common when wagering on horse races; here are eight insights derived from personal experiences.
- Calculate your anticipated bet costs with our Wagering Calculator, brought to you by NYRA Bets.
The autumn racing schedule in New York carries on this weekend at Aqueduct, offering another engaging 10-race lineup this Saturday. The card features two prominent turf stakes races, with both the Jockey Club Oaks and the Knickerbocker Stakes attracting highly competitive fields. For this weekend’s anticipated victories, let’s pinpoint the top contenders in these two marquee races, setting us up for a potentially lucrative day at the Big A. Best of luck to all.
Saturday, Nov. 15
Aqueduct, Race 7, $350,000 Jockey Club Oaks, post time 2:39 p.m. ET
A remarkable assembly of eight 3-year-old female horses is slated to compete in the Grade 3 Jockey Club Oaks over a distance of 1 3/8 miles on the turf. The race has drawn a lineup that includes most of the key contenders in the division, save for Nitrogen and Lush Lips. #4 Fionn secured a notable triumph in this summer’s Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes, defeating Nitrogen, who subsequently placed second in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Complementing this, Fionn also boasts wins in Churchill Downs’ Grade 3 Regret Stakes at 1 1/8 miles and Kentucky Downs’ Grade 3 Blackwood Dueling Grounds Oaks Invitational Stakes at 1 5/16 miles, showcasing a year of remarkable achievements. Fionn’s only defeats in 2025 occurred on turf that was not perfectly firm, suggesting that a firm course this Saturday could make her a formidable opponent. Another significant contender in this year’s 3-year-old filly division is #7 Laurelin, who began her career with five consecutive victories, including a win in the Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes over 1 3/16 miles on Aug. 9. Her only blemish on an otherwise perfect 3-year-old record was a second-place finish in Keeneland’s Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Presented by Dixiana, a performance that is hardly a setback. While the leading contenders are well-positioned, there remains the possibility of an unexpected outcome, primarily due to the presence of #1 Scythian, who is likely to be undervalued at morning-line odds of 8-1. Scythian initiated her season on the main track on Aug. 30 and then narrowly missed a victory in her prep race by a length due to an unfavorable trip. Last fall, she was a decisive winner of the Grade 2 Miss Grillo Stakes on this very course, a premier turf race for 2-year-old fillies in New York, and she appears ready to regain her peak form in her third start following a period away. The chance to wager on a Bill Mott-trained horse at favorable odds in a race of this caliber is an opportunity worth seizing.
The Play: Place a win bet on #1 Scythian (8-1) and include her in exacta and trifecta boxes with #4 Fionn (2-1), and #7 Laurelin (8-5).
Aqueduct, Race 9, $150,000 Knickerbocker Stakes, post time 3:39 p.m. ET
The $150,000 Knickerbocker Stakes has gathered a group of eight challengers prepared to compete over 1 1/8 miles on the turf (along with one horse designated for the main track only). #3 Trikari, an accomplished competitor with multiple graded stakes victories as a 3-year-old, including a Grade 1 win at Aqueduct, is now primed for a defining performance in his 4-year-old campaign. Trikari has recently engaged in a comeback race, following a 3 ½-month absence, with a third-place finish that sets the stage for a potentially dominant performance against this field, given his past successes. #7 Air Recruit is another horse poised to return to top form after falling short in the Grade 3 FanDuel TV Mint Millions Invitational Stakes at Kentucky Downs, a course with varying suitability for different horses. Dismissing that previous performance, he now finds a more favorable opportunity, supported by two impressive turf victories this summer with commendable velocity metrics, including the $110,000 Oceanport Stakes at Monmouth Park. Another contender demonstrating velocity metrics that compare favorably within this field is #4 Ohana Honor, who is making his third appearance of the season, buoyed by strong showings in his recent races. Although potentially better suited for longer distances, he has demonstrated sufficient capability at distances similar to this one to warrant consideration against this competition.
The Play: Place a win bet on #3 Trikari (4-1) and include him in exacta and trifecta boxes with #4 Ohana Honor (7-5) and #7 Air Recruit (3-1).
