(Friday, January 15) On days like this, I guess I should be happy to wager on New York breds. While the state bred races at Aqueduct drew large and competitive fields, the $65,000 Evening Attire Stakes drew a small field of six, with five betting interests.

Understatement and Well Positioned, both owned by Paul Pompa, make up the 3-5 morning line chalk in the Evening Attire.

Todd Pletcher, who has been on fire at the inner meeting with 17 winners in 37 starters, sends out Understatement, who came up a neck short at Laurel Park last out in an optional claiming race.

His entrymate Well Positioned is trained by Richard Dutrow, and is coming off a seven length win against first level allowance company.

The duo looks like they will be tough to beat in a rather unattractive betting race.

However, there are three competitive New York bred maiden races on the card, and several other races with large fields that are excellent betting races.

Short fields in stakes are the theme of the day.

At Santa Anita, only five three year olds will go to the post in the $100,000 San Rafael Stakes. The Bob Baffert trained Conveyance will be making his three year old debut.

The colt beat first level allowance company in November at Hollywood Park by seven lengths and looks like a very promising colt in Baffert’s loaded barn.

His main competition may be the John Sadler trained Domonation, who is coming in off a good effort in a runner up finish in the Stuka Stakes.

A field of six three year old fillies will compete in the $150,000 San Ynez Stakes (G2) at seven furlongs.

She’s Funomenal, winner of the Ifyoucouldseemenow Stakes at Hollywood Park on Dec. 13 is the likely favorite, with trainer Jerry Hollendorfer giving a leg up to Joel Rosario.

Franny Freud is invading from the Big Apple where she won the New York Stallion Stakes 5th Avenue in her last start, her fourth win in six career starts.

Garrett Gomez will ride the filly for the first time for trainer John Terranova.

The third stake on the card drew the largest field, with eight going in the $150,000 San Fernando Stakes (G2).

Smart Bid did not fire in his last start in the Malibu Stakes (G1) after a sharp win in the Damascus Stakes two back, both of those outings at seven furlongs.

The Graham Motion trainee may appreciate the stretch out to a route. The four year old colt was a game second, beaten a neck, in the Transylvania Stakes (G3) at Keeneland over yielding turf in April.

The colt looks primed for a good effort in his third start off the bench.

Others that look tough in the race are Rendezvous, who was a disappointing eighth in the Oak Tree Derby (G2) last out, and Papa Clem, who was third in the Malibu last out and stretches back out to a route.

Brian Mulligan is providing his full card selections and analysis for the entire nine race card.

Saturday’s feature at Oaklawn Park is the $50,000 American Beauty Stakes, a six furlong test for fillies and mares, four years old and upward.

Trainer Steve Asmussen sends out two runners, Yellow Rose Stakes winner Valid Code, and Auspicious, who comes into the race off a sharp win versus second level optional claimers.

I will have my selections on the race in my TURFblog.