Sports

Through the Bionocs

The bettors are getting wise. Binocs pointed out last week that Julissa Laredo, the 40-year-old jocky from Peru who isn’t exactly smooth in the saddle, was “Queen of the Maiden Claimers” at this meet after booting home Firstbellathenkk to pay $230, Grand Award at $53, Take the El at $259.50 and Bwana Booyah at $44.20, all going gate-to-wire in cheap maiden-claiming races.

In yesterday’s third race at Aqueduct, Laredo was riding Pencil Papers, blinkers on for trainer David Prine, dropping in for a 25G tag after the 3-year-old filly was beaten 11 and 16 lengths in her first two starts vs. NY-bred special weights at 41-1 and 64-1. But this time, they bet Laredo down to 8-1.

Following the script, she gunned Pencil Papers out of the gate, quickly shook loose on the front end and led the field on a merry chase, drawing off through the stretch to win as much the best for a measly $19 payoff.

* Apprentice jockey Keiber Coa, who went down hard and was taken to Jamaica Hospital after his horse stumbled in Saturday’s fifth race, was released yesterday morning. He was taken off his mounts at Aqueduct, but was uninjured, just sore.

FIRST RACE: If at first you don’t succeed … House On Toilsome, a dismal 1-for-20 and winless since 2011, was nevertheless favored at 8-5 in this woeful field of 12.5G claimers (a combined 9-for-149 before scratches), and he ran off the TV screen under Ruben Silvera like he’d been doing it all his life; only eight more days of racing this winter over the inner track.

SECOND RACE: Ballerina Belle, favored at 4-5 after two close seconds in her first two starts for Linda Rice, clipped heels and stumbled a few strides out of the gate and settled for third under Cornelio Velasquez, who later on the card won two straight races by a nose.

FOURTH RACE: Whether it was going from a muddy track to a fast one, switching riders from apprentice Guillermo Rodriguez to journeyman Samuel Camacho Jr., first-time Lasix, or a combination of all three, something woke up Corybant in this 16G maiden claimer. after he finished last of seven, beaten 25 lengths, debuting for a 12.5G tag six weeks ago. The 4-year-old gelding quickly sprinted clear, chased by heavy favorite Down Broadway, who drifted to 2-5 after opening at 1-9. Around the turn, Jose Ortiz put Down Broadway to a drive, then went to the whip turning for home, but he never got a sniff of Corybant.

PICK SIX

Winning numbers: 4-7-8-4-4-5.

Each winner (6 of 6) was paid $12,514.

Each co
nsolation (5 of 6) winners was paid $107.50

No Carryover