Sign In $
Horse Racing

At the Gate – Sunday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read
My fourth choice Economic Model held off my top pick Irish War Cry in yesterday’s $100,000 Hal’s Hope (G3) by 1 ¾ lengths, returning $12.20 for the win and topping a $2 exacta that paid $36.60.

The winner earned a 102 Beyer Speed Figure for the win, and it was an encouraging effort by Irish War Cry, who was making his first start since a dud in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) last fall.

The race was marred by a fatal breakdown of the Todd Pletcher trained Send It In. The gelding was making his first start since winning the Excelsior (G3) last April where he earned a lofty 119 Beyer. Jockey John Velazquez escaped injury in the spill.

I went 0 for 4 at Gulfstream Park but we knocked down five recommended exactas at The Big A: $39.60, $36.20, $93.00, $41.60 and $13.00.

Sunday’s feature is the $75,000 Melody of Colors, a five-furlong sprint on turf that drew a field of seven. The Pletcher trained March X Press is the 6-5 morning line favorite.

I am looking for a price with Crazy for Sophia, who has some early zip and is sitting at a generous 10-1 on the morning line.

My Best Plays Multi Track Report for Sunday includes my eight strongest plays from Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park.

To purchase my Aqueduct and Best Plays Reports for Sunday click here .

Here is the opening race from Aqueduct to get the day off to a good start:

AQU Race 1 Clm $16,000N2L (12:50 ET)
#2 Shamrocked 7-5
#5 Son of Mine 3-1
#3 Noble and True 4-1
#4 Lightning Buzz 5-1

Analysis: Shamrocked set the early fractions and battled on gamely until late, checking in third and beaten two lengths at this level. The runner up The Orphan Miracle came back to beat $16,000 non-winners of two in his next start. He returns here off a four month break for the Summers barn that is 17% winners with runners coming back off a 61-180 day layoff. He is out of a Giant's Causeway mare and is bred to handle a wet track which it looks likely to see today.

Son of Mine was not off cleanly last out, raced at the back and finished evenly in a fifth place finish. He returns as a gelding as he makes his third start cine RRod claimed him for $25,000 from Rice. Her was a good third behind repeat winner Bar None four back at today's six furlong distance. Looks headed back in the right direction form wise and has a solid off track pedigree.

Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 7-5 or better.
EX: 2,5 / 2,3,5
TRI: no play

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 7 Md $30,000 (1:00 ET)
#9 Backstretch George 7-2
#6 Miracolo 5-1
#1 Alex's Lemon Twist 3-1
#11 Kelvin 10-1

Analysis: Backstretch George chased the early pace and weakened to finish third last out in the slop in his debut, sent off at 10-1 in a field of nine. He drops a notch in class here to $30,000 and figures to move forward with a race under his belt. He is bred to like a wet track which he may catch again today. He is by Spring At Last out of a Forestry mare that has dropped one winner.
Miracolo debuts for the RRod barn that is 16% winners with first timers. The colt is by the speedy Bustin Stones out of a Trick Me mare that has dropped two foals to race, both winners. A steady string of works on the morning tab.

Wagering
WIN: #9 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 6,9 / 1,6,9,11
TRI: 6,9 / 1,6,9,11 / 1,2,6,9,11

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Gulfstream Park:

GP Race 11 The Melody of Colors (5:04 ET)
#4 Crazy for Sophia 10-1
#3 March X Press 6-5
#2 Treasure for Gold 7-2
#1 Mrs. Ramona G. 4-1

Analysis: Crazy for Sophia made her stakes debut in the 7 1/2 furlong Ginger Brew where she prompted the early pace and weakened to finish seventh, beaten 4 1/2 lengths. The winner Thewayijam came back to win the Sweet Chant (G3) in her next outing on Feb. 3. Our top pick is quick and while she came from off the pace two and three back she looks as if she will be in the mix early here. She should get the jump on the chalk and is going to offer more value for the top spot.

March X Press made a good late run to finish fifth in the Juvenile Turf Sprint on the Breeders' Cup undercard in her last outing, taking on the boys. She won the Bolton landing at the Spa last summer in her first start against winners. She returns here off the break for the Pletcher barn that is 19% winners with runners coming back off a 61-180 day layoff. She looks tough but is going to be a good trip and her price is going to be on the short side.

Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 6-1 or better.
EX: 3,4 / 1,2,3,4
TRI: 3,4 / 1,2,3,4 / 1,2,3,4,5

Live Longshots:
These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.

Aqueduct
R3: #6 Operator 8-1
R4: #6 Missile Bomb 12-1
R6: #5 Musicality 15-1
R7: #11 Kelvin 10-1
R9: #2 Berger 10-1

Good luck today!

Horse Racing News

VegasInsider Staff

VegasInsider Staff

More from VegasInsider Staff
•