At the Gate – Sunday

It is closing day at Aqueduct this afternoon and we have a good card that features three stakes. Belmont Park opens next Friday.

We knocked down the Federico Tesio at Laurel Park yesterday as my featured play, with Diamond King getting the job done returning $6.60 and stamping his ticket to the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico.

My second choice Holland Park rallied form far back to complete a nice exacta that paid $73.60. My fourth choice Noble Commander checked in third with the $1 trifecta paying $207.50.

We did not have as much luck in the Charles Town Classic (G2) as my top pick Diversify packed it in readily to fade to finish last with Something Awesom pulling off the upset and returning $20.60, edging my second choice War Story by a neck.

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My Best Plays Multi Track Report for Sunday includes my seven strongest plays from Aqueduct and Keeneland.

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

AQU Race 1 OClm $80,000C (1:20 ET)
#5 Inflexibility 8-5
#4 In the Lee 2-1
#1 Blessed Silence 5-2
#2 Flipcup 4-1

Analysis: Inflexibility makes her first start since last October where she won the Canadian bred Carotene going nine furlongs on the turf at Woodbine. She broke her maiden at Belmont Park at today's distance. Brown is 27% winners with runners coming back off a +180 day layoff and this looks like the perfect starting spot for this filly as she makes her four-year-old debut.

In the Lee makes her first starts since beating Alw-2 optional claimers in December here going nine furlongs. Her first two wins came on the turf at Laurel park and she was only beaten 1 1/4 lengths by repeat winner Rymska in the Commonwealth oaks (G3) two back. Decent looking works on the morning tab for the Shug barn that is 17% winners with runners returning off a 61-180 day layoff.

Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 8-5 or better.
EX: 5 / 1,4
TRI: no play

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 7 NY Stallion Times Square (4:44 ET)
#7 Retonova 2-1
#5 A True Giant 6-5
#3 Santo Antonio 7-2
#6 Aqua Bel Sur 15-1

Analysis: Retonova drew off to a smart looking win in his debut for the Englehart barn, sent off at 10-1 in a field of eight. The gelding earned the top last out speed fig and looks as if the extra half furlong here will suit him. It's not a real tough looking group he faces here in his first start against winners.

A True Giant took the field gate to wire to break his maiden in his debut here on April 11 at 5-1. He did take advantage of a racing strip that was kind to inside speed. The RRod runner owns solid early and mid pace numbers but his price is going to end up on the light side. He looks best of the rest but hoping our top pick offers a bit more value for the top spot.

Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 9-5 or better.
EX: 5,7 / 3,5,6,7
TRI: 7 / 3,5,6 / 2,3,5,6

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Keeneland:

KEE Race 7 Alw $76,000N2L (4:24 ET)
#1 Autotrade 9-5
#7 Nottoway 12-1
#5 Shangroyal 3-1
#4 Twin Farms 6-1

Analysis: Autotrade showed good early speed in his debut and drew off easy to break his maiden in his debut for Pletcher at Gulfstream Park, earning the top last out speed fig. The $400,000 Ocala purchase looks as if he some serious talent and looking for him to move forward off his impressive debut and win right back.

Nottoway ships in from Oaklawn Park where last out he battled for the early led and finished gamely to pick up his diploma in his fourth career start. He ran well over the main track here last fall in a third place finish in his second career start. He has moved forward in each start and faces winners here for the first time while battle tested. Worth tossing in the mix here at a decent price.

Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 8-5 or better.
EX: 1,7 / 1,4,5,7
TRI: 1,7 / 1,4,5,7 / 1,3,4,5,7

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
R2: #5 Zecha 10-1
R4: #5 More Front 10-1
R4: #7 Go Big Or Go Home 8-1
R5: #4 Casigordo 10-1
R6: #9 Rockin Jo 12-1
R7: #6 Aqua Bel Sur 15-1

Good luck today!