Sign In $
Horse Racing

At the Gate – Sunday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
6 minute read
The Triple Crown bid of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Justify may have gotten a bit tougher after Saturday.

First, Derby runner up Good Magic now appears as if he will ship to Baltimore. Trainer Chad Brown said yesterday that if all goes well after a Monday gallop he will commit last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner to the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

Looking ahead to the Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 9, that race picked up a new shooter after yesterday’s Peter Pan (G3), which was won by Blended Citizen.

The Doug O’Neill trainee ran fourth in the Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland in his final Derby prep and found himself on the outside looking in. The colt was the lone also eligible for the Derby, but there were no defections during the week and instead he was shipped to New York.

He made a good late rally to run down Core Beliefs in the Peter Pan in a solid looking outing in the nine-furlong race. He looks as if he will not have a problem handling the stretch out to 1 ½ miles.

The colt was our second choice behind Just Whistle, and we knocked down a decent exacta that paid $38.40 and the recommended trifecta that paid $56.74 on a $1 ticket.

My Best Plays on Saturday included four races from Pimlico. I thought we might as well get an early start as I don’t follow the Maryland circuit as much as I used to. I was a track regular at Laurel Park and Pimlico for two decades and my partnership managed to win a couple of dozen races at the two tracks.

However, since moving to Florida I have tended to concentrate on New York, Kentucky and Florida tracks.

After whiffing on the first race yesterday we came up with three exactas in the other three races, returning $28.80, $31.20 and $37.60. My top picks in races seven and eight combined for a $2 double that paid $52.00.

Not to bad for a rusty Marylander. We head back there today, but there is rain in the forecast, so I concentrated on the main track races.

My Best Plays Report for Sunday includes my nine strongest plays from Belmont Park and Pimlico.

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

Now is the perfect time to purchase my Monthly Package, which will give you a full month of reports from Belmont Park, my Best Plays Report each weekend and my Black Eyed Susan and Preakness Day reports From Pimlico.

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

BEL Race 1 Alw $50,000s (1:30 ET)
#1 Mr. Fixit 6-1
#2 Wrong Ben 5-1
#6 The Caretaker 5-2
#3 Data Driven 8-5

Analysis: Mr. Fixit came off a six-month break with a win versus $40,000 non-winners of two, drawing away to win by 4 3/4 lengths. He graduated in his debut at Gulfstream Park last July and then weakened to finish sixth against Alw-1 optional claimers in his first start against winners. Terranova finds a good spot for hm here taking on starter allowance foes and the 6-1 morning line looks generous.

Wrong Bend took $16,000 non-winners of two gate to wire last out in a game effort after coming up short in three tries against state bred Alw-1 foes. He broke his maiden in his debut on the inner track last March. He makes his third start off the layoff and this guy owns solid early and mid pace numbers. Johnny V takes over for Hennig and another move forward puts him right in the mix in this spot.

Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 7-2 or better.
EX: 1,2 / 1,2,6
TRI: no play

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Pimlico:

PIM Race 7 Clm $5,000B (3:58 ET)
#7 Silver Cowboy 5-2
#1 I Wanda Win 3-1
#2 Pistol Posse 6-1
#9 Drive At Nite 10-1

Analysis: Silver Cowboy is back on dirt after getting outrun against $16,000 starter optional claimers in his turf debut. Two back in his first go off the claim by the Ness barn the gelding ran a game second going 5 1/2 furlongs on the main track at Laurel Park. The switch back to dirt will suit him and if the rains come that would be an added bonus as this guy is bred to handle a wet track and has a win in two trips on the off going.

I Wanda Win also goes turf to dirt. The gelding tracked the early pace and faded to finish ninth against open $7,500 foes. He beat restricted $7,500 claimers two back on the main track at Laurel Park and fits well in this spot for non-winners of four or a race since Nov. 13. This old time has landing in the exacta 28 times in his career.

Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 2-1 or better.
EX: 1,7 / 1,2,7,9
TRI: 1,7 / 1,2,7,9 / 1,2,7,9,10

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

BEL Race 9 Alw $77,000N1X (5:50 ET)
#4 Psychic Energy 10-1
#9 Yummy Bear 3-1
#12 Battle in Seattle 5-1
#7 All Systems Go 7-2

Analysis: Psychic Energy brushed a foe coming out of the gate, raced in mid pack and made a good late rally while wide to get up late and beat state bred Alw-2 optional claimers last out over good ground at the Big A going six furlongs. It was her first go off a four-month break for Rice. The gelding steps outside the ranks of state breds here for the first time but looks up to it and her 10-1 morning line looks generous.

Yummy Bear stalked the early pace and was no match for a six-length winner last out in a runner up finish at this level last out, his first go off a 4 1/2-month layoff. The Donk trainee has run second at this level three straight outings after beating state bred Alw-2 foes four back. Two back he was second sandwiched between a pair of next out winners. His last three figs are good enough to beat this group.

Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 6-1 or better.
EX: 4,9 / 4,7,9,12
TRI: 4,9 / 4,7,9,12 / 3,4,7,9,12

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.

Belmont Park
R5: #2 Desirous 8-1
R6: #5 First Commander 12-1
R8: #5 Big Thicket 12-1
R9: #4 Psychic Energy 10-1
R10: #7 Leading Storm 8-1
R10: #9 Latin Love Bug 12-1

Good luck today!

Horse Racing News

VegasInsider Staff

VegasInsider Staff

More from VegasInsider Staff
•