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Horse Racing

At the Gate – Thursday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read
Coming up on Saturday in addition to Belmont Park I’ll take a look at the stakes races from Parx Racing which include the $1 million Cotillion (G1) and $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1).

Both races drew solid fields and give connections one more shot against straight three-year-olds and the races serve preps for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff and Classic.

Regular readers of my column know I am not a huge face of Parx Racing. For a slots fueled track to offer up trifecta wagering with a 30% takeout is downright larcenous. So, I will include the races in Saturday’s Best Plays Report but recommend playing win and exactas only.

Monomoy Girl is the 3-5 morning line favorite for the Cotillion as she goes for her sixth straight win. Among her foes is Wonder Gadot, the winner of the Queen’s Plate and Prince of Wales, who faded to finish 10th in the Travers (G1).

The Pennsylvania Derby drew a field of 10 with McKinzie the 5-2 morning line favorite. The colt is making his first start since crossing the wire first and getting disqualified and placed second in the San Felipe (G2) back in March.

Among his foes are three Triple Crown race alums in Bravazo, Instilled Regard and Hofburg.

We were washed off the turf on Wednesday’s card at Belmont Park and the weather looks better for today and I am hoping we are back on the turf this afternoon.

Now is the perfect time to purchase my Monthly Package for just $99.95. It gives you a month of Belmont Park daily and my Best Plays Report each Saturday and Sunday.

To purchase my Belmont Park Report for Thursday click here.

Here is the third race (the first two are steeplechase races) from Belmont Park to get the day off to a good start:

BEL Race 3 Md $50,000 (2:37 ET)
#1 Sweet Caroline 7-5
#6 Brass Ring 3-1
#7 Bizness Beauty 4-1
#2 It's a Shaw Thing 6-1

Analysis: Sweet Caroline gets the call here despite the light price as she catches a really slow group and drops in for a tag for her second career start. She was not a threat checking in ninth in her debut at 12-1 in a field of nine. She takes the blinkers off for the Weaver barn that takes over from Brisset. The trainer is 28% winners dropping runners from maiden special to maiden claiming. She is out of a stakes placed A.P. Indy mare that has dropped five other foals to race with three winners.

Brass Ring tracked the early pace and was eased in the stretch last out at the Spa going seven furlongs and drops in for a tag. She showed speed in her debut three back before weakening to finish fourth, then was off poorly in her second career start. She is out of an In Excess mare that has dropped six winners, top earner stakes winner Tales in Excess ($122,750).

Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 8-5 or better.
EX: 1,6 / 1,2,6,7
TRI: 1,6 / 1,2,6,7 / 1,2,3,6,7

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

BEL Race 9 OClm $80,000N1X (5:50 ET)
#3 Quivery 6-1
#8 Brattata 4-1
#1 Data Dependent / 1a Supercommittee 2-1
#7 Sweet Sting 5-1

Analysis: Quivery was off a beat slow, trailed the field early and made a mild late run to finish sixth last out in her U.S. debut, beaten 3 3/4 lengths for the top spot, her first start off a 10-month layoff. Last summer this gal was fourth beaten two lengths at Goodwood in the Prestige Stakes (G3). She should be tighter second off the bench here for the Ribaudo barn and Castellano picks up the call. Tough to separate the top four in here and this filly should be a fair price.

Brattata stretches back out to a route after checking in ninth in the Coronation Cup going 5 1/2 furlongs over good ground at the Spa. The Brown trainee made a mild late rally to finish third two back in the Wild Applause behind repeat winner Got Stormy, who won the Ontario Cotillion (G3) at Woodbine in her next outing on July 21. The Brown trainee also ran a good third in the Herecomesthebriode (G3) four back at Gulfstream Park. The barn is 29% winners moving runners from sprint to route.

Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 4-1 or better.
EX: 3,8 / 1,3,7,8
TRI: 3,8 / 1,3,7,8 / 1,2,3,7,8

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
R4: #3 High Moon 10-1
R6: #2 Shamrocked 12-1
R7: #4 Forever Changed 10-1
R10: #4 Via Castagna 10-1

Good luck today!

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