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Horse Racing

At the Gate – Wednesday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read
All of the major Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) preps are in the books after the final three were contested on Saturday, and I think most of us are more confused than we were before.

Accelerate and West Coast squared off Saturday in the Awesome Again (G1) at Santa Anita, the latter making his first start off a six-month layoff. Accelerate got the job done by 2 ¼ lengths, but it was hardly a breathtaking performance.

His Beyer Speed Figure was a 100, down from the 115 he earned for winning the Pacific Classic (G1) by more than a dozen lengths. Perhaps his trainer John Sadler did not have him fully cranked, but he did not look as good as he did earlier this year.

He is still the early betting favorite for the Classic at [...] at +300 while West Coast is currently at +800.

Diversify went off as the chalk in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont Park but was dueled into defeat, tiring to finish fifth. His early Classic betting odds at [...] have drifted up to +1600 and I am guessing his connections may end up skipping the race.

Mind Your Biscuits proved he could get two turns winning the Lukas Classic on Saturday night at Churchill Downs but going nine furlongs against that company and going 1 ¼ miles in the Classic is a different animal.

McKenzie is taking action after his Pennsylvania Derby (G1) victory a couple of weeks ago and is the second choice at +600. Catholic Boy, the Travers (G1) winner is at +700.

Thankfully I have nearly a month to sort this race out, as well as the other 13 races making up the Breeders’ Cup. We have 14 Win and You’re In races coming up this weekend including nine at Keeneland.

Breeders’ Cup Classic Odds via [...]:
Accelerate +300
McKinzie +600
Catholic Boy +700
West Coast +800
Mendelssohn +1200
Yoshida +1200
Catalina Cruiser +1400
Collected +1400
Roaring Lion +1400
Thunder Snow +1400
Audible +1600
Diversify +1600
Gronkowski +3300
Vino Rosso +4000
Toast Of New York +5000

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

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

To purchase my Belmont Park Report for Wednesday click here.

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

BEL Race 1 Clm $14,000N3L (1:30 ET)
#6 Truly a Moon Shot 3-1
#1 Pretentious 8-5
#5 Fifty 9-5
#4 Appealing Henry 5-1

Analysis: Truly a Moon Shot prompted the early pace and weakened to finish fourth last out at this level in his second start off the claim by the Quick barn. He did not fire two back in his first go for the barn facing $25,000 foes but looks as if he may be back on track. Three back he was a sharp winner versus non-winners of two over the main track here.

Pretentious made a good late rally to finish in the runner up spot last out as the beaten favorite going seven furlongs. He bounced back after not taking to the turf two back against $35,000 foes. The Mott trainee owns a solid pace profile throughout with the edge in late pace numbers. He does not need to move forward all that much of his last effort to bet this group but our top pick is looking as if he will offer a bit more value for the top spot.

Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 1,6 / 1,5,6
TRI: no play

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

BEL Race 8 Alw $66,000N1X (5:18 ET)
#2 Chiclet's Dream 9-2
#4 Spring Folly 6-1
#6 Theaterintheround 6-1
#1 Lovely La La / 1a Ascender 5-2

Analysis: Chiclet's Dream faces winners for the first time here after a good looking maiden score at the Spa over good ground in her fifth career start. She tracked the early pace and drew off to win by eight lengths. She has shown improvement with each outing and has shown over her last two trips she can handle ground with some give to it which should be the case here with more rain coming over night. She is the first foal out of the stakes winner Karakorum Elektra ($485,061).

Spring Folly had a tough post last out, made a good middle move and was in contention in the stretch but weakened inside the final furlong to finish seventh beaten 3 3/4 lengths last out. She had run second in her three previous starts at this level including a neck loss three back here going nine furlongs. She handled yielding ground two back in a runner up finish She is in good hands with Dickinson who has kept a low profile for the most part since coming out of semi-retirement.

Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 7-2 or better.
EX: 2,4 / 1,2,4,6
TRI: 2,4 / 1,2,4,6 / 1,2,4,6,7

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.

Belmont Park
R3: #3 Ajnaas 8-1
R9: #8 Doc’s Way 10-1

Good luck today!

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