At the Gate – Saturday

We have plenty of betting action on tap this afternoon with a 12-race card at Gulfstream Park with nine stakes highlighted by the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1).

In addition, I was pleasantly surprised by how good the Aqueduct card is for Saturday. We have a 10-race card with the feature the $100,000 Jazil for four-year-olds and upward going nine furlongs.

The Pegasus of course is the highlight today, featuring a matchup between Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Accelerate and Dirt Mile (G1) winner City of Light. They traded decisions last year.

The race that is getting overlooked somewhat is the inaugural running of the $7 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1). It is the second richest race in the U.S., and while it did not draw a top notch field it is a good betting race.

I landed on the Aiden O’Brien trained Magic Wand (9-2) who was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) in her U.S. debut.

There is a 50% chance of showers from the morning throughout the afternoon so there may be some give to the turf if the rains do come, and that likely will suit her. My analysis is below.

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

AQU Race 1 OClm $40,000N2X (12:25 ET)
#1 Singapore Trader 7-2
#2 Carthon 4-1
#3 Vincento 9-5
#5 Blugrascat's Smile 5-2

Analysis: Singapore Trader chased the early pace and faded to finish sixth last out in his first try at this level at nine furlongs. he beat $50,000 starter allowance foes and then state bred Alw-1 foes in his two previous starts. He was a decent third in the state bred Albany in his other trip at nine furlongs. Still he should appreciate the cut back to a mile here and with the rail draw he is quick enough to establish the early lead.

Carthon has some speed and will be forwardly placed. Last out off a four month break he beat state bred Alw-1 foes in his first try. Then gelding earned a career top speed fig last out and should move forward second off the layoff.

Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 1,2 / 1,2,3
TRI: no play

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 8 The Jazil (3:49 ET)
#7 Sunny Ridge 1-1
#5 Mr. Buff 5-1
#2 Backsideofthemoon 8-1
#6 Thebigfundamental 9-2

Analysis: Sunny Ridge exits the Cigar Mile (G1) where the gelding was a solid third. He has earned triple digit Beyers in three of his last four starts but has won just once, taking the State Dinner four back. The two that finished ahead of him are going today in the Pegasus. He owns a solid pace profile throughout and looks tough here although his price is going to be on the light side.

Mr. Buff has won three in a row, last out prevailing by a nose in the NY bred Alex M. Robb as our top pick. This guy has now landed in the exacta in 7 of his 9 trips over the Big A main track. He owns solid early and mid pace numbers and is a four-time winner at nine furlongs. If the chalk regresses slightly this guy has a shot of a mild upset.

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

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

GP Race 11 The Pegasus World Cup Turf Inv. G1 (4:51 ET)
#1 Magic Wand 9-2
#2 Yoshida 5-2
#3 Channel Marker 12-1
#4 Aerolithe 8-1

Analysis: Magic Wand made her U.S. debut in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) where she prompted the early pace and weakened to finish fourth, beaten 2 3/4 lengths. The filly won a Group 2 last year and ran a good second in the Prix de l'Opera (G1) two back behind Wild Illusion. The well-bred filly figures to move forward with a race in the U.S. under her belt and has been forwardly placed in most of her starts which should bode well with the rail draw. Decent value if she goes off near her 9-2 morning line. O'Brien did not have the best of it shipping to the U.S. last year, winning with just one of 29 starters.

Yoshida is back on turf after a fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) on the main track at Churchill Downs, beaten 1 3/4 lengths as my top pick at 14-1. His dirt debut was a win the Woodward (G1) two back. He is more accomplished on turf, winning the Old Forrester Turf Classic (G1) last May. Mott felt going here instead of the Pegasus World Cup was the right move and it looks as if it may be.

Channel Marker is also sent out by Mott. The gelding chased the early pace and faded to finish a well beaten 11th in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). He won the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) two back on soft ground at Belmont Park. He is better than he showed last out and looks more attractive if some rain falls. He also won the Bowling Green (G2) last summer at the Spa on soft going.

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

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: #7 My Amanjena 8-1
R4: #3 Went With the Wind 8-1
R7: #11 Metaphorical 10-1
R8: #2 Backsideofthemoon 8-1
R5: #3 Jusge Stanton 10-1
R6: #5 Hitmewthurbestshot 8-1
R9: #4 Maimo 12-1
R10: #10 Discount Diva 8-1
R10: #12 Highleelikelee 10-1

Good luck today!