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Horse Racing

At the Gate – Sunday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read
Our top pick in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) was Seeking the Soul and I was quite surprised to see his 12-1 morning line odds drift all the way up to 34-1 at post time.
 
The Dallas Stewart trainee was never much of a threat to win, but he came with a good late run over a sloppy surface that was kind to speed to run second to City of Light.
 
The $2 recommended exacta paid $82.20 and the $1 trifecta was $105.20. He paid $19.20 to place and $8.20 to show. Not too shabby.
 
My top pick in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational was Magic Wand, and again the price drifted upward. She was 9-2 on the morning line and drifted up to 9-1.
 
She stalked the early pace and finished gamely while unable to get to the winner, settling for the runner up spot. Unfortunately, I whiffed coming up with the winner Bricks and Mortar.
 
There is more rain in the forecast in Florida today, so instead of Gulfstream Park my Best Plays includes Sam Houston, which is offering up an outstanding betting card and four of the stakes are included in my report for Sunday.
 
My Best Plays Report for Sunday includes my eight strongest plays from Aqueduct and Sam Houston.
 
Now is the perfect time to purchase my Monthly Package for just $99.95. It gives you a month of Aqueduct daily and Best Plays Report each Saturday and Sunday.
 
To purchase my Aqueduct and Best Plays Reports for Sunday click here.
 
Here is the opener from Aqueduct to get the day off to a good start:
 
AQU Race 1 Md Sp Wt (12:25 ET)
#3 That's Speightful   1-1
#1 Gottahaveaholiday   4-1
#2 War of the States   7-5
#5 Tales of Royalty   8-1
 
Analysis: That's Speightful pressed the early pace and finished gamely in a runner up finish last out in the slop here off a four-month break. The filly was 4 1/4 lengths clear of the rest of the field in the effort. She owns solid early and mid pace numbers and should be tighter second off the bench for the Mott barn that has been on a nice roll both here and at Gulfstream Park.
 
Gottahaveaholiday makes her first start since June for the Nevin barn that is 19% winners with runners coming back off a +180-day layoff. She showed some early zip last out going a mile on turf before fading. It's not a tough looking group here and she faced tougher in her three starts. She is out of an Indian Charlie mare that ash dropped one other foal to race, no winners to date.
 
Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 6-5 or better.
EX: 3 / 1,2
TRI: no play
 
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:
 
AQU Race 8 The Ruthless (3:58 ET)
#6 Miss Imperial   2-1
#3 Ujjayi   8-1
#1 Enliven   8-5
#2 Dovey Lovey   5-1
 
Analysis: Miss Imperial made his first start for the Servis barn last out, catching a muddy track against Alw-1 optional claimers. She prompted the early pace, opened up a clear lead heading for home and held on to win by a length over a couple of these she faces again. She graduated two back in her second career start while in the Asmussen barn. She has moved forward in each outing and does not need to move forward much off her last to win here.
 
Ujjayi ships in from Penn. The filly was no match for the talented Please Flatter Me in her last two outings and Penn versus PA breds and last out in the Gin Talking at Laurel Park going seven furlongs. She is in a capable barn with McClellan and should get a good tracking trip from mid pack. Decent value if she goes off near her 8-1 morning line.
 
Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 2-1 or better.
EX: 3,6 / 1,2,3,6
TRI: 3,6 / 1,2,3,6 / 1,2,3,5,6
 
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Sam Houston:
 
HOU Race 8 The John Connolly Turf Cup G3 (5:15 CT)
#2 Team Colors   8-1
#4 Bigger Picture   4-5
#8 Markitoff   4-1
#6 Some in Time   6-1
 
Analysis: Team Colors came up short in the Dilberto Memorial last out at Fair Grounds over good ground. Sharp claimed this guy for $62,500 four back and he was a game winner versus Alw-3 foes, then a decent third in the River City 'Cap (G3) on yielding ground. This is his first try at 1 1/2 miles and he has enough pedigree. He is by Street Cry out of a A.P. Indy mare. Some firmer ground could move this guy forward.
 
Bigger Picture has won this race the last two years and his trainer Maker has won it six times in a row. The gelding just missed last out by a neck in the Hollywood Turf Cup (G2) at Del Mar. He has not won since taking this race last year, going 0 for 8 while facing mostly tougher than he runs into here. The barn is 20% winners with runners coming back off a 61-180-day layoff.
 
Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 6-1 or better.
EX: 2,4 / 2,4,6,8
TRI: 2,4 / 2,4,6,8 / 2,4,6,8,9
 
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
R3: #6 Never Felt Better   8-1
R4: #5 Glencairn   8-1
R5: #4 Five Star Bunt   10-1
R6: #5 Tayler’s the Boss   8-1
R7: #4 Deep Sea   8-1
R8: #3 Ujjayi   8-1
 
Good luck today!

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