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Horse Racing

At the Gate – Thursday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
3 minute read
Here I am down here in the Gulf Coast of Florida and even we are not immune from the frigid temperatures that seem to be affecting nearly the entire nation. It got down to 24 degrees here last night.

Yes, my flip flops are attracting plenty of dust this week as we will be in the 20’s the next few nights and will not hit 60 degrees again until Monday of next week.

New York is taking a hit and I doubt we see any racing at Aqueduct over the next three days. The forecast for Thursday calls for three to five inches of snow, temperatures in the 20’s and winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50.

Friday the high will only be 15 degrees with winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts of 40.

Saturday the high will be just 12 degrees and again the winds will make it feel like below zero wind chill factor.

By Sunday it will be a balmy 20 degrees and that looks like the best chance we will see racing again in the Big Apple unless there is a shift in the weather.

Not to worry, today I posted a Best Plays Report with races from Gulfstream Park and Fair Grounds, and on Friday and Saturday I will have a Best Plays Report with my strongest plays from Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita.

Stay warm my friends.

My Best Plays Report for Thursday includes my eight strongest plays from Gulfstream Park and Fair Grounds.

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

GP Race 4 Md $35,000 (2:05 ET)
#2 Townie 5-1
#4 Repetitious 8-5
#7 Asked and Answered 3-1
#6 Copper Vessel 5-1

Analysis: Townie is back on grass after setting the early fractions and weakening to finish fourth last out at the Big A over a speed friendly racing strip. It was his first go off a four-month break. The winner came back to beat $40,000 non-winners of two in his next start and the third-place finisher graduated in his next outing. He did not show much in two starts on turf but has a decent enough turf pedigree and should be fitter than in his last start.

Repetitious drops in for a tag for the first time, the gelding checking in fourth in his last two trips in New York. His last two speed figs are tops in here and while Bond has started just one runner here at the meeting the barn has been hot in NY.

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

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Fair Grounds:

FG Race 6 Clm $30,000B (3:35 CT)
#5 Minister's Strike 4-1
#9 Whiskey Ticket 5-2
#4 Star Cross 5-1
#2 Methuselah 8-1

Analysis: Minister's Strike came with a good rally to finish in the runner up spot at GP West against restricted $25,000 foes going 7 1/2 on turf. he now has been gelded and lands with the Amoss barn that is 24% winners with newcomers to the barn. He won his first two career starts including beating Alw-2L foes at Keeneland, then was outclassed in four tries in stakes company. This looks like a good spot here tagged for $30,000 and facing non-winners of three or four-year-olds.

Whiskey Ticket is making his first start since March and goes form Baffert to the Rini barn that is 21% winners with newcomers to the barn. This guy won the Illinois Derby (G3) in his first start against winners but has gone 0 for 5 since. He comes back tagged and tries grass for the first time. He is out of a Gilded Time mare that has dropped four other winners and three have won on turf.

Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 3-1 or better.
EX: 5,9 / 2,3,5,9
TRI: 5,9 / 2,3,5,9 / 2,3,4,5,9

Good luck today!


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