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Horse Racing

At the Gate – Sunday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read
Three Derby points races are in the books and we saw a couple of impressive performances on Saturday.   Audible was the winner of the $350,000 Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream Park for trainer Todd Pletcher. The colt was 6-1 on the morning line but was bet down to 3-1 and drew off to win by 5 ½ lengths with jockey Javier Castellano aboard.

Free Drop Billy ran well for second with Tiz Mischief checking in third and the betting favorite and my top pick Enticed having to settle for fourth.
  There was no Beyer Speed Figure posted as of Saturday night.

Avery Island was the winner of the $250,000 Withers (G3) at Aqueduct. The Kiaran McLaughlin trainee only had to beat four foes, winning by two lengths and paying $4.30 as the favorite. Firenze Fire ran second and Marconi was a green third and may still have some learning to do.

The winner earned a Beyer Speed Figured of 87.

At Santa Anita Lombo pulled off the upset in the $150,000 Robert B. Lewis (G3) taking the field gate to wire to win by two lengths and return his backers $19.40.  The colt is trained by Michael Pender and was ridden by Flavien Prat.

The Keith Desormeaux trained Ayacara ran second, switching from turf to dirt and with the addition of blinkers. He was bet down from the 8-1 morning line to 9-2 and completed a $2 exacta that paid $91.20.

Lombo earned an 86 Beyer Speed Figure for his win, which was his first start against winners.

My Multi-Track Report for Sunday includes my eight strongest plays from Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park.

To purchase my Aqueduct and Best Plays Reports for Sunday click here .

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

AQU Race 1 Md Sp Wt (12:50 ET)

#5 Sara Street   5-2
#1 Lady Suebee /1a Oozle   4-5
#4 Sierra Aleone   8-1
#3 Problem Solving   7-2

Analysis: Sara Street showed good early speed in her debut, battling for the early led at Gulfstream Park at 9-2 in a field of eight and weakening to finish fourth. The runner up and fifth place finisher came out of that race to graduate next out. She should move forward off that effort for the McLaughlin barn that is 19% winners with second out maidens. She is out of the stakes winner Sara Louise ($400,435) who has dropped two other foals to race, both winners.

Lady Suebee was the beaten favorite in the slop last out in her second career start. She set the early fractions and battled on in the stretch and was nearly six lengths clear of the rest of the field in the runner up finish. She ran second in her debut earning a higher fig, the third-place finisher Hail a next out grad. She is out of the stakes winner Freeroll (213,619) who has dropped five winners. She looks tough here but the entry is going to be a light price.

Wagering

WIN: #5 to win at 2-1 or better.
EX: 5 / 1,4
TRI: no play

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 8 OClm $62,500N2X (4:25 ET)

#3 Tusk   8-1
#6 Gift Box   8-5
#2 Lasting Legacy   5-2
#1 Flash Trading   7-2

Analysis: Tusk finished evenly last out in a fourth-place finish at this level at 7-2 in the slop and behind the ML favorite in here. The third-place finisher in that race was Pioneer Spirit, who came back to beat Alw-2 optional claimers in his next outing with a 102 Beyer on Jan. 13. Two back our top pick beat $40,000 claimers in his third start off the claim by the RRod barn. The second through fourth place finishers came out of that race to win next out, beating $16,000, $25,000 and $32,000 claimers. He picks up Lopez and has shown he can handle a wet track which he may get today. Decent value if we get most of the 8-1 morning line.

Gift Box has now been the beaten chalk in six of his last seven starts and that is really tough to do. He just missed last out in a game effort by a head in the slop at this level. The Brown trainee has three straight seconds and looks tough here but is going to be a puny price once again.

Wagering

WIN: #3 to win at 5-1 or better.
EX: 3,6 / 1,2,3,6
TRI: 3,6 / 1,2,3,6 / 1,2,3,4,6

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

GP Race 9 Md Sp Wt (4:06 ET)

#5 Night Owl   7-2
#12 Brattata   5-2
#1 Miss Monk   10-1
#3 Park Lane   6-1

Analysis: Night Owl as well as our second choice are both sent out by the Chad Brown barn. Our top pick draws a better spot and showed some ability with a decent fourth in her debut over the grass at Belmont Park going long. She was sent off at 5-2 in a field of seven. The $160,000 Keeneland purchase is by Animal Kingdom out of a Curlin mare, her first foal to race. She returns off a four month break here for a trainer that is 29% winners with runners coming back off a 61-180 day layoff.

Brattata may be the better of the two but she has to break from the 12 post here. She made a good late rally to finish in the runner up spot last out at the Big A going a mile. Brown thought enough of her two back to try her in the Chelsey Flower where she was second as the beaten favorite. The $350,000 purchase is out of the stakes winner Mama Nadine ($88,105) who has dropped three winners, top earner stakes winner Royal Son ($321,605).

Wagering

WIN: #5 to win at 3-1 or better.
EX: 5,12 / 3,5,11,12
TRI: 5,12 / 3,5,11,12 / 3,5,8,11,12

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

R1: #4 Sierra Aleone   8-1
R2: #6 Rockin Jo   8-1
R5: #3 Tiz Anna Rae   10-1
R7: #3 Dublinthepleasure   10-1
R7: #6 Holt Week   12-1
R8: #3 Tusk   8-1
R9: #6 I Miss My Father    8-1

Good luck today!

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