Sign In $
Horse Racing

At the Gate – Friday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read
We have one Road to the Kentucky Derby points race on tap for Saturday—the $250,000 Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs.

In addition, there are several promising runners going in the $200,000 San Vicente (G2) at Santa Anita, a race that serves as a prep for the $400,000 San Felipe (G2) which is a Derby points race and will be contested on March 10.

The headliner in the Sam F. Davis is Catholic Boy (8-5) who makes his first start since capping off his juvenile campaign by winning the Remsen (G2). That outing was his first start on dirt.

His Kentucky Derby future odds are down to +2200 at [...].

His main foe likely will be Hollywood Star (5-2), who was scratched out of last Saturday’s Holy Bull (G2) to go in this spot. The Dale Romans trainee was sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) in his last outing.

The Bob Baffert trained Ax Man (6-5) is going to be the chalk in the San Vicente. The colt broke his maiden in his debut by 9 ½ lengths and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 97. That number is higher than the winner of two of the three Derby points races earned last Saturday.

He got a late start, making his debut on New Year’s Day, so he has some catching up to do with just a six-furlong sprint under his belt.

All Out Blitz (7-2) was second to McKinzie in the Sham (G3) in his last start and is a logical player. He is listed at +4000 at [...] in early Kentucky Derby betting.

I will have selections for both races in Saturday’s Multi-Track Report.

To purchase my Aqueduct Report for Friday click here.

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

AQU Race 1 Md $50,000 (12:50 ET)
#1 Anne's Song 7-5
#2 Withaflourish 4-1
#4 Vip Nation 2-1
#3 Broadway Girl 3-1

Analysis: Anne's Song dueled for the early lead and faded to finish fifth last out and drops in for a tag for the first time here. She was beaten soundly in all three starts but catches a much softer group here. The Martin trainee is out of a stakes placed Lightnin N Thunder mare, her first foal to race. She draws the rail and Carmouche figures to send her and she will be tough to beat here.

Withaflourish stretches back out to a mile after a fifth-place finish going six furlongs. Two back at a mile she set the early fractions and weakened to finish third. The top pair came back to win next out, the winner Midnight Disguise beating $50,000 starter allowance foes and most recently won the Busanda. Looks like the best of the rest in this spot.

Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 8-5 or better.
EX: 1 / 2,4
TRI: no play

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 7 OClm $25,000N1X (3:58 ET)
#3 Zabaione 8-1
#2 Chilly Bon Bon 7-2
#5 J J's Dreaming 4-1
#7 Charming Indy 5-2

Analysis: Zabaione stalked the early pace over a wet track and weakened in the stretch to finish a well beaten fifth last out in his second start off a 5 1/2 month layoff. The gelding checked in fourth two back off the bench against state bred Alw-2 optional claimers. He liked the winner track, winning at this level here last February and then just missing by a head in his first start against state bred Alw-21 foes. Third off the bench here for Bond and gets in light with the bug Diaz. Worth a look if he goes off near his 8-1 morning line.

Chilly Bon Bon tracked the early pace and was no match for the winner in the stretch in a runner up finish at this level in the same race our top pick exits. He picked up his win at this level on the inner track back in Dec. of '16. and is 0 for 6 since. Carmouche picks up- the call and this is a pretty weak group he runs into here.

Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 9-2 or better.
EX: 2,3 / 2,3,5,7
TRI: 2,3 / 2,3,5,7 / 2,3,5,7,8

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
R5: #4 Bar None 8-1
R7: #3 Zabaione 8-1
R8: #5 Stormy Rita 15-1

Good luck today!

Horse Racing News

VegasInsider Staff

VegasInsider Staff

More from VegasInsider Staff
•