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Horse Racing

At the Gate – Sunday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read
Trainer Todd Pletcher won the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park for the second year in a row, with Magnum Moon victorious and heading to Louisville for the Kentucky Derby (G1) on the first Saturday of May.
 
He could make another start, perhaps in the Arkansas Derby (G1) on April 14, but Pletcher has shown he will bring his contenders into the Run for the Roses fresh.
 
Pletcher won the Rebel with Malagacy last year, who did run in the Arkansas Derby but was a disappointing fifth and missed the Triple Crown races.
 
My top pick Solomini ran a solid second for trainer Bob Baffert, his first start as a three-year-old. He was making his first start since crossing the wire first and getting disqualified for interference in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) on Dec. 9.
 
The colt came up the inside and ran out of room, having to steady briefly when caught in tight quarters, finishing up well while beaten 3 ½ lengths. The 20 points gives him 34 Road to the Kentucky Derby points, which likely will be enough to into the big dance.
 
Blended Citizen won the $200,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks for trainer Doug O’Neill. The colt is not yet nominated to the Triple Crown. However, with his win his connections are likely going to make the colt a late nomination.
 
My Best Plays 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 (1:20 ET)
#4 Givetheman a Cigar   7-2
#3 Pirate's Treasure   8-5
#1 Quest for Fire   5-2
#6 Carthon   8-1
 
Analysis: Givetheman a Cigar dueled for the early lead while down along a dead rail and was no match for the winner late in a runner up finish last out in the slop. The winner Midnight Mission came back to beat state bred Alw-1 foes in his next start on Feb. 19. Our top pick has now landed second four times in his seven career starts but willing to give him one more shot to get it done here. He is out of a Regal Classic mare that has dropped two winners.
 
Pirate's Treasure makes his first start since last June where he ran second behind 16 length winner Gucci Factor, who beat state bred Alw-1 foes in his third try in his most recent outing. Two back our second choice ran second to Giant Expectations, who went on to win the Pat O'Brien (G2) and San Antonio (G2) last year. Quick works on the morning tab for the Jerkens barn that is 23% winners (with a +ROI) with runners coming back off a +180 day layoff.
 
Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 3,4 / 1,3,4
TRI: 4 / 1,3,6 / 1,3,6
 
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:
 
AQU Race 7 Alw $50,000s (4:25 ET)
#7 Banty's Girl   6-1
#3 Leah's Dream   5-2
#5 For Honor   5-1
#2 Hexameter   7-2
 
Analysis: Banty's Girl returns off a 2 1/2 month break after coming up short at this condition in each of her last five starts. The first three were on turf and in her last two she ran third, both times behind a pair of next out winners. She has been freshened and catches a pretty weak group her figs fit and the 6-1 morning line looks fair enough.
 
Leah's Dream tracked the early pace and opened up in the stretch, holding on to beat state bred $25,000 claimers last out over a wet track. The runner up My Won Love came back to state bred $25,000 foes in her next start on March 9. The filly makes her first start for Englehart who is 16% winners first off the claim. She is a four-time winner in her dozen starts and owns the top last out speed fig.
 
Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 4-1 or better.
EX: 3,7 / 2,3,5,7
TRI: 3,7 / 2,3,5,7 / 1,2,3,5,7
 
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Gulfstream Park:
 
GP Race 11 Md Sp Wt (5:04 ET)
#9 War Value   7-2
#10 Hot Cash   6-1
#2 Victory Garden   10-1
#4 Miss Monk   4-1
 
Analysis: War Value is a $600,000 Keeneland purchase by War Front out of a stakes placed A.P. Indy mare that has dropped two foals to race including one turf winner. Solid looking works at Palm Beach Downs for Pletcher who is 27% winners with first time starters. Castellano takes the call and this gal looks ready to fire at first asking.
 
Hot Cash was 15-1 in her debut last September at Belmont park going six furlongs and made a mild late bid to finish a decent fourth. She returns here for the Jerkens barn that is 26% winners (with a +ROI) with runners coming back off a 61-180 day layoff. She is by Ghostzapper out of a Dynaformer mare that has dropped seven winners and four have won on turf.
 
Wagering
WIN: #9 to win at 3-1 or better.
EX: 9,10 / 2,4,9,10
TRI: 9,10 / 2,4,9,10 / 2,4,7,9,10
 
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: #6 Carthon   8-1
R4: #6 St. Patrick Frost   8-1
 
Good luck today!

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