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Horse Racing

At the Gate – Saturday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
7 minute read
While most of the talk this week has been centered around the $1 million Florida Derby (G1), I was pleasantly surprised to see an outstanding 10-race card at Aqueduct.
 
The New York Claiming Championships offer up 10 stakes this afternoon restricted to horses that have run for various claiming tags and the second half of the card features large and competitive fields.
 
The day starts early with Dubai World Cup night with first post at Meydan coming up 7:45am ET. Set your alarm clocks.
 
The feature is the $10 million Dubai World Cup (G1) which drew a solid field including U.S. invaders West Coast and Forever Unbridled.
 
I am hoping that Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) champ Talismanic takes to dirt and pulls off the upset.  I have received nothing but positive feedback on how the five-year-old has looked the past couple of weeks.
 
The Florida Derby is a key Road to the Kentucky Derby point race with a field of nine going to the post.
 
It is pretty much a wide open field featuring Holy Bull (G2) winner Audible, Sam F. Davis (G3) runner up Catholic Boy and Fountain of Youth (G2) victor Promises Fulfilled.
 
There are six supporting stakes on an outstanding (and long) 14-race card.
 
After today’s action I am going to need a day off and Easter Sunday is tomorrow. Problem solved.
 
My Best Plays Multi Track Report for Saturday includes my 14 strongest plays from Aqueduct, Gulfstream Park and Meydan.
 
To purchase my Aqueduct, Gulfstream Park and Best Plays Reports for Saturday click here .
 
Here is the opening race from Aqueduct to get the day off to a good start:
 
AQU Race 1 The Karakorum Elektra (1:15 ET)
#3 She's So Fine   3-1
#5 Christmas Sky   1-1
#2 Princess Palomar   7-2
#4 Clairvoyant Lady   9-2
 
Analysis: She's So Fine caught a sloppy track last out and the mare raced evenly in a third-place finish against Alw-2 optional claimers. She earned competitive numbers last year and now makes her fourth start since coming back off the layoff. She was short first out and then was a decent third two back over a fast main track here. She won this race last year in the mud and now cuts back to seven furlongs. If she can recapture last year's form she fits here.
 
Christmas Sky took the field gate to wire to beat Alw-1 foes last out earning a career top speed fig. The runner up Total Control came back to beat Alw-1 foes here on March 18 and fifth place finisher Spring for More came back to beat $32,000 claimers in her next start on March 11. She went gate to wire in her last pair but she may not be quick enough early to do that here.
 
Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 3 / 2,5
TRI: no play
 
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Meydan:
 
MEY Race 9 The Dubai World Cup G1 (12:50 ET)
#7 Talismanic   7-1
#9 West Coast   4-5
#6 Forever Unbridled   8-1
#2 North America   8-1
 
Analysis: It is tough to take West Coast at such a short price so we will go with Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) champ Talismanic who makes his dirt debut. He ran well on the fake stuff last out in the Prix Darshaan off a three-month break beating a quality foe in Cloth of Stars, who is the 2-1 morning line favorite in the previous race, the Sheema Classic (G1). While his female side screams turf, his sire Medaglia d'Oro was a Grade 1 winner on dirt. He has landed din the exacta in 13 of 18 career starts and is sent out by the great Andre Fabre.
 
West Coast could not go with Gun Runner in his last two starts, a third in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) in his first start versus older and a solid second to him in the Pegasus World Cup (G1). The Baffert trainee has worked sharp since his last outing. The barn is 4 for 13 on the big night including winning this race last year with Arrogate. Speed has been holding throughout the Carnival on the main track and Castellano should be able to keep him within striking distance early. There is lots to like except for the short price.
 
Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 5-1 or better.
EX: 7,9 / 2,6,7,9
TRI: 7,9 / 2,6,7,9 / 2,5,6,7,9
 
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:
 
AQU Race 8 The Sis City (4:51 ET)
#10 Patriotic Endeavor   9-2
#2 Spring for More   8-1
#7 Cotton Candy Cutie   3-1
#4 Maddizaskar   8-1
 
Analysis: Patriotic Endeavor stalked the early pace and finished up well to beat $25,000 starter optional claimers in her last outing on Dec. 26 at Laurel Park as the 9-5 favorite. The runner up Princess Palomar came back to $25,000 starter optional claimers in her next start on Jan. 20. She was claimed out of her last outing by the Rice barn that is 31% winners (with a +ROI) first off the claim. She returns off a three month break here looks primed fora top effort here.
Spring for More tracked the early pace and drew clear late to beat $32,00 claimers here at a mile in her last start. She caught wet tracks two and three back with the seven-pound bug aboard. The low profile barn lands Carmouche here and she looks headed in the right direction. She may end up getting overlooked on the tote in this spot.
 
Wagering
WIN: #10 to win at 7-2 or better.
EX: 2,10 / 2,4,7,10
TRI: 2,10 / 2,4,7,10 / 2,4,5,7,10
 
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Gulfstream Park:
 
GP Race 13 The Pan American G2 (6:00 ET)
#3 Hi Happy   3-1
#8 Sadler's Joy   2-1
#2 Bullards Alley   7-2
#9 One Go All Go   8-1
 
Analysis: Hi Happy came off a 10 month layoff with a solid effort, chasing the gate to wire winner Heart to Heart, a real tough one to catch. He makes his second start since landing with Pletcher and while he is 0 for 5 since arriving in the U.S. from Argentina he has earned solid Beyers over his last three starts, a career top 100 last out off the bench. He should get a good tracking trip and will have the jump o our second choice as they come into the stretch.
 
Sadler's Joy made his patented late run to rally from last to first to win the MacDiarmida (G2) last out at 1 3/68 miles. He won this race last year as well as the Sword Dancer (G1) and the extra ground here suit shim. He needs some pace and a trip and usually gets it. Our top pick is likely going to end up offering a bit more value for the top spot.
 
Bullards Alley was a game third last out in the McKnight 'Cap (G3) and looks headed back in the right direction form wise. He ran huge four back wining the Canadian International (G1) by 10 3/4 lengths. That was over soft ground which he is not going to get here. But he should get more pace here and after going two miles two back should be fit and ready to go in this spot for the Glyshaw barn.
 
Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 3-1 or better.
EX: 3,8 / 2,3,8,9
TRI: 3,8 / 2,3,8,9 / 2,3,7,8,9
 
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
R2: #3 Archumybaby   8-1
R5: #7 Carlino   8-1
R6: #3 Summer Bourbon   8-1
R7: #8 Rockford   10-1
R7: #9 Field of Courage   8-1
R8: #4 Maddizaskar   8-1
R9: #4 Mister Hayes   10-1
R9: #8 Street Heat   8-1
R10: #4 Global Positioning   12-1
 
Good luck today!

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