At the Gate – Sunday

The Preakness Stakes (G1) played out pretty close to how I thought it would except I did not think it was going to be Good Magic doing the dirty work early trying to soften up Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Justify.

The two colts battled on for seven furlongs before Justify started to put away Good Magic, and the Derby champ’s work was not done.

The colt started to tire and Tenfold and Bravazo came running, with Bravazo running second and coming up just a half-length shy of the winner.

Justify returned his backers $2.80 and the $2 exacta paid $27.40. The $1 trifecta with Tenfold in third returned a decent $148.30.

Now it is on to New York for the Belmont Stakes (G1), and with Justify not dominating his competition as many thought he would, we could have a large field taking him on.

The interesting contender is Audible, who is owned by some of the same connections as Justify. Would WinStar and China Horse Club risk losing out on a Triple Crown and run Audible? It should make for some good drama over the next couple of weeks.

More rain is in the forecast for New York today and I am assuming we will be off the grass again.

To purchase my Belmont Park Report for Sunday click here .

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

BEL Race 1 Md $40,000 (1:30 ET)
#11 C K Dexter Haven 7-2
#2 Troopingthecolor 4-1
#5 Freeload 2-1
#3 Tom's Music 6-1

Analysis: C K Dexter Haven broke inward coming out of the gate and bumped with a foe, tracked the early pace from the inside and weakened in the stretch to finish fourth last out against $30,000 foes on a wet track. He was claimed out of the race by the Jacobson barn that is 17% winners first off the claim. He has landed in the bottom half of the exacta in four of his six career starts. He has a solid off track pedigree and should be forwardly placed against this weak group.

Troopingthecolor stalked the early pace while saving ground and packed it in just inside the final furlong to finish fifth last out on the turf going long. He was beaten just a half length two back in his first start on turf. Blinkers go on as he cuts back in distance. A decent off track pedigree, by Parading out of the stakes winner Crab Grass ($543,291).

Wagering
WIN: #11 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 2,11 / 2,3,5,11
TRI: 2,11 / 2,3,5,11 / 2,3,5,7,11

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

BEL Race 6 Md $40,000 (4:26 ET)
#1 Gambler's Fallacy 3-1
#2 Space Captain 8-1
#3 Lemon Blitz 5-2
#12 Theresa's Boy 9-2

Analysis: Gambler's Fallacy is a $235,000 Ocala purchase making his debut for the Chad Brown barn that is 19% winners with first timers. This colt is by Violence out of a Ghostzapper mare that ash dropped one winner. Solid works and this guy is bred to handle the off going.

Space Captain set the early fractions and weakened to finish fifth last out going long on turf at Gulfstream Park. He was claimed out of the race by the Nevin barn that is 12% winners (with a +ROI) first off the claim and has been live at the meeting, 12 of 22 runners landing in the exacta. The gelding is by Street Sense out of the stakes winner Spangled ($70,285) who has dropped three winners. he has been gelded since his last outing and looks like a good fit in this spot.

Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 1,2 / 1,2,3,12
TRI: 1,2 / 1,2,3,12 / 1,2,3,4,12

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Santa Anita:

SA Race 5 Md $20,000 (2:40 PT)
#9 Our Tiger's Boy 3-1
#5 Eleazar Warrior 5-2
#1 Captain N. Barron 4-1
#2 Papa Caballero 12-1

Analysis: Our Tiger's Boy chased the early pace, came with a three wide bid to get into the mix and did not have enough punch left late in a third-place finish for a $30,000 tag going 5 1/2 on the main track here. After getting beaten by double digit lengths in his first three starts he appears to be figuring it out and is heading in the right direction form wise. The Bonde trainee is out of a Dixie Union mare that has dropped four other foals to race, all winners. He owns a solid pace profile throughout and catches a field here he should be able to handle.

Eleazar Warrior returns off a two-month break after a game second last out for a $16,000 tag in his second career start, sent off at 8-1 in a field of eight. The gelding showed good early speed and had the lead heading for home but got run down late. He owns solid early and mid pace numbers and has worked sharply since his last outing.

Wagering
WIN: #9 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 5,9 / 1,2,5,9
TRI: 5,9 / 1,2,5,9 / 1,2,5,7,9

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.

Belmont Park
R2: #2 Flying Pleasantly 8-1
R4: #6 Kreah’s Ribbon 10-1
R6: #2 Space Captain 8-1

Good luck today!