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Horse Racing

At the Gate – Sunday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read
We saw a thrilling Ohio Derby (G3) yesterday with Core Beliefs getting up late to win by just a nose and return $7.60.

My top pick Flameaway battled on gamely until midstretch where he started to weaken and eventually ended up sixth. Core Beliefs was my second choice and at least gave us the recommended exacta that paid $24.20.

The winner edged Lone Sailor for the win with 86-1 longshot Trigger Warning completing a $1 trifecta that returned $366.60.

Core Beliefs is trained by Peter Eurton and he was the beaten favorite in the Peter Pan (G3) at Belmont Park in his previous start. In that outing the colt stumbled coming out of the gate and could not hold off Blended Citizen late after having a clear lead heading for home.

The feature at Belmont Park was won by Get Stormy, who returned $5.40 in the Wild Applause. I thought Punked would offer more value and he did, sent off at 3-1 but he had to settle for the runner up spot, my top two combining for a $2 exacta that paid $16.40.

We have a good 10-race card on tap at Belmont park today that features a pair of New York Stallion Series races and we will head off to Santa Anita today with the feature the $100,000 Wilshire (G3) which drew a field of nine going 6 ½ furlongs on the downhill turf course.

Sunday’s Best Plays Report includes my nine strongest plays from Belmont Park and Santa Anita.

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

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

BEL Race 1 Clm $40,000 (1:30 ET)
#5 Beautiful Buzz 3-1
#6 Gypsy Janie 2-1
#2 Reata's Reward 7-2
#3 Paranoia 9-2

Analysis: Beautiful Buzz caught a sloppy track last out where the filly set the early fractions and faded to finish seventh against state bred Alw-1 foes off a two-month break. Two back she stalked the early pace and made a mild late bid to finish third at the Big A. She is better than she showed last out and figures to bounce back with a better effort here over a fast main track.

Gypsy Janie was not a threat last out in a well beaten seventh place finish in her first trip on turf. She was a sharp winner in the slop two back against $50,000 starter allowance foes. Quick claimed this gal for $25,000 and after a good second was in over her head in stakes company in her two following starts. She drops into a better spot here tagged for $40,000 and should bounce back but our top pick is likely going to offer a bit more value for the top spot.

Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 5,6 / 2,5,6
TRI: no play

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

BEL Race 7 The New York Stallion (4:46 ET)
#5 Mentality 9-5
#10 Goodbye Brockley 7-2
#12 Kreesie 5-1
#6 Pure Silver 8-1

Analysis: Mentality prompted the early pace and took over heading for home, holding on to bet state bred Alw-1 foes by 3/4 of a length at seven furlongs on the grass here. She came back off nearly a six month break two back and ran well in a close up fourth in the Mizdirection at the Big A going six furlongs. The Ward trainee looks perfectly suited for seven furlongs, unable to get two turns last year in two tries in stakes company. She looks primed for a top effort third off the bench with the main worry how low the price goes.

Goodbye Brockley drew clear late to beat state bred Alw-1 foes over good ground in her second start off the bench for the Serpe barn. She graduated last summer here at six furlongs and looks capable of handling the cut back in distance here to seven furlongs. She is a half to turf stakes winner Lady Joan ($257,540).

Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 8-5 or better.
EX: 5,10 / 5,6,10,12
TRI: 5,10 / 5,6,10,12 / 5,6,8,10,12

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

SA Race 9 The Wilshire G3 (4:50 PT)
#9 Ancient Secret 7-2
#4 Miss Julia Star 8-1
#5 Sophie P 3-1
#1 Beau Recall 7-2

Analysis: Ancient Secret stalked the early pace and finished up gamely in a runner up finish last out going 6 1/2 on the downhill in the Monrovia (G2). The mare stretches out to a mile and she can handle the extra ground. She won the 1 1/16 mile Lake George (G2) back in '16 at the Spa and last fall ran third going long against state breds at Belmont Park in stakes company. She has shown improve in each outing since landing here with D'Amato after being with the Chad Brown barn in New York. She fits well in this spot and does not need to move forward much off her last effort to win here.

Miss Julia Star is 0 for 2 since coming to the U.S. and landing with Drysdale. She set the early fractions and faded to finish 11th in the Matriarc (G1) and then tracked the pace and weakened to finish fifth in the San Simeon (G3) going 6 1/2 furlongs off the bench. Looking for her to move forward second off the layoff here and she has enough pedigree to handle the added ground.

Wagering
WIN: #9 to win at 3-1 or better.
EX: 4,9 / 1,4,5,9
TRI: 4,9 / 1,4,5,9 / 1,2,4,5,9

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: #4 Skyler’s Lil Cutie 10-1
R5: #1 Royal Power 12-1
R6: #2 Cypriana 12-1
R6: #7 Purrfect Miss 12-1
R7: #6 Pure Silver 8-1
R8: #10 Messi 10-1
R9: #4 Five Star Bunt 8-1
R9: #11 Belleville Spring 12-1

Good luck today!

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