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Horse Racing

At the Gate – Friday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read
After hitting the first five races with my top pick on Wednesday and nailing the early Pick 5 cold to the tune of $799.00 for a $1 we can back down to earth yesterday.

The early Pick 5 looked quite hittable again and we got my second choice Binkster home first in the opener returning $5.60 to start off the festivities.

However, I whiffed on the next two races, not using Miss Jen ($25.80) at all in the second race as well as not giving Starlite Mission ($7.00) much of a chance in the third.




After nailing Discretionary Marq ($7.70) as my top pick in the fifth I figured we could just hit the late Pick 4 and call it a day. However, I again whiffed on using Vincento ($8.00) in the opening leg and my tickets were dead again.

We did manage to hit with my top pick in the eighth with Bengala ($7.70) and with Flyoff ($3.40) in the nightcap after scratches. So, all was not lost.

We are back at it today as we now have just three days left in the Belmont Park meeting before we head off to Saratoga starting next Friday. We have a 3:05 ET post this afternoon.

We start off today’s Pick 5 with three short fields, but the morning line favorite is not my top pick in any of those races, so if we can beat a couple of the favorites we may still be able to score a decent payoff.

Coming up on Saturday we have some good betting action including the $500,000 Indiana Derby (G3), $750,000 Delaware Handicap (G2) and the $150,000 Forbidden Apple at Belmont Park.

Disco Partner won the Forbidden Apple last year, one race after setting a world record in the Jaipur (G3). He won the Jaipur again this year in impressive style and is going to be tough as the 9-5 morning line favorite, but I am going to try and beat him for the top spot.

To purchase my Belmont Park Report for Friday click here .

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

BEL Race 1 Clm $14,000N3L (3:05 ET)
#5 Daria's Angel 6-5
#3 Paula's Pistol 4-5
#2 Caoimhe 6-1
#4 Stars Wilburn 12-1

Analysis: Daria's Angel pressed the early pace and finished gamely to beat $16,000 non-winners of two last out here going a mile in her third start off the claim by the Diodoro barn. She steps up a notch here to the non-winners of three level and the stretch back out to a route seems to have suited this gal. The sharp barn has her back on track and she does not need to move forward much off her last outing to win right back.

Paula's Pistol came off a 2 12 month break last out and was a sharp winner versus $16,000 non-winners of two, pressing the early pace and drawing clear to win by three lengths. She ran second to repeat winner Stay Fond two back and she ran into repeat winners in four of her first five career starts. She returns off a short break for Nevin who is 21% winners with runners coming back off a 61-180 day layoff. Completes a chalky exacta to kick off the day.

Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 6-5 or better.
EX: 5 / 2,3
TRI: no play

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

BEL Race 7 Alw $65,000N1X (6:18 ET)
#1 Summer Sweet 7-2
#6 Saratoga Treasure 5-1
#4 Citizen Matzo 6-1
#2 Wantaugh Queen 9-2

Analysis: Summer Sweet is just 1 for 17 in his career and 0 for 11 on turf but willing to give her another look here as she faces NY breds for the first time. Last out going 5 1/2 on turf at Monmouth Park she stalked the early pace and made a mild late bid splitting rivals to finish fourth, beaten 1 3/4 lengths for the top spot. That was against open Alw-1 foes and she earned a fig good enough to win against state breds. She is out of the stakes winner Summer Solstice ($85,630) who has dropped five other winners and they have all won on turf and two are stakes winners, top earner Summer Breezing ($326,906).

Saratoga Treasure saved ground early and came with a seven wide rally to finish third last out going six furlongs over good ground here in her fourth career start and second off the bench. She graduated in her debut last summer at the Spa and went on the shelf after a decent fourth in her first start against winners. She looks as if she still has some upside. She is out of a Sky Mesa mare that has dropped three other winners including one turf winner, top earner stakes winner April Gaze ($188,370).

Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 3-1 or better.
EX: 1,6 / 1,2,4,6
TRI: 1,6 / 1,2,4,6 / 1,2,4,6,11

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
R1: #4 Stars Wilburn 12-1
R2: #1 Baby Boss 8-1
R3: #6 Archumybaby 8-1
R4: #4 Uconnmarsh 15-1
R6: #6 Desert Lights 8-1
R8: #3 Hit It Once More 8-1

Good luck today!

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