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Horse Racing

At the Gate – Friday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read
We were off the turf again on Thursday at the Spa, but the weather appears to be on the improve for Friday although there is a 40% chance of showers again on Saturday.

In addition to the three Grade 1 turf events at Arlington Park on Saturday, the Saratoga card is outstanding, with three stakes highlighted by the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (G1).

A field of seven entered with six to start as Weekend Hideaway is main track only entrant and I am hoping Mother Nature keeps the rain away.

Heart to Heart is the 2-1 morning line favorite and the seven-year-old just missed by a neck last out in the Shoemaker Mile (G1). He won the Makers 46 Mile (G1) and Gulfstream Park Turf (G1) in gate to wire fashion in his two previous starts.

When he gets a clear lead, he can be very tough to run down and it will be interesting to see if Voodoo Song (9-2) can get the jump on him early.

Earlier on Saturday’s card we have the $200,000 Adirondack (G2) for juvenile fillies going 6 ½ furlongs on the main track. Six go to the spot, all coming off maiden scores in their debuts.

Today’s feature is the $100,000 Tale of the Cat which drew a compact field of five, but it looks as if we have a shot of beating the 6-5 favorite My Boy Tate.

Mr. Crow ran big at the Spa last summer, earning a 109 Beyer in his second career start and maiden breaker and came back with a 104 beating first level allowance foes. He exits a fourth in Grade 1 company and he is worth a look if we can get most of his 4-1 morning line.

Now is the perfect time to purchase my Monthly Package for just $99.95. It gives you a month of Saratoga which is running six days a week and my Best Plays Report each Saturday and Sunday.

To purchase my Saratoga Report for Friday click here.

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

SAR Race 1 Clm $14,000N3L (1:00 ET)
#6 Cavallotto 3-1
#1 Best Surprise 7-2
#4 Planet Trailblazer 2-1
#7 Kenyan 5-1

Analysis: Cavallotto stalked the early pace while saving ground and weakened to finish fourth last out against $25,000 non-winners of three. Two back he was a game winner versus $25,000 non-winners of two with the third-place finisher Truly a Moon Shot coming back to beat $16,000 non-winners of two in his next outing on July 8. She owns a solid pace profile throughout and the Bond trainee will be tough if he runs back to his effort two back.

Best Surprise goes turf to dirt here after the gelding came with a good late rally up the rail to finish third against $14,000 non-winners of three at Monmouth Park. He beat non-winners of two on turf two back but did break his maiden on dirt, taking a state bred $62,500 maiden claimer back in '16. The Levine barn is 15% winners moving runners from turf to dirt.

Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 1,6 / 1,4,6,7
TRI: 1,6 / 1,4,6,7 / 1,2,4,6,7

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Saratoga:

SAR Race 9 The Tale of the Cat (5:40 ET)
#2 Mr. Crow 4-1
#1 My Boy Tate 6-5
#5 Always Sunshine 3-1
#3 Silver Ride 5-2

Analysis: Mr. Crow drops out of Grade 1 company where last out he pressed the early pace and weakened to finish fourth in the A.G. Vanderbilt. This guy ran huge here last summer, breaking his maiden in his second career start by 11 1/2 lengths with a 109 Beyer and then beat Alw-1 foes with a 104 Beyer. He has not run back to those numbers but did earn a competitive fig three back in a runner up finish in the Aristides (G3) at Churchill Downs. He gets some class relief here dropping into restricted company and will offer a bit more value than the chalk in here.

My Boy Tate has reeled off five in a row beating state breds in the Say Florida Sandy and Hollie Hughes in his last two starts, both over muddy tracks. He owns a solid pace profile throughout but does draw the rail and has plenty of early zip to his outside. He makes his first start here off nearly a six-month break for the Nevin barn that is 19% winners with runners coming back off a 61-180 day layoff.

Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 3-1 or better.
EX: 2 / 1,5
TRI: no play

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.

Saratoga
R2: #8 Miss Loyalty 8-1
R3: #6 Always On My Mind 8-1
R4: #3 Stronger 8-1
R5: #9 Foggy Kitten 8-1
R5: #2 Oceans of Love 8-1
R6: #7 Candy Zip 10-1
R8: #8 Kat O Mine 8-1
R10: #2 Southern Brigade 8-1
R10: #3 Veterans Beach 10-1

Good luck today!

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