Sign In $
Horse Racing

At the Gate – Thursday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read
Entries are out for Saturday and we have three Grade 1 races on tap, two at Del Mar and one at Saratoga.
 
The $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar drew a field of eight with the winner stamping a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) this November at Churchill Downs.
 
Accelerate figures to be the betting favorite for trainer John Sadler. The five-year-old is coming off a career top speed figure winning the Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1) in his last start.
 
The $300,000 Del Mar Oaks (G1) drew a competitive field of 12 three-year-old fillies that will go 1 1/8 miles on the main track.
 
The $250,000 Del Mar Handicap (G2) kicks off the graded stakes action and is a “Win and You’re In’ race for the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1).
 
The $600,000 Alabama (G1) is the featured race at Saratoga on Saturday. A field of eight go to the post including Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) runner up Midnight Bisou, who was beaten three lengths by Monomoy Girl.
 
The co-feature is the $300,000 Lake Placid (G2) at 1 1/8-miles on turf for three-year-old fillies. There is a 50% chance of rain on Saturday, and we have seen more than our fair share of rain in New York over the three weeks of the meeting.
 
Now is the perfect time to purchase my Monthly Package for just $99.95. It gives you a month of Saratoga (and then Belmont Park) and my Best Plays Report each Saturday and Sunday.
 
To purchase my Saratoga Report for Thursday click here .
 
Here is the opening race from Saratoga to get the day off to a good start:
 
SAR Race 1 Md $40,000 (1:00 ET)
#4 Top Czar   3-1
#3 Throw the Fade   7-5
#1 Mantle / 1a Union Wise   5-2
#2 Seauxtale   8-1
 
Analysis: Top Czar is back on the main track and drops in class here after a non-threatening seventh against $75,000 foes on turf here. He ran well in his two starts on dirt, a third in his debut where he was beaten just a length at Laurel Park and then a third two back at Monmouth Park where he carved out the early fractions. Blinkers go on here for Motion who is still looking to get off the duck at the meeting. The $165,000 Keeneland purchase is out of a War Pass mare, her first foal to race.
 
Throw the Fade is reported to be a first time gelding here as he makes his eighth career start for the Englehart barn. He was a good second two back and then tracked the early pace and faded to finish eighth last out. he drops in for a tag for the first time here. He is out of a Quiet American mare that has dropped eight winners including a pair of stakes winners, top earner Spellbinder ($499,057).
 
Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 3,4 / 1,3,4
TRI: no play
 
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Saratoga:
 
SAR Race 8 OClm $80,000N1X (5:19 ET)
#7 Altea   5-2
#10 Sister Sunday   6-1
#9 Cool Beans   9-2
#3 Katie Cruel   6-1
 
Analysis: Altea is going to be tough here as the favorite dropping in with Alw-1 foes after four tries in graded stakes after landing in the U.S. with Brown. Last out in the Lake George (G3) here she raced at the back of the pack, made a good move to get to the lead and then could not match strides with the winner late in a runner up finish, beaten two lengths. The cut back to a mile should suit her and Irad may have moved a bit too soon last out. If she runs back to her last two efforts she should handle this group with no problem.
 
Sister Sunday faced winners for the first time last out in the Honey Ryder at Gulfstream Park and she ran a good third with some trouble. She was a smart looking maiden winner two back at Tampa Bay Downs in her second career start. The Clement trainee has a solid turf pedigree, four of her sibs having also won over the turf. She draws a bum post and Leparoux has been frigid at the meeting, but she figures to be a fair price.
 
Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 8-5 or better.
EX: 7,10 / 3,7,9,10
TRI: 7,10 / 3,7,9,10 / 3,4,7,9,10
 
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
R1: #2 Seauxtale   8-1
R4: #9 Devil’s Flair   12-1
 
Good luck today!

Horse Racing News

VegasInsider Staff

VegasInsider Staff

More from VegasInsider Staff
•