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Horse Racing

At the Gate – Sunday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read
Much of the stakes action Saturday worked out pretty well for us including hitting both of the state bred races at Aqueduct.
 
Espresso Shot got home as our top pick in the East View to the tune of $6.80 but we missed out on the exacta. Mr. Buff got the job done as my top pick in the Alex M. Robb, paying $7.40 and we had the exacta cold for $35.60 and the $1 trifecta that paid $83.00.
 
We had two of the four winners at Gulfstream Park, but both got bet down. Vision Perfect won the Janus paying $4.60 and Breaking the Rules paid just $3.80 in the Tropical Park Derby.
 
We had the exacta in the Robert. J. Frankel (G3) at Santa Anita, my second choice Fahan Mura ($5.40) beating my third choice Excellent Sunset, the payoff coming back at $18.80.
 
My second choice Competitionofideas won the American Oaks (G1) but we missed out on the exacta.
 
There is not much in the way of stakes action today. The feature at the Big A is the Bay Ridge with my selections below.
 
Don’t forget the Big A will be in action on both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
 
My Best Plays Report for Sunday includes my 10 strongest plays from Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park.
 
Now is the perfect time to purchase my Monthly Package for just $99.95. It gives you a month of Aqueduct daily and my Best Plays Report each Saturday and Sunday.
 
To purchase my Aqueduct and Best Plays Reports for Sunday click here.
 
Here is the opener from Aqueduct to get the day off to a good start:
 
AQU Race 1 Md Sp Wt (12:50 ET)
#5 Stonesintheroad   3-1
#7 Becca Takes Charge   7-2
#2 Abraxan   2-1
#6 Countable   6-1
 
Analysis: Stonesintheroad debuts for the Englehart barn that is 17% winners (with a +ROI) with first time starters. The filly is bred to win early, by Bustin Stones out of a Dixie Union mare that has dropped eight foals to race with five winners. She has worked quickly in the mornings including a pair of bullet works this month. She looks ready to go for a barn having a solid meeting to date.
 
Becca Takes Charge is one of two firsters in here sent out by the Rice barn that is 16% winners with first time starters. She was a $150,000 purchase, by Will Take Charge out of an Any Given Saturday mare that has dropped one foal to race, no winners to date. Junior lands on this filly which seems to signal this gal may be the better of the pair.
 
Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 5,7 / 2,5,6,7
TRI: 5,7 / 2,5,6,7 / 2,4,5,6,7
 
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:
 
AQU Race 7 The Bay Ridge (3:47 ET)
#2 Frostie Anne   4-1
#8 Bonita Bianca   2-1
#1 Unbridledadventure   8-1
#7 Held Accountable   12-1
 
Analysis: Frostie Anne was outrun in the state bred Empire Classic behind a couple of foes she faces again but has bounced out of that dud with a pair of decent efforts. She was third in a NY Stallion Series race and then last out ran second against $16,000 starter allowance foes. The stretch out to nine furlongs should suit as she has won two of her three trips at the distance. She has done some of her best running here., landing in the exacta in 7 of 10 trips with a pair of thirds. She ran third in this race last year in her first go off the claim and blinkers are added here. She needs to move forward off her last but looks capable.
 
Bonita Bianca is back with state breds after a fourth last out in the Go For Wand (G3) here at a mile. She romped in the Empire Classic two back by six lengths and earned a career top speed fig in that effort. She has a second and a third in her three trips at nine furlongs. She will appreciate the return to the state bred ranks and will be tough if she runs back to her outing two back.
 
Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 7-2 or better.
EX: 2,8 / 1,2,7,8
TRI: 2,8 / 1,2,7,8 / 1,2,5,7,8
 
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Gulfstream Park:
 
GP Race 8 Md Sp Wt (3:34 ET)
#7 Weekend Madness   9-2
#3 Irish Intuition   2-1
#9 Delta's Kingdom   15-1
#4 Astoundment   6-1
 
Analysis: Weekend Madness is a $165,000 purchase making her debut for the Clement barn that is 8% winners with first timers. The filly is by Include out of a Pulpit mare that has dropped four foals to race including a pair of turf winners. A decent looking work tab for her unveiling and she should be a fair price here.
 
Irish Intuition was a good second two back at Churchill Downs going a mile on turf, beaten 1 1/4 lengths for the top spot. Last out in the slop at Keeneland in a race taken off the turf she made a mild late rally to finish third. The McPeek trainee is out of a Red Ransom mare that has dropped four winners and two have won on turf. The switch back to turf should suit and she does not need to move forward much off her last grass effort to pick up her diploma here.
 
Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 4-1 or better.
EX: 3,7 / 3,4,7,9
TRI: 3,7 / 3,4,7,9 / 3,4,7,8,9
 
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.
 
Aqueduct
R6: #1 Questeq   8-1
R7: #1 Unbridledadventure   8-1
R7: #7 Hold Accountable   12-1
R8: #8 Ridolfo   20-1
 
Good luck today!

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