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Horse Racing

At the Gate – Sunday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read
We saw two strong efforts in Road to the Kentucky Derby points races on Saturday, one of which was a surprise to me.

Anothertwistafate took the field gate to wire to win the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields and picked up 10 Derby points and an automatic starting spot in the Preakness Stakes (G1).

The colt was making his stakes debut and he rolled to a seventh length victory and showed some serious acceleration in the stretch.

Things did not go well in his lone start on conventional dirt, a ninth at Santa Anita, but this colt is worth another look on dirt.




In the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds War of Will overcame breaking form the 13 post to score his third win in a row. The colt was bet down to even money and won by 2 ¼ lengths in a good-looking effort.

The win was worth 50 Derby points which will comfortably put him in the starting gate on the first Saturday of May.

Country House ran second, his 20-1 morning line dipping to a final price of 7-1 and we caught a decent exacta payoff of $32.00.

My Best Plays Report for Sunday includes my eight 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 Best Plays Report each Saturday and Sunday.

To purchase my Aqueduct and Best Plays Reports for Sunday click here

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

AQU Race 1 Md Sp Wt (12:50 ET)
#4 Starry Rose 3-1
#2 Restructure 1-1
#5 Smooth Quality 2-1
#3 Cadeau de Paix 6-1

Analysis: Starry Rose dueled for the early lead and weakened to finish fifth in her debut, sent off at 5.5-1 in a field of six. Mott hits at a 16% clip with second out maidens and has been sending out live runners here and in Florida in recent months. This filly is out of a Deputy Minister mare that has dropped six winners including a pair of stakes winners, top earner Super Freaky ($385,489).

Restructure ships back from Florida where last out the filly dueled for the early lead and held on gamely until late, checking in third while beaten 1 3/4 lengths. That was her first go since her debut at Belmont Park last June where she checked in third. Clement is 44% winners (with a +ROI) with runners making their second start off a +180-day layoff. She looks real tough here but her price is going to be very much on the light side.

Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 2-1 or better.
EX: 4 / 2,5
TRI: no play

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 6 Clm $32,000 (3:33 ET)
#6 D Emcee 5-2
#1 Oh K Funnybone 6-1
#4 Mend Up 3-1
#5 Power Source 9-2

Analysis: D Emcee tracked the early pace from the outside and finished gamely missing by a head and was placed first thanks to a DQ as the winner bumped him in the stretch. He caught slop in his debut where he faded to finish eighth in a race that produced four next out graduates Looks as if he still has some upside and can move forward with a cleaner trip. Not a real tough looking spot for his first go against winners.

Oh K Funnybone caught a muddy track last out in his first trip at a mile. He dueled for the early lead while on the inside and battled on gamely in the stretch to get his nose in front at the wire. The runner up Poker Game came back to graduate in his next outing on Jan. 25. He owns solid early and mid pace numbers and the cut back to seven panels should not pose a problem.

Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 1,6 / 1,4,5,6
TRI: 1,6 / 1,4,5,6 / 1,3,4,5,6

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

GP Race 9 Md Sp Wt (4:10 ET)
#11 Cap de Creus 3-1
#1 Sister Kitten 9-5
#7 Dyna Passer 20-1
#5 Magic River 15-1

Analysis: Cap de Creus made her turf debut last out and after breaking inward coming out of the gate she tracked the early pace and finished up well for the runner up spot. She looks capable of moving forward off that effort for the Pletcher barn that has been live at the meeting. She is out of the stakes winner Light Jig ($537,819) who has dropped five winners and four have won on turf and three are stakes winners, top earner Seek Again ($942,946).

Sister Kitten made a good late rally over yielding footing to check in third last out at Keeneland in her second career start. She ran into her stablemate Newspaperofrecord in her debut where she was second beaten 6 3/4 lengths, that filly going on to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). She has been working steadily at Palm Meadows for her return here for Brown who is 30% winners (with a +ROI) with runners coming back off a 61-180-day layoff.

Wagering
WIN: #11 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 1,11 / 1,5,7,11
TRI: 1,11 / 1,5,7,11 / 1,4,5,7,11

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.

Aqueduct
R2: #6 Special Story 10-1
R3: #4 Eddy Dirt 10-1
R4: #5 Local Counsel 8-1

Good luck today!

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