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Horse Racing

At the Gate – Friday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read
We started off the week at Belmont Park Thursday in pretty good shape with five winners on top on the nine-race card. My second choice won two of the races, and my third choice won the second race on the card.

The Preakness Stakes (G1) field grew by one on Thursday as the Brad Cox trained Warrior’s Charge will head to Baltimore. The owners will have to pony up $150,000 to supplement the colt as he was not Triple Crown nominated.

He graduated in his fourth career start and then was a smart looking allowance winner on April 12 at Oaklawn Park.




I don’t know how good his connections are in math but putting up $150,000 in a race with a purse of $1.5 million while the colt has not been tested in stakes company looks like it may not be the wisest use of money. However, kudos for the connections and with the top four across the wire at the Derby not coming back, the race is wide open.

Improbable is the +220 early favorite for the Preakness. He finished fifth and was placed fourth in the Derby thanks to the disqualification of Maximum Security.

I have a hunch we may see a few more additions and defections before next week.

Preakness Odds:

Improbable +220
War of Will +350
Alwaysmining +800
Bourbon War +800
Anothertwistafate +1000
Win Win Win +1000
Owendale +1200
Warrior's Charge +1200
Signalman +1400
Bodexpress +2000
Laughing Fox +2000

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 Belmont Park Reports 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 (1:30 ET)
#1 Reata's Reward / 1a Tayler's the Boss 3-1
#5 Golden Vale 8-5
#4 Salty Smile 5-2
#6 Zecha 9-2

Analysis: Reata's Reward makes her first start since last September for the Kantarmaci barn. The trainer took this gal for $25,0,00 and she set the early fractions and weakened to finish fourth against $32,000 foes in her first start for the barn She won for a $40,000 tag over the main track here last June. Entrymate Tayler's the Boss dueled for thee early lead and weakened to finish fifth last out at this level. She bounced back after getting beaten double digit lengths two and three back. She looks back on track and four back beat non-winners of two by a nose in a game effort. She completes a strong entry for an underrated barn.

Golden Vale tracked the early pace and finished evenly in a third-place finish last out at this level. She was second two back in her first start at this condition. She beat non-winners of two over a wet track at the Big A three back. She owns a solid pace profile throughout and fits well here but is going to be a short price.

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

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

BEL Race 8 OClm $80,000N1X (5:18 ET)
#1 Sniper Shot 9-5
#5 Direct Order 6-1
#7 Bernin' Thru Gold 5-2
#3 Family Biz 5-1

Analysis: Sniper Shot dueled for the early led and battle don gamely to miss by just a nose last out in the slop at Keeneland in his first go off a nine-month layoff. The third-place finisher Borrachos came back to beat Alw-1 foes in his next start at Churchill Downs on May 4. The colt showed ability last July breaking his maiden in his debut and was heavily bet that day. He has plenty of pedigree to handle the extra ground. The Pletcher barn is 22% winners moving runners from sprint to route.

Direct Order tracked the early pace, came with a fie wide run and finished gamely in a runner up finish last out, beaten a half-length for the top spot against $50,000 starter optional claimers going a mile. He won at this level two back in the slop at seven furlongs.

Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 9-5 or better.
EX: 1,5 / 1,3,5,7
TRI: 1,5 / 1,3,5,7 / 1,3,5,7,9

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.

Belmont Park
R2: #11 Mrs Stinkman 8-1
R3: #6 Will Do It 8-1
R4: #8 La Maquina Gris 8-1
R5: #2 Mitzarayim 8-1
R6: #7 Bella Via Mi Amor 12-1
R9: #2 Dr. Devera’s Way 12-1

Good luck today!

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VegasInsider Staff

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