Sign In $
Horse Racing

At the Gate – Thursday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read
I took a very early exit out of the Pick 6 at Belmont Park on Wednesday as I failed to come up with Applicator in the first leg of the sequence, the winner going gate to wire and returning $9.10.

That cost me the early Pick 5 as well. I had Graded On a Curve ($6.40) as my second choice in the opener and Sicilia Mike ($13.00) was my top pick in the second race.

I had my fourth choice Discretionary Marq ($34.80) on some of my tickets and my top pick Whiskey Is My Wine ($10.80) won the final leg of the early Pick 5, which returned a hefty $8,150.75 for 50 cents.

I had the winner listed in each of the final five legs of the Pick 6 but came up empty. The Pick 6 paid $22,892.00.

Coming up on Saturday we will head out to Woodbine for the $1 million Queen’s Plate which drew a full field of 14 three-year-olds. Avie’s Flatter is the 5-2 morning line favorite.

In Saturday’s column I’ll also have analysis of the only Breeders’ Cup Challenge race on tap on Saturday—the $250,000 Princess Rooney (G2) at Gulfstream Park. The winner earns a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).

Don’t forget we have a late post at Belmont Park today. The first race goes off at 3:05 ET.

Now is the perfect time to purchase my Monthly Package for just $99.95. It gives you a month of Belmont Park/Saratoga daily and my Best Plays Report each Saturday and Sunday.

To purchase my Belmont Park Report for Thursday click here .

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

BEL Race 1 Clm $16,000N2L (3:05 ET)
#3 Purchasing Power 7-2
#5 Curlin's New Moon 8-5
#2 Fallinginloveagain 7-5
#4 Eddy Dirt 9-2

Analysis: Purchasing Power was outrun on turf last out against $30,000 non-winners of two in his first start off the claim by the Avila barn. He is back on the main track here and back in for $16,000 where he ran third at this level two back. Three back against $25,000 non-winners of two he ran a good second behind repeat winner Cookie Crisp and two others exited that race to win next out as well. He makes his third start off a four-month break and will appreciate the return to the main track.

Curlin's New Moon tracked the early pace and was no match for a nine-length winner in a runner up finish. He has now come up short at this level seven times but has managed to land in the money in three of those outings. His last pair of speed figs are tops in here but but he does not like to win much.

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

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

BEL Race 7 Clm $25,000 (6:14 ET)
#1a Indian Guide 8-1
#5 Scout's Honor 7-2
#6 Canarsie Kid 2-1
#2 Have Another 5-1

Analysis: Indian Guide switches back to turf here after making a good late rally to finish in the runner up spot last out for this tag in a race taken off the turf. The gelding caught a racing strip that was playing to inside speed that day. He is a four-time winner on turf, his last trip coming last summer at Monmouth Park where he checked in seventh against Alw-1 optional claimers. He gets a jock upgrade to Rosario here and should end up a decent price.

Scout's Honor beat $16,000 claimers at Laurel Park last out going 5 1/2 furlongs off a four-month layoff. He was making his first start off the claim by the Sillaman barn and now lands whit the recently unretired Klesaris. His win over the turf here was against $50,000 non-winners of three way back in '15. Now the 10-year-old returns off a two-month break and a repeat of his last effort puts him in the mix in this spot.

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

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: #2 Shak’s Hidden Gem 8-1
R4: #1 Disquiet 8-1
R7: #1a Indian Guide 8-1

Good luck today!

Horse Racing News

VegasInsider Staff

VegasInsider Staff

More from VegasInsider Staff
•