At the Gate - Saturday

Not the best of race cards at Belmont Park today as we have a few short fields including the two stakes, but we do have some interesting races both at Woodbine and Gulfstream Park.
 
The $100,000 Perfect Sting drew a compact field of five fillies and mares that will go a mile on the turf. The Chad Brown trained Uni is the 3-5 morning line favorite.
 
The $250,000 Mother Goose (G2) for three-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles drew just six led by 4-5 morning line favorite Dunbar Road. The race lost its Grade 1 status in 2017 and this year’s field will do little to get back to that status.
 
The $250,000 Princess Rooney (G2) at Gulfstream Park is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1). The defending champ Stormy Embrace is the 4-5 morning line favorite.
 
One of the most appealing races on Saturday is the richest. There is $1 million up for grabs at Woodbine in the Queen’s Plate. Fillies have won the last two editions and as you can see below, I am looking for a hat trick.
 
My Best Plays for Saturday includes my 10 strongest plays from Belmont Park, Gulfstream Park and Woodbine.
 
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To purchase my Belmont Park and Best Plays Reports for Saturday click here.
 
Here is the opening race from Belmont Park to get the day off to a good start:
 
BEL Race 1 Md $50,000 (1:30 ET)
#2 Skywriting   8-5
#5 Final Say   5-2
#4 Red Right Hand   2-1
#3 Cavaradossi   4-1
 
Analysis: Skywriting drops in for a tag for the first time here after setting the early fractions and tired to finish fourth last out. The runner up Meet Me in L A came back to graduate via a DQ in his next outing on June 20. The colt was fourth two back and three back was a game second over the main track at Aqueduct. He drops in for a tag for the first time while taking the blinkers off. He is the first foal to race out of a stakes placed Sky Mesa mare.
 
Final Say also drops in for a tag for the first time after a fourth last out at Monmouth Park. The colt was a $470,000 Ocala purchase and half to three stakes winners, top earner Silver Heart ($596,824) but now finds himself tagged for just $50,000. The Pletcher barn is 41% winners (with a +ROI) dropping runners from maiden special to maiden claiming.
 
Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at
EX: 2 / 4,5
TRI: no play
 
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:
 
BEL Race 7 The Perfect Sting (4:45 ET)
#4 Isabella   2-1
#3 Uni   3-5
#1 Mrs. Romana G.   6-1
#2 Binti Al Nar   10-1
 
Analysis: Bellavais tracked the early pace and finished evenly in a fourth-place finish in the Just a Game (G1) last out here going a mile. The mare earned a career top speed fig in the effort. Her last win came four back in the Marshua River (G3) at Gulfstream Park back in January. The Pletcher trainee will be forwardly placed and will have the jump on the imposing chalk in here as they turn for home and we have seen it tough to make up a lot of ground on the turf recently.
 
Uni makes her first start since December where she won the Matriarc (G1) at Del Mar four her fourth victory in a row and her first Grade 1 win. The Brown barn is 29%winners with runners coming back off a +180-day layoff. She is working well for her return and finds a good spot only having to face four foes. She won the Plenty O' Grace last April off a six-month layoff. She looks tough but is going to be a puny price.
 
Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 2-1 or better.
EX: 4 / 1,3
TRI:  no play
 
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Gulfstream Park:
 
GP Race 13 The Smile Sprint G3 (6:02 ET)
#4 Cautious Giant   9-2
#3 Jalen Journey   9-5
#1 Proforma   4-1
#5 Garter and Tie   7-2
 
Analysis: Cautious Giant tracked the early pace, headed for home with the lead and cold not hold off the winner late in a runner up finish in the Open Lead here at 4-5. Two back this guy popped a career top 100 Beyer beating non-winners of three optional claimers. The gelding owns a solid pace profile throughout and should get a good tracking trip behind what likely will be a lively pace. Among the top three here this guy figures to offer the best value for the top spot.
 
Jalen Journey graduated for a $50,000 tag three back in his first start for the O'Connell barn and then he ran big beating state bred Alw-1 optional claimers and then open Alw-1 optional claimers in his last outing, both with a little something left. Last out was at a mile and now he cuts back to six furlongs and likely will not have an easy lead. He reunites with Saez and fits well here but may end up a light price.
 
Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 7-2 or better.
EX: 3,4 / 1,3,4,5
TRI: 3,4 / 1,3,4,5 / 1,3,4,5,7
 
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Woodbine:
 
WO Race 10 The Queen's Plate (5:36 ET)
#1 Desert Ride   8-1
#14 Avie's Flatter   5-2
#7 Federal Law   15-1
#5 One Bad Boy   7-2
 
Analysis: Desert Ride takes on the boys here and fillies have won the last two editions of this race and four of the last eight. The Howard trainee made a good late rally to get up and win the Woodbine Oaks last out in her first trip on Tapeta. He first three career starts came on turf. She should relish the extra ground. She is by Candy Ride out of a Distorted Humor mare. She gets five pounds from the boys and looks as if she still has some upside making just her second start over the fake stuff.
 
Avie's Flatter is back on Tapeta after a sixth in the American Turf (G2) on Derby Day, beaten two lengths. He won the Transylvania (G3) on turf two back at Keeneland. He is perfect in his two trips over the fake stuff here including winning the Coronation Futurity last fall. Castellano is in to ride this guy. Only drawback is the outside post and possibly a light price.
 
Federal Law was the beaten favorite in the Plate Trial last out, setting the early fractions and unable to hold off the winner late in a runner up fish. He won the seven-furlong Queenston two back. He was beaten just a half-length by our second choice in here in last fall's Coronation Futurity which was at 1 1/8 miles. Not sure he wants to go 1 1/4 miles but willing to give him a look if we see close to the 15-1 morning line. Not excited to see Spencer aboard, he never does us any favorites when coming to North America.
 
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 6-1 or better.
EX: 1,14 / 1,5,7,14
TRI: 1,14 / 1,5,7,14 / 1,5,7,10,14
 
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: #6 Cloontia   8-1
R3: #8 I’m Elmer J Fudd   8-1
R4: #7 Ari’s Naughty Luca   10-1
R5: 31 Skychief   10-1
R7: #2 Binti Al Nar   10-1
R8: #2 Classic Fit   8-1
R9: #7 Brass Ring   12-1
 
Good luck today!