Sign In $
Horse Racing

At the Gate – Saturday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
6 minute read
We have nine more Breeders’ Cup race to digest this afternoon and we ended Friday’s festivities with an absolutely crazy result.

All eyes were on Dennis’ Moment and Eight Rings in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), but it was bombs away as Storm the Court pulled off the huge upset at odds of 45-1 followed by 28-1 Anneau d’Or completing the exacta and Wrecking Crew completing the trifecta at 39-1.

Wrecking Crew was my third choice, but I really thought Dennis’ Moment would live up to the hype. The $2 exacta paid $976.40 which I thought was strangely short. I was expecting to see about $1400 despite the field size at eight.

There are a few imposing favorites on Saturday including Sistercharlie in the Filly & Mare Turf and Midnight Bisou in the Distaff, but I think we are going to see a few more longshots this afternoon.

I am leaning toward the Euros in the turf races, and if I am right, I think we have an opportunity for a couple of big scores.

I don’t have a real strong opinion in the Classic. I landed first on McKinzie but went back and changed my mind and I am going with Code of Honor who I have really liked since this spring.

We were off the turf at Aqueduct yesterday, but the sun is back out and we have a really good 10-race card to go along with the Breeders’ Cup.

To purchase my Aqueduct, Best Plays and Breeders’ Cup Reports for Saturday click here .

My Best Plays Report for Saturday includes my 10 strongest plays from Aqueduct and Santa Anita.

Now is the perfect time to purchase my Monthly Package. It gives you a month of Aqueduct Reports daily, my Best Plays Report each Saturday and Sunday and my Saturday Breeders’ Cup Report.

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

AQU Race 1 Clm $25,000 (12:00 ET)
#1 Honey Graeme 3-1
#2 Miss Jak 7-5
#5 Radiantrithym 2-1
#4 Gypsy Janie 6-1

Analysis: Honey Graeme prompted the early pace and battled on gamely in the stretch to miss by just a neck last out against $32,000 foes. The filly was claimed out of the race by the Schettino barn that is 17% winners first of the claim dating back five years. This gal wired the field at Belmont Park back in July against $40,000 starter allowance foes. She owns solid early and mid pace numbers and looks well spotted dropping in here for a $25,000 tag and picking up Carmouche.

Miss Jak tracked the early pace, came with a five wide bid and could not get to the winner late in a runner up finish at Philly against Alw-2 optional claimers. She was put up for the win at Delaware Park three back at that condition. She drops into an easier spot here tagged or $25,000 and has won 7 times in her 18 career starts. She is in good hands with a sharp Maryland outfit but her price may end up on the light side.

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

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 9 The Turnback the Alarm Hcp G3 (4:30 ET)
#6 Golden Award 5-2
#4 Bellera 5-1
#9 Gotham Gala 3-1
#2 Jeltrin 10-1

Analysis: Golden Award stalked the early pace and faded getting eased in the Personal Ensign (G1) where she was 9-1. She earned a career top speed fig two back winning the Shuvee (G3) at the Spa going nine furlongs. Three back on the Preakness Day card at Pimlico who battled on gamely to miss by just a nose in the Allaire DuPont Distaff (G3). She has worked steadily for her return for the Mott barn that is 19% winners with runners coming back off a 61-180-day layoff. She will bounce back with a much better effort here.

Bellera tracked the early pace and finished gamely to just miss by a neck against Alw-2 optional claimers last out at Keeneland. The winner of that race was Grandaria, who owns a second and a third din stakes company. The Pletcher trainee beat Alw-1 foes in the slop two back at today's nine furlong distance at Saratoga. This gal is bred to handle the distance. by Bernardini out of an Unbridled's Song mare. She has not missed landing in the exacta in her four starts and looks a s if she still has some upside.

Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 2-1 or better.
EX: 4,6 / 2,4,6,9
TRI: 4,6 / 2,4,6,9 / 1,2,4,6,9

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Santa Anita:

SA Race 10 The Breeders' Cup Distaff G1 (4:00 PT)
#3 Street Band 10-1
#4 Midnight Bisou 6-5
#1 Paradise Woods 5-1
#5 Dunbar Road 6-1

Analysis: Street Band ran a career top last out winning the Cotillion (G1) at Philly as our top pick, paying $17.40. She did not get a stellar ride two back in a third in the Alabama (G1) where she was third behind Dunbar Road. She has some trouble in her previous starts as well. last out the pace was hot, she settled in last and made a strong move on the backstretch and finished full of run. Over the past eight years we have seen three-year-olds win this race four times including last year. The pace will likely not be as fast here so Sophie needs to keep her a bit closer while letting her relax. It looks as if she is going to get overlooked on the tote and we should catch most of her 10-1 morning line.

Midnight Bisou was third in this race last year and has reeled off seven straight wins since then, three of those Grade 1 wins. However, her Beyers in three of those wins were either a 91 or a 92. Her 91 Beyer last out in her Beldame win matched her low for the year. That is really not a negative as I know she will produce a higher number here. She has won 3 of her 4 starts over the main track here and won over five different surfaces this year. She has never missed landing in the money and has won 12 of her 18 career starts. The only real knock is her 6-5 morning line as this does not look like a walkover, even with Elate opting for the Classic. The Beldame has produced nine Distaff winners.

Paradise Woods has the home field advantage, a sharp winner of the Zenyatta (G1) last out. She prompted the early pace, took over in deeps stretch and won by 1 3/4 lengths. Her career top speed fig came at today's nine furlongs here when she won the Santa Margarita (G2) back in April. Her starts two and three back were subpar but Shirreffs appears to have this gal back on track.

Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 8-1 or better.
EX: 3,4 / 1,3,4,5
TRI: 3,4 / 1,3,4,5 / 1,3,4,5,11

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
R4: #6 Bronx Bomber 12-1
R4: #5 Joe’s Smokin Gun 12-1
R5: #4 Javelin 8-1
R5: #9 H Man 10-1
R5: #8 The Forty factor 8-1
R6: #2 Politicacl 15-1
R6: #5 Bellarmine Hall 12-1
R7: #3 Creative Style 15-1
R8: #3 Bourbon N Rye 8-1
R9: #2 Jeltrin 10-1
R10: #1 Big Royal Lineage 8-1
R10: #5 Microscope 8-1
R10: #12 Titan’s Will 8-1

Good luck today!

Horse Racing News

VegasInsider Staff

VegasInsider Staff

More from VegasInsider Staff
•