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Horse Racing

At the Gate – Thursday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read
The dust has settled from the Breeders’ Cup although I have a feeling we will still be talking about it in the months to come, and not always in a positive light.

I was a proponent of moving the Breeders’ Cup to Kentucky after a rash of equine deaths at Santa Anita, but the show went on and we came about 12 seconds from exiting the event unscathed.

Mongolian Groom pulled up less than an eighth of a mile from the wire and was later euthanized because of his injuries, which will bring out the animal welfare nutjobs and the politicians that are trying to get their vote.

The Breeders’ Cup and the California Horse Racing Board have their work cut out for them over the next few months.

On the racing side it appears that Bricks and Mortar has sealed up Horse of the Year honors with his game win in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), completing a perfect season that saw him win all six of his starts including five Grade 1 wins.

Midnight Bisou may have been the frontrunner coming into the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) perfect in seven starts, but she had to settle for second behind Blue Prize.

Mitole got the job done in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), his sixth win in seven starts in 2019, five of those Grade 1 wins including the Met Mile. Voters tend to shy away from sprinters, which I just do not agree with.

Vino Rosso won the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and won the Gold Cup at Santa Anita (G1). He crossed the wire in front in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) but was disqualified for interference and placed second behind Code of Honor. His two Grade 1 wins are just will not be enough despite winning the big one.

To purchase my Aqueduct Report for Thursday click here .

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

AQU Race 1 Clm $10,000 (12:20 ET)
#4 Magari 2-1
#6 Moondance Joy 6-5
#1 Midnitesalright 6-1
#3 Evan's Nice Now 10-1

Analysis: Magari makes her first start since July for the Bond barn that is 19% winners (with a +ROI) with runners coming back off a 61-180 day layoff. This mare won back to back races over the main track here three and four back, beating $16,000 non-winners of two and $14,000 non-winners of three. A light work tab with just three published works but she come back in a soft spot here tagged for $10,000.

Moondance Joy stalked the early pace and was no match for an 8 1/4 length winner last out against $12,500 company. The mare was claimed out of the race by the Levine barn that is 11% winners first off the claim. She is getting up there in age but has landed in the money in 8 of her 12 starts this year. Her numbers two and three back are good enough to beat this weak group but her price is going to be on the light side.

Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 9-5 or better.
EX: 4,6 / 1,4,6
TRI: no play

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 7 OClm $40,000N2X (3:17 ET)
#4 Hay Field 3-1
#1 Cash Offer 2-1
#2 Spring Drama 5-1
#5 Archumybaby 8-1

Analysis: Hay Field caught a sloppy track ls out at this level in her first start off the claim by Servis. She chased the early pace and could not get by the winner late in a runner up finish, four lengths clear of the rest of the field. The mare was claimed out of the race by the Falcone barn that is 24% winners (with a +ROI) first off the claim. Two back over a fast main track at the Spa in a race washed off the turf she came with a good late rally and missed by just a neck. She owns a solid pace profile throughout and has done some of her best running over the main track here where she has landed in the exacta in 7 of 9 trips.

Cash Offer dueled for the early lead and weakened late to finish third last out in her first start at this level. The runner up My Roxy Girl came back to beat $25,000 starter allowance foes in her next outing on Oct. 5 at Belmont Park. She wired the field two back to beat state bred Alw-1 foes in her third try at the condition. She owns the edge in early and mid pace numbers and with the rail draw may prove tough to catch if she shakes loose early.

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

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.

Aqueduct
R1: #3 Evan’s Nice Now 10-1
R3: #5 Playing Hooky 8-1
R6: #6 Whatdoesasharksay 8-1
R7: #5 Archumybaby 8-1
R8: #12 Dance Til Dawn 8-1
R9: #5 Le Coste 15-1

Good luck today!

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