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Horse Racing

At the Gate – Sunday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read
Maximum Security got the job done yesterday in the Cigar Mile (G1) at Aqueduct, taking the field gate to wire to win by 3 ½ lengths in an impressive effort.
 
It was his third Grade 1 victory in 2019 which should be enough to garner enough votes to win the Eclipse Award for top three-year-old.
 
The Jason Servis trainee won his sixth race in eight starts this year. His lone losses were a runner up finish in the Pegasus and the Kentucky Derby (G1) back in May where he crossed the wire in front but was placed 17th after causing interference in the stretch.
 
That disqualification might have cost him Horse of the Year honors, which seem likely to go to Bricks and Mortar who was perfect this year in his six starts, capping of the year by winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1).
 
I thought Whitmore had a shot of pulling off the upset in the Cigar Mile, but he failed to fire his best and weakened to finish seventh. Maximum Security was my second choice and along with my third choice Spun to Run we hit the exacta, but it only paid $14.40.
 
I was going to head back out to Gulfstream Park for my Best Plays today, but they have the Clasico Internacional del Caribe today, one of five stakes for South American horses which I just don’t know enough about to wager on.
 
Instead we will slum it at Laurel Park today.
 
My Best Plays Report for Sunday includes my nine strongest plays from Aqueduct and Laurel Park.
 
To purchase my Aqueduct and Best Plays Reports for Sunday click here .
 
Now is the perfect time to purchase my Monthly Package. It gives you a month of Aqueduct Reports daily and my Best Plays Report each Saturday and Sunday.
 
Here is the opening race from Aqueduct to get the day off to a good start:
 
AQU Race 1 Alw $50,000 (11:50 ET)
#3 Vigilantes Way   9-5
#4 Please   6-5
#1 Halo City   4-1
#5 Shine Like Bobby   10-1
 
Analysis: Vigilantes Way makes her debut for the Shug barn that is 11% winners with first timers. She has a very appealing pedigree, by Medaglia d'Oro out of the stakes winner Salute ($103,838) who has dropped four foals to race, all winners with three stakes winners, top earner Mr Speaker ($1.2 million). This is not a very tough looking spot for her debut only having to face five foes.
 
Please was a 150,000 Ocala purchase She is by Liam's Map out of a Mr. Greeley mare that has dropped two runners including stakes winner Supreme Aura ($169,924). The Hennig barn is 13% winners with firsters. This filly is sporting a solid looking work tab including a pair of recent gate drills.
 
Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 8-5 or better.
EX: 3,4 / 1,3,4
TRI: no play
 
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Laurel Park:
 
LRL Race 7 Clm $12,500 (3:20 ET)
#2 Earned It   8-1
#1 Sacred Walk   5-2
#3 Miners Quest   3-1
#4 Birdies Honor   5-1
 
Analysis: Earned It made a mild late rally to finish third last out against $8,000 claimers here going a mile. The gelding was claimed out of the race by the Farrior barn that is 28% winners (with a +ROI) first off the claim and took this guy off a 5% outfit. He also gets a jock upgrade from the bug to Citron. He has faced mostly tougher this year and should move forward off his last outing with the barn switch. Three of his four wins have come here at Laurel Park but he has won just four total in 40 career starts.
 
Sacred Walk is making his first start since March where he was an easy winner versus $12,500 claimers. He was claimed out of that race by the Merryman barn and now he returns off the bench. Three works this month and he has won four of his six trips over the main track here. This is not a real tough looking spot for his return.
 
Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 2-1 or better.
EX: 1,2 / 1,2,3,4
TRI: 1,2 / 1,2,3,4 / 1,2,3,4,5
 
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:
 
AQU Race 9 The Fall Highweight Hcp G3 (3:45 ET)
#7 Happy Farm   6-1
#3 Recruiting Ready   6-5
#4 Strike Power   5-2
#5 Wonderful Light   8-1
 
Analysis: Happy Farm tracked the early pace and drew off smartly to beat Alw-2 optional claimers for his third win in a row. He beat $40,000 claimers two back and beat $25,000 starter allowance company three back. The gelding owns a solid pace profile throughout and gets a class test here but looks sharp enough to handle it and he is in good hands with the Servis barn. He is getting seven pounds from our second choice who figures to be the short priced favorite with this field now down to six.
 
Recruiting Ready wired the field to win the Bet On Sunshine last out at Churchill Downs, his sixth triple digit Beyer in his last dozen starts. He won the Gravesand over the main track here last December in gate to wire fashion. The five-year-old owns the edge in early and mid pace numbers and has beaten tougher than he faces here. The Hough trainee will be tough but is going to end up a short price.
 
Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 4-1 or better.
EX: 3,7 / 3,4,7
TRI: no play
 
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: #5 Shine Like Bobby   10-1
R3: #8 Distorted Sky   8-1
R4: #3 Miss Imperial   8-1
R5: #9 Bankers Daughter   8-1
R6: #7 Fortune’s Fool   8-1
R7: #9 Fangirl   12-1
R8: #10 Calculated Risker   8-1
R9: #5 Wonderful Light   8-1
R10: #8 Micro Margarita   12-1
 
Good luck today!

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