Sign In $
Horse Racing

At the Gate – Friday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
4 minute read
I had a hunch racing might be canceled at Aqueduct on Thursday, but I handicapped the card anyway because it has become impossible to tell what these tracks will do regarding weather.

The forecast called for temperatures in the mid 20’s with wind chills of between 10 and 15 degrees.

It turned out the forecast was right on the money, but the NYRA did not announce the cancelation until 20 minutes before post time of the first race.

I had already collected the late scratches and was working on my early Pick 5 tickets when the announcement was made.

Now of course I am in Florida and did not trudge through the cold weather like horseplayers that headed out to Aqueduct. In addition, many of the horse are stabled at Belmont Park and are vanned over the morning of the race and are given the race day medication lasix

It was reported that the jockeys made the decision not to ride. I am all for jockey and horse safety, but there is no reason to wait until 20 minutes before post time to make the decision.

We did not have a last-minute storm. They new what the temperature and winds were going to be hours before post time.

One of the major flaws in the horse racing industry is the lack of being proactive. This is just of many examples.

Let’s do better.

To purchase my Aqueduct Report for Friday 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 Md $25,000 (12:30 ET)
#6 Causin' Trouble 4-1
#1 Eighty Seven North 6-5
#2 Blahnik 8-5
#4 Sander's Empire 6-1

Analysis: Causin' Trouble was outrun on turf two back off the layoff and again was not a threat last out when moving back to the main track going 6 1/2 furlongs. This gal was competitive in her previous three starts before going on the sidelines with a couple of seconds and a third. All three of those trips were a today's one-mile distance. The barn is 12% winners (with a +ROI) moving runners from sprint to route. The filly is out of a Sweetsouthernsaint mare that has dropped two other foals to race, both winners, top earner stakes winner Mischief Maker ($267,617). The stretch out and the weak group she faces should wake her up enough to be a threat in here and she likely will be a fair price.

Eighty Seven North stalked the early pace and came with a mild late rally to finish third last out for a $40,000 tag. Blinkers go on and she switches back to the main track. She has run okay on dirt including a third in the slop and a close up fourth here last November. She has landed in the money in half of her 10 career starts and has been facing tougher.

Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 3-1 or better.
EX: 1,6 / 1,2,6
TRI: no play

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 6 Clm $35,000N3L (12:58 ET)
#1 Proven Resources 3-1
#2 Allured 9-2
#10 Sargeant Drive 7-2
#4 Prioritize 8-1

Analysis: Proven Resources made a mild late run to check in third last out against Alw-2 optional claimers. The winner Backsideofthemoon came back to Alw-3 optional claimers in his next start here on Nov. 24. Our top pick was seventh in the Sword Dancer (G1) two back in his turf debut at 60-1 where Brown put him in a curious spot. He drops in for a tag for the first time here and his maiden score came over the main track here at a mile last April.

Allured tracked the early pace and weakened to fish sixth last out against Alw-1 foes here at a mile. The gelding was a sharp winner two back beating $50,000 starter allowance foes at Belmont Park. Noda claimed this guy from Brown back in August and he is back in for a tag here in a good spot facing non-winners of three. He gets a jock upgrade here to Lezcano and the 9-2 morning line looks fair.

Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 1,2 / 1,2,4,10
TRI: 1,2 / 1,2,4,10 / 1,2,3,4,10

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
R5: #7 H Man 8-1
R6: #4 Prioritize 8-1
R7: #5 Jc’s Shooting Star 8-1
R8: #2 Moonlight Now 15-1
R8: #7 Implied Volatility 8-1

Good luck today!

Horse Racing News

VegasInsider Staff

VegasInsider Staff

More from VegasInsider Staff
•