At the Gate – Saturday

We had a pretty good day on Friday and hopefully you hit the early Pick 5 which paid well. My top picks won each of the first three races and my second choice won the fourth and fifth race.

We had Causin’ Trouble at $13.80 in the opener but after winners that paid $3.90 and $3.50, despite the fact I had quite a few live tickets, I really was not that excited.

That changed when my second choice Cape Cod Diva won the fourth race at $19.40. My second choice Joe’s Smokin Gun rolled to an easy win in the fifth and final leg of the sequence and the $1 Pick 5 paid $2,358.00.

I did not hit the late Pick 5 but might have if I actually played it. I forgot the eight race card meant the Late Pick 5 started in the fourth race.

After my second choices won the first three legs, my fourth choice won the fourth leg and the chalk Freaky Styley paid $2.90 in the finale as my third choice with the Pick 5 coming in at $3,026.50 for $1.

My top pick in the finale was Moonlight Now, who was 15-1 on the morning line. When I looked at the will pays before the race went off my heart skipped a couple of beats. The will pay with my top pick was paying over $82,000 for $0.50 cents.

I have to be honest I kind of rooted against him although I used him in my exacta and trifecta tickets.

On to Saturday and with a nine race card today here is a reminder the late Pick 5 at Aqueduct starts in the fifth race. Someone remind me please.

My Best Plays Report for Saturday includes my eight strongest plays from Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park.

To purchase my Aqueduct and Best Plays Reports for Saturday 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 Sp Wt (12:30 ET)
#6 Sharp Starr 3-1
#5 Fractorzation 2-1
#1 Goosarella / 1a Nicky Scissors 6-5
#3 Bella Invasion 15-1

Analysis: Sharp Starr
makes her debut for the former Pletcher assistant DePaz who is 18% winners with first timers. The filly is by Munnings out of a A.P. Indy mare that has dropped three foals to race, all winners. She ships in from Maryland where she has been working well at Pimlico. Among the top three here this gal may end up offering the best value for the top spot.

Fractorzation pressed the early pace and finished gamely to miss by just a head last out over a good turf here in her second career start. She checked in fifth in her debut at 14-1 on dirt in a race taken off the turf. It is back on dirt here for her third try. She is by The Factor out of the stakes winner Lapsang ($162,986).

Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 5,6 / 1,5,6
TRI: no play

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 8 The Queen's County (3:46 ET)
#2 Stan the Man 9-5
#1 Roaming Union 8-1
#4 Major Cabbie 5-2
#5 Backsideofthemoon 7-2

Analysis: Stan the Man
returns off a 6 ½ month break and returns to his favorite surface. The gelding was last seen checking in fifth beaten three lengths in the True North (G2) at Belmont Park going 6 ½ furlongs. The winner was Catalina Cruiser, who returned to win the San Diego Handicap (G2) and Pat O’Brien (G2) before running seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). Our top pick has landed in the exacta in eight of his 11 trips over the Big A main track and four of his five wins have come here. He won the Westchester (G2) two back and has a win at nine furlongs, beating Alw-2 optional claimers here back in January. He owns a solid pace profile throughout and is the deserving favorite. The barn is 31% winners with runners coming back off a +180-day layoff.

Roaming Union pressed the early pace and battled on gamely in the slop in a runner up finish last out in his second start off the claim by the Nevin barn. The colt was claimed for $62,500 out of a second against Alw-2 foes, then as sixth in the Grand Prix American Jockey Club at 1 ½ miles in his first go for the barn. The colt has a couple of wins at nine furlongs, the last coming against $50,000 claimers back in February here. The colt draws the rail and this guy has good tactical speed and figures to be forwardly placed. Decent value here if he goes off near his 8-1 morning line but will likely need a career top to beat this group.

Major Cabbie is shipping in from Churchill Downs where last out he was fifth in the Clark (G1) which was his stake debut. It took him eight tries to pass his first allowance condition, but he then passed his next two in just four starts. Those last two wins came at Keeneland in gate to wire fashion. His last was his first trip at nine furlongs. He is bred to handle it, by Into Mischief out of a Pine Bluff mare. He is in a better spot here exiting Grade 1 company, but that 5-2 morning line does not get the pulse racing.

Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 9-5 or better.
EX: 1,2 / 1,2,4,5
TRI: 1,2 / 1,2,4,5 / 1,2,4,5,7

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Gulfstream Park:

GP Race 10 The Mr. Prospector G3 (4:30 ET)
#6 Diamond Oops 10-1
#2 Imperial Hint 1-1
#3 X Y Jet 7-5
#5 Lasting Legacy 6-1

Analysis: Diamond Ops
was beaten by Imperial; Hint by four lengths in the Vanderbilt 'Cap (G1) at the Spa at six furlongs thee back but perhaps he can turn the tables here at seven furlongs over a difference surface he likes. He came out of that race to run a solid second in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) on turf before weakening to fish eighth in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). He has won four of his five trips here including the Smile Sprint (G3) back in June. If the two favorites in here mix it up early this guy could be sitting a good trip and benefit.

Imperial Hint would have been a major player in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) but was scratched the morning of the race with a minor foot issue. After returning from Dubai he won the Vanderbilt and then the Vosburgh (G1). The six-year-old owns solid early and mid pace numbers and has won 3 of 5 at seven furlongs in his career. Three bullet works on the morning tab at Tampa Bay Downs since he was scratched out of the Breeders' Cup.

Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 6-1 or better.
EX: 2,6 / 2,3,6
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: #3 Bella Invasion 15-1
R2: #6 Mills 8-1
R3: #6 False Alarm 10-1
R5: #1 Kadens Courage 12-1
R6: #13 Bourbon N Rye 10-1
R7: #7 Preferred Outcome 8-1
R8: #1 Roaming Union 8-1

Good luck today!