Sign In $
Horse Racing

At the Gate – Sunday

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
3 minute read
The featured races yesterday worked out well at both Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park. Stan the Man got the job done as my top pick in the Queen’s County at Aqueduct, paying $7.40.

Diamond Oops was my top pick in the Mr. Prospector (G3) at Gulfstream Park at 10-1 on the morning line but as I expected he got bet down, returning $9.00 for the win. He beat a couple of very good sprinters in Imperial Hint and XY Jet in the process.

The feature Sunday at Aqueduct is the Gravesand with Firenze Fire the 2-5 morning line favorite. I just could not find a viable option to the chalk.




My second choice is Happy Farm who was my top pick last out when he won the Fall Highweight Handicap (G3) but he is going to have to step up his game even more to beat Firenze Fire.

After today’s card at the Big A the Christmas break starts, with racing returning at the Big A next Saturday.

To purchase my Aqueduct Report 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 Md Sp Wt (12:00 ET)
#5 Courageous Girl 6-1
#7 Dancing Kiki 6-1
#6 Topaz Bride 3-1
#2 Impresstheprofessor 2-1

Analysis: Courageous Girl set the early fractions over a wet track that as playing to outside stalkers and closers and she could not match strides with the winner in a runner up finish last out in a race taken off the turf. She was not a threat on turf two back after running into a 12-length winner three back in the slop. She has not been long on a fast track yet which she should get today She is by Bourbon Courage out of a Holy Bull mare that has dropped three other foals to race with two winners. Lezcano picks up the call for Donk and the 6-1 morning line looks more than fair.

Dancing Kiki has come up short three times sprinting and may move forward with extra ground. Her best finish was a runner up tow back at Belmont Park in her second career outing. She is bred to go long, by Blame out of the stakes winner Justenufappeal ($111,200) who has dropped two other foals to race, both winners. The Ryerson barn is 13% winners moving runners from sprint to route. Looks like she will be a decent price in this spot.


Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 9-2 or better.
EX: 5,7 / 5,6,7
TRI: no play

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 7 Clm $40,000 (2:50 ET)
#5 Aristocratic 5-2
#7 Monteleone 6-1
#8 Earned Success 4-1
#1 Blessed Halo 7-2

Analysis: Aristocratic set the early fractions and tired to finish fourth last out against Alw-2 optional claimers. catching a racing strip that was favoring outside stalkers and closers that day. He makes his second start off the claim by the Englehart barn who took this guy out of a win versus $25,000 claimers two back here where he won by 6 1/2 lengths. He looks well spotted here dropping back in for a straight tag and cutting back to 6 1/2 furlongs, his last two wins at this distance.

Monteleone stalked the early pace from the outside and tired to finish sixth last out at Philly against Alw-2 optional claimers. The gelding as coming back off a three-month break. He beat Alw-1 foes at Philly two back off a two-month break. Three of his five career wins have come here at the Big A and he figures to move forward second off the break here for the Rice barn.

Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 2-1 or better.
EX: 5,7 / 1,5,7,8
TRI: 5,7 / 1,5,7,8 / 1,3,5,7,8

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: #3 Flatexcel 8-1
R6: #7 Wadadli Princess 8-1
R8: #8 Private Beach 8-1
R8: #2 Maiden Beauty 8-1
R9: #1 T Loves a Fight 12-1
R10: #4 Alphalfa 12-1

Good luck today!

Horse Racing News

VegasInsider Staff

VegasInsider Staff

More from VegasInsider Staff
•