At the Gate - Sunday

Mr. Monomoy may not turn out to be as good as his big sister Monomoy Girl, who has earned nearly $3 million in her career, but the three-year-old looks headed to the Kentucky Derby (G1).
 
The colt took the field gate to wire to win the first division of the $400,000 Risen Star (G3) at Fair Grounds, earning 50 Derby points which virtually assures the Brad Cox trainee a spot in the starting gate on the first Saturday of May.
 
Jockey Julian Leparoux was able to get away with setting moderate early fractions and they went gate to wire to win by 2 ½ lengths with the late running Enforceable running second.
 
In the second division it was Anneau d’Or who was sent off as the betting favorite, but it was Modernist who pulled off the upset for trainer Bill Mott and jockey Junior Alvarado. The colt was facing winners for the first time after breaking his maiden at Aqueduct in his previous start.
 
The colt paid $27.60 and Major Fed rallied to complete a $2 exacta that paid $228.00.
 
Both winners were on the lead and speed seemed to hold up pretty well throughout the day at Fair Grounds although I would not call it a strong speed bias.
 
I still think Enforceable, who won the Lecomte (G3) in his previous start is one to watch as he gets more ground.
 
My Best Plays Report for Sunday includes my eight strongest plays from Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park.
 
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Here is the opening race from Aqueduct to get the day off to a good start:
 
AQU Race 1 Md Sp Wt (1:00 ET)
#1 Welling   8-1
#5 Mutakkaamil   1-1
#3 Perceived   8-5
#2 Ownitifyouwantit   6-1
 
Analysis: Welling is up against a pair of Chad Brown runners but we will give this guy a small stab here. Last out he pressed the early pace and battle don gamely to come up just a neck short at Laurel Park going nine furlongs. Two back off a six month break he checked in fifth in a highly graded maiden race that produced a couple of next out winners. The winner Noble Way beat $25,000 starter optional claimers in his next start. I am hoping Lezcano just sends him early as there is not much early speed signed up to go here.
 
Mutakkaamil stalked the early pace and came with a mild late rally to finish in the runner up spot last out here over a wet track. He also ran second three back in his second career start. He owns the top last out speed fig and a nice pedigree. He is by Tapit out of the stakes winner Muhaawara ($131,297) who has dropped two winners including stakes winner Shagaf ($331,700). Either of the Brown runners can win this.
 
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 5-1 or better.
EX: 1 / 3,5
TRI: no play
 
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:
 
AQU Race 8 The Gander (4:25 ET)
#6 Bourbon Bay   2-1
#7 Scilly Cay   9-5
#1 Microscope   12-1
#2 Chowda    8-1
 
Analysis: Bourbon Bay is back with state breds after a good effort last out in the Jerome where he finished in a deadheat for the runner up spot. The winner Independence Hall came back to run second in the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs while the fourth-place finisher Celtic Strike beat Alw-1 optional claimers in his next outing on Feb. 8 at Philly. This colt still looks as if he has some upside and is bred to go long, by Bayern out of a Street Sense mare. I would not be surprised to see him go off as the favorite here.
 
Scilly Cay pressed the early pace and drew off in the stretch to a good looking win in the state bred Rego Park last out at 6 1/2 furlongs. he only had to beat three foes in that win and only had to beat four in his maiden win three back. His last pair of speed figs are tops in here but now he has to try a mile for the first time. By Fed Biz out of a French Deputy mare, the added ground should not pose a problem. The Rice barn is 29% winners moving runners from sprint to route.
 
Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 8-5 or better.
EX: 6,7 / 1,2,6,7
TRI: 6,7 / 1,2,6,7 / 1,2,3,6,7
 
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Gulfstream Park:
 
GP Race 9 Clm $8,000 (4:34 ET)
#2 Enlisting   9-2
#9 Put Position   6-1
#1 Ledecky   8-1
#5 Vicky Apple   7-2
 
Analysis: Enlisting is back on the main track after tracking the early pace and weakening to finish seventh last out against $16,000 foes. Two back on the main track here in a race taken off the turf she held on to win by a nose over $16,000 non-winners of three. He drops in for $8,000 here and it would be a big plus if the track is still wet. This gal won her lone trip on a wet track and is bred top and bottom to handle it.
 
Put Position ships in from Chi-Town off the Becker barn. The mare was beaten just a neck two back at Hawthorne against starter optional claimers and hen regressed slightly last out in a fourth-place finish. She was the beaten chalk in her last two. He last win came three back at Fairmount against optional claimers and while it is a minor track she beat did come back to win next out. Saez takes the call for a sharp barn having a tough meet. Decent value if she goes off near her 6-1 morning line.
 
Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 7-2 or better.
EX: 2,9 / 1,2,5,9
TRI: 2,9 / 1,2,5,9 / 1,2,5,9,10
 
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
R1: #1 Welling   8-1
R5: #5 Lorcan   8-1
R7: #2 Hersh   10-1
R8: #1 Microscope   12-1
R8: #2 Chowda   8-1
R9: #7 Woodbury   10-1
R9: #3 Purchasing Power   12-1
R9: #4 Jack Bo   8-1
 
Good luck today!