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Horse Racing Best Bets, Odds – Friday’s Picks for NYRA, Aqueduct

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
5 minute read
It has been a crazy week with the Coronavirus shutting down the NBA and NHL, the MLB headed in the same direction as of Thursday afternoon.
 
Horse racing had to deal with a bombshell 27-person indictment that named top trainers Jason Servis and Jorge Navarro among other in a widespread doping scheme.
 
As of now the show is going on, with racing at Aqueduct scheduled for Friday. New York Governor Cuomo announced that all public events with over 500 people will be canceled, but it looks as if racetracks across the country will race with no fans in attendance for now.
 
That was what was announced for California. With 80% of the betting handle coming from off track, it is possible racing could continue through this crisis, but things seem to be changing by the hour.
 
The Meadowlands did announce there will be no racing on Friday and Saturday. With key Kentucky Derby preps coming up the next few weeks and the first Saturday of May now less than two months away, the racing industry is in a tough spot.
 
However, among all the major sports, racing seems the most likely to be able to continue without crowds, at least in some jurisdictions, but we will see how it plays out over the next few days.
 
On Saturday we have the $1 million Rebel (G2), a key Road to the Kentucky Derby points race. Turfway Park hosts the $250,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) which also offers up Derby points. Yes, it is “Steaks” and not “Stakes,” and I heard the food at Jeff Ruby’s is good. 
 
At least at this very moment, it looks like horse racing may be the only betting game going for a while.
 
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 which will include all of the major Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races.
 
Here is the opening race from Aqueduct to get the day off to a good start:
 
AQU Race 1 Clm $25,000N2L (1:30 ET)
#2 Cairo Queen   5-1
#7 Bossy Bride   8-5
#6 Smiles From Sadie   5-2
#8 Orbilicious   10-1
 
Analysis: Cairo Queen stalked the early pace and made a mild late rally to finish in the runner up spot last out at this level going six furlongs. She was two lengths ahead of the third-place finisher Teletype, who returned to beat $16,000 non-winners of two in her next outing on March 6 here. She was sixth in her lone go on a sloppy track but looks headed in the right direction for Lee who took over the training duties from McLaughlin who is becoming a jockey agent. This gal has enough pedigree to handle the stretch out to a mile.
 
Bossy Bride dueled for the early lead and weakened to finish fifth last out against $50,000 starter allowance foes. The winner Love and Love came back to beat state bred Alw-1 company in her next outing on March 7. She owns solid early and mid pace numbers in a race without much early speed signed up. She makes her second start since landing with Atras who has been very live at the meeting, hitting at a 30% clip. She looks well spotted here dropping in for $25,000 and she has a solid off track pedigree if the rains come as forecast.
 
Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 7-2 or better.
EX: 2,7 / 2,6,7,8
TRI: 2,7 / 2,6,7,8 / 2,6,7,8,11
 
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:
 
AQU Race 8 OClm $62,500N2X (5:00 ET)
#3 Hay Field   7-2
#7 Slimey   5-1
#5 Queen Kahen   9-2
#6 Honey I'm Good   3-1
 
Analysis: Hay Field tracked the early pace and finished evenly in a third-place finish last out in the state bred Broadway in her first start off the claim by the Arriaga barn. She was taken two back out of a win at this level. This gal has been claimed six times in her last eight starts. The mare has landed in the money in 10 of her 13 starts over the Big A main track and loves a wet track, landing in the exacta in all seven trips over the off going.
 
Slimey tracked the early pace and finished gamely while unable to get to the winner late in a runner up finish at this level. She bounced back after not firing her best two back in the Interborough going seven furlongs over a wet track. She owns a solid pace profile throughout and has run really well on off tracks, winning 4 of 8 starts. She beat Alw-1 foes three back and looks capable of moving forward in her second try at this condition. The 5-1 morning line looks fair on this gal.
 
Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 3-1 or better.
EX: 3,7 / 3,5,6,7
TRI: 3,7 / 3,5,6,7 / 2,3,5,6,7
 
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: #8 Orbilicious   10-1
R3: #3 Microgram   8-1
R5: #1 A Vow of Beauty   8-1
R6: #7 Escape   8-1
R7: #2 Felix in Fabula   8-1
 
Good luck today!

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