Sunday’s Picks from Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Knicks Go got the job done as the chalk in yesterday’s $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1), taking the field gate to wire and returning his many backers $4.60.

I thought with 11 foes knowing the favorite was a serious danger to go gate to wire there might be some early pace pressure. Longshot Last Judgement did offer up some token pressure but the winner went on to win by 2 ¾ lengths under jockey Joel Rosario.

I made the colt my second choice, hoping he would feel some heat early and while we got a nice price on Harpers First Ride at 25-1, we did not get much effort as he was completely overmatched and finished last.

The way the colt won it would be no surprise to see the connections send him to the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) on Feb. 20.

We got off to a quick start at Aqueduct on Saturday with my top pick winning four of the first five races, but things went south. It was the same at Gulfstream Park where I had exactas of $30.80 and $41.40 but I whiffed on the two big races of the day.

In the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) it was my third and fourth choices who ran past my two two picks to combine for a $28.20 exacta. Colonel Liam got the job done as the favorite with his stablemate Largent running second. Both are trained by Todd Pletcher.

My Best Plays Report for Sunday includes my nine strongest plays from Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park.

You can stream the action from Aqueduct today on YouTube or by using the TVG App. The horse betting company based in the U.S. is offering a 50% deposit match up to $250 .  In addition, AmWager is offering up to a $500 bonus for new horseplayers.

To purchase my Aqueduct and Best Plays Reports 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 opener from Aqueduct to get the day off to a good start: 

AQUEDUCT RACE 1 ANALYSIS (12:20 P.M. ET)

Race 1 Md $25,000

• #5 Barefoot Dancer   6-1
• #6 Rosey's Peach   7-2
• #3 Maria's Gift   7-2
• #1 Emma and I   3-1

Analysis: Barefoot Dancer debuts for the Breen barn that is 12% winners with first time starters. The filly is by Oxbow out of a Saint Ballado mare that has dropped a pair of winners, top earner Day by Day ($367,140). Solid looking works on the morning tab and this is not a very tough looking group she faces here.

Rosey's Peach caught a muddy track last out that was kind to speed. She dueled for the early lead and was no match for a 9 1/2 length winner. She had the lead heading for home two back here on the stretch out to a mile but did not have enough gas left late and weakened to finish fourth. She owns solid early and mid pace numbers and Carmouche sticks with her for one more go. If she gets loose early, she may prove tough to catch. She is out of the stakes winner Peach Flambe ($430,632) who has dropped six winners including stakes winner Berning Rose ($223,800).

GULFSTREAM PARK RACE 8 ANALYSIS (3:42 P.M. ET)

Race 8 Md Sp Wt

• #7 Earnestine N Hazel   9-2
• #3 Richebourg   3-1
• #9 No Ordinary Time   4-1
• #10 Phenomenal Woman   10-1

Analysis: Earnestine N Hazel is one of two firsters in here sent out by the Clement barn that is 28% winners (with a +ROI) with first timers. Rosario lands on this one. The filly is by Zoffany out of a Galileo mare, her first foal to race. She prepped at Fair Hill in Maryland before shipping to Payson where she has four works including one drill on turf. A solid turf pedigree and she should be ready to go at first asking.

Richebourg is a $800,000 Keeneland purchase making her debut for the Chad Brown barn that is 19% winners with first time starters. She is by Curlin out of a Salt Lake mare that has dropped three foals to race, all winners including graded turf stakes winner Torosay ($123,242) and G1 dirt stakes winner Denman's Call ($415,726). A steady string of works on the morning tab and Irad takes the call. 

AQUEDUCT RACE 8 ANALYSIS (3:50 P.M. ET)

Race 8 The Busanda

• #4 Traffic Lane   4-1
• #5 The Grass Is Blue   7-5
• #2 Coffee Bar   8-5
• #1 Diamond Ore   8-1

Analysis: Traffic Lane set the early fractions and faded to finish a well beaten fifth in the Demoiselle (G2) last out in the slop in her stakes debut. She carved out those early fractions while down along a deep rail. She broke her maiden two back on turf in her third career outing. The runner up in that race was Candace O who broke her maiden in her next outing on Dec. 30. She appears to be the controlling speed and figures to move forward off her last outing over a fast main track today.

The Grass Is Blue was bumped coming out of the gate, was last early and came with a good late rally to finish third as the beaten favorite in the Ann Arundel County at Laurel Park. She was beaten just a couple of heads in that effort. It was her first trip going long, her maiden win coming at 6 1/2 furlongs three back at Keeneland in her second career start and first after landing in the Chad Brown barn. Blinkers are added here and she looks as if she will be able to handle nine furlongs. 

LIVE LONGSHOTS

Aqueduct

• R3: #4 Grit and Glory   8-1
• R4: #5 Saratoga Beauty   8-1
• R5: #10 Chilly Choos   10-1
• R6: #4 Wailin Josie   8-1
• R6: #6 Quietude   8-1
• R8: #1 Diamond Ore   8-1

Good luck today!

VegasInsider Staff

More from VegasInsider Staff