Saturday's Picks from Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park

Frigid and windy conditions wiped out Friday’s card at Aqueduct, so it was a waste of a few hours of my time but to be honest the card was not exactly attractive anyway.

Things are slightly better for Saturday, but it does look as if it might be a bit of a chalky day with a few short fields and formidable favorites.

However, we have plenty of action at Gulfstream Park with five stakes, two more at Santa Anita and I included all of the stakes action in today’s Best Plays Report.

We have a pair of Road to the Kentucky Derby points races on tap—the $200,000 Holy Bull G3) at Gulfstream Park and the $100,000 Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita.

The Holy Bull drew a field of nine with the Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey sending out the 5-2 morning line favorite Greatest Honor. The colt picked up his maiden win in his last outing, the fourth of his career.

The Todd Pletcher trained Prime Factor broke his maiden by 8 ¾ lengths in his debut and is the 3-1 second choice on the morning line. It would be no surprise to see the colt go off as the betting favorite when the gates open.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert again has a barn full of Derby contenders and sends out a pair in the Lewis. Medina Spirit (5-2) was a game second in the Sham (G3) in his last start. His stablemate Spielberg (7-2) won the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) in his last outing.

“America’s Day at the Races” will be televised on FS2 from 1:00 to 4:00 ET, then move to FS1 from 4:00 to 5:30 and then it is back to FS2 from 5:30 to 6:30.

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.

My Best Plays Report for Saturday includes my 12 strongest plays from Aqueduct, Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita including all of the graded stakes action.

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 second race (the opener looks chalky) from Aqueduct to get the day off to a good start:

AQUEDUCT RACE 2 ANALYSIS (12:50 P.M. ET)

Race 2 Clm $16,000N2L

• #6 I See the Stars 6-1
• #7 Kid Chocolate 3-1
• #2 Mr. Fidget 4-1
• #3 Quintarelli 5-2

Analysis: I See the Stars gets the call and there are no stars in here, a group that just does like winning, five of these with 18+ losses without beating winners. Our top pick has just three starts under his belt. He was badly outrun last out but that was in the mud in his first start for Potts. He broke his maiden two back in his second career start on turf at Woodbine going long for a $15,000 tag. The third-place finisher Kuduro came out of that race to graduate next out for a $9,500 tag. He gets in light with Cardenas and the 6-1 morning line looks fair enough.

Kid Chocolate made the switch from turf to dirt last out. He was outrun early and picked it up late to check in fifth against $25,000 non-winners of two. The runner up Dust Devil came back to beat $40,000 non-winners of two in his next outing on Jan. 18 here. He is 0 for 6 at this on-winners of two level but the first five came on turf. He has been facing a bit tougher than these.

AQUEDUCT RACE 4 ANALYSIS (1:50 P.M. ET)

Race 4 The Toboggan G3

• #1 Pete's Play Call 9-5
• #4 Stan the Man 5-2
• #3 Share the Ride 8-5
• #5 American Power 5-1

Analysis: Pete's Play Call dueled for the early lead and drew clear late to win the Gravesand last out in his first start off the claim by the RRod barn. Most of the winners that day were traveling in the outer paths and this guy as toward the inside much of the trip. RRod claimed him for $62,500 two back out of a win versus Alw-2 foes. He has won 3 of 5 over the main track here and has two wins at today's seven furlong distance. The eight-year-old seems to have an extra sporing in his step over his last three starts and looks capable of keeping it going here in this spot.

Stan the Man stalked the early pace, came wide and could not get to our top pick late in a runner up finish in the Gravesand. Two back he came with a good late rally to finish in the runner up spot in the Fall Highweight 'Cap (G3) behind Share the Ride. The extra ground here should suit this guy and there is enough early zip despite the short field that tings should set up pretty well for him. He has done much of his best work here at the Big A, landing in the exacta in 11 of his 16 career starts here.

GULFSTREAM PARK RACE 9 ANALYSIS (3:46 P.M. ET)

Race 9 The Forward Gal G3

• #6 Lady Traveler 4-1
• #7 Zaajel 7-5
• #3 Competitive Speed 8-1
• #8 Coach Jer's Joy 9-2

Analysis: Lady Traveler cuts back to seven furlongs after checking in a non-threatening eighth last out in the Golden Rod (G2). Two back in her stakes debut she was a solid second in the Rags to Riches. The third-place finisher in that race was Oliviaoftehdesert who came back to beat Alw-1 optional claimers and then won the Trapeze at Remington Park. She graduated in gate to wire fashion going six furlongs in her second career start and should appreciate the cut back in distance and easier spot.

Zaajel was a good looking debut winner for the Pletcher barn. She tracked the early pace, took over the lead and drew off to win by 7 1/4 lengths. Five she beat have come back to run with one next out winner, the other four running out of the money, so not sure how tough that field was. This gal is by Street Sense out of a stakes placed Daaher mare that has dropped three other winners. She earned a solid enough number in her debut and if she moved forward she will be tough but her price is going to be on the light side.

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 Gallina 15-1
• R7: #3 American Lincoln 8-1

Good luck today!