Sunday’s Picks from Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

Mandaloun was an impressive winner of yesterday’s Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds, earning him a starting spot in the gate for the Kentucky Derby.

The Brad Cox trainee tracked the early pace in third, came with a four wide bid around the far turn, took over the lead in the stretch and held off Proxy to win by 1 ¼ lengths.

The colt was my top pick and paid $6.20 to win and along with my third choice Proxy the $2 exacta came back at $27.80.

At Golden Gate Fields the betting favorite Rombauer got a perfectly times ride from jockey Kyle Frey, rallying from last to first and paying $4.40 as my second choice., My third choice was the filly Javanica who completed a $2 exacta that paid $9.80.

Rombauer picked up to points toward entry into the Run for the Roses and an automatic starting spot in the Preakness Stakes (G1).

The feature at Aqueduct on Sunday is the $100,000 Gander for three-year-olds bred in New York that drew a field of seven.

The Todd Pletcher trained Perfect Munnings is perfect in two starts, winning the state bred Rego Park on Jan. 10 in his last outing. Pletcher also will saddle Uno (3-1), who was fourth in the Rego Park.

Looking for a bit more value I landed on the Michelle Nevin trained Dancing Buck (6-1). The son of War Dancer was a good looking maiden winner going six furlongs in the slop in his second career start. The colt has the pedigree to handle the one-mile distance and should end up a decent price. “America’s Day at the Races” will be televised on FS2 from 1:00 to 5:00 ET. You can also 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 Sunday includes my nine strongest plays from Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park.

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 (1:00 P.M. ET)

Race 1 Md $25,000

• #6 A Vow of Beauty   3-1
• #4 Devilish Mood   5-1
• #1 Mighty Wind / 1a Reticent   2-1
• #3 Ringgood   9-2               

Analysis: A Vow of Beauty tracked thee early pace and weakened to finish fifth last out against $40,000 foes in his first start for a tag. He caught a racing strip that was kind to speed that day. He drops another notch here in for $25,000 for the Baker barn. Three of his four previous starts were on turf going long. The stretch out to a mile should suit him and he catches a pretty slow group of state breeds here.

Devilish Mood faded to finish a well beaten 12th last out in his second career start and first off a 10-month layoff.

He was claimed out of the race by the Atras barn that is 29% winners first off the claim. He comes back for the same tag with blinkers off. He missed in his debut last March at Tampa Bay Downs on turf by just a nose going a mile. The $40,000 Ocala purchase is out of the stakes winner Good Mood ($246,241). he gets a jock upgrade from the bug to Carmouche and should show more here second off the bench. 

GULFSTREAM PARK RACE 8 ANALYSIS (4:12 P.M. ET)

Race 8 Clm $35,000N2L

• #7 Kelleycanrun   9-2
• #6 Pardon My Heart   5-1
• #10 Sylvanella   7-2
• #4 Come Storming   3-1

Analysis: Kelleycanrun stalked the early pace and did not have enough punch left late in a third-place finish at this level last out here, beaten one length for the top spot while missing the place spot to Come Storming by a neck. The mare looks headed in the right direction as she makes her third start of her current form cycle. She faced tougher in New York last fall and makes her second start here for this tag. She draws a better spot and Paco sticks for Tagg.

Pardon My Heart exits the same race as our top pick where she raced near the back of the pack and was not much of a threat in an eighth-place finish. Two back when she got more pace, she came with a mild late run to finish third. It looks as if she should get a bit more pace to run at in this spot and picks up Junior. She should bounce back with a better effort and is going to end up a fair price.  

AQUEDUCT RACE 8 ANALYSIS (4:25 P.M. ET)

Race 8 The Gander

• #2 Dancing Buck   6-1
• #4 Perfect Munnings   2-1
• #6 Uno   3-1
• #5 Nicky the Vest   9-5               

Analysis: Dancing Buck was a good looking maiden winner last out in the slop in his second career start. The Nevin trainee pressed the early pace, took over the lead down along the 2-3 path and finished up well to win by 2 1/4 lengths Most of the winners that day were coming from farther out on the surface. He ran second in is debut two back on good turf behind Perfect Munnings, who came back to win the state bred Rego Park on Jan. 10 and is the likely favorite in here. The gelding looks capable of handling the added ground. He is by War Dancer out of a stakes placed Catienus mare.

Perfect Munnings tracked the early pace and drew clear late to win the Rego park by two lengths at 6 1/2 furlongs. His maiden score came in his debut two back on turf. Pletcher stretches this guy out here to a one turn mile which looks well within his scope. He is by Munnings out of a Medaglia d'Oro mare. The trainer is 24% winners moving runners from sprint to route.

Uno is the other Pletcher runner in here. He was a smart maiden winner in his debut in the mud. Last out in the Rego Park he stalked the early pace, came with a five wide bid and weakened to finish fourth at 6-5. He has come back with three works and has enough pedigree to handle the extra ground. An underlay last out he may end up offering a bit more value here. 

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

• R6: #4 Bley   15-1
• R7: #4 Meetmeincali   12-1
• R9: #3 Willow Grove   12-1
• R9: #7 Regal Honor   12-1 

Good luck today!

VegasInsider Staff

More from VegasInsider Staff