Sunday’s Picks from Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park

Known Agenda pulled off the mild upset in yesterday’s Florida Derby (G1) and stamped his ticket to the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 1 with an impressive victory.

Under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. the colt saved ground in the early going, angled three wide and finished up well while drifting a tad to win by 2 ¾ lengths. The colt gives trainer Todd Pletcher a threat on the first Saturday of May.

Greatest Honour was sent off as the 4-5 favorite and had to settle for tired but I am not quite ready to give up on this colt.

He was late getting started in the Fountain of Youth (G2) last month and it appeared he was not liking the kickback much. He finally got into gear and drew clear in the stretch to win by 1 ½ lengths.

Yesterday his jockey Jose Ortiz elected to stick him down along the inside where again he took some kickback. He angled off the rail and finished evenly for third.

It was a disappointing effort, but I would not be too quick to dismiss his chances in the Run for the Roses, and to be honest I would not mind if we see a jockey switch.

Like the King won the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway Park and earned his way into the Kentucky Derby. The Wesley Ward trainee was my top pick, and we got a nice $16.00 win payoff, but I failed to use the runner up Sainthood, who completed an exacta that paid a hefty $168.00.

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 Sunday includes my eight 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 (1:20 P.M. ET)

Race 1 Md Sp Wt

  • #5 Rudy Rod 5-1
  • #6 Principino 10-1
  • #3 Flying With Angels 7-5
  • #1 I Am the Law 4-1

Analysis: Rudy Rod stalked the early pace and could not make up any ground in the stretch in a fourth-place finish last outgoing six furlongs. The colt caught a racing strip that was kind to inside speed that day. The winner Three Two Zone came back to beat Alw-1 optional claimers in his next outing on March 26. He is bred to handle more ground and a wet track. He is by Orb out of a Deputy Minister mare that has dropped seven winners including G1 stakes winner Tapizar ($972,632), winner of the 2012 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Principino invades from Philly and may get overlooked in the betting here. He was no match for a 9 1/4 length winner in a runner up finish last out at six furlongs off a 4 1/2-month break. He was a game second going two turns at Philly last October in his second career start. He is by Cairo Prince out of an Include mare. He gets in light with the bug and should move forward second of the break and with the extra ground.

AQUEDUCT RACE 5 ANALYSIS (3:20 P.M. ET)

Race 5 Clm $14,000N3L

  • #6 City Temper 9-5
  • #7 Left Leaning Lucy 7-2
  • #4 Mebs Web 5-2
  • #3 Anydayisherday 6-1

Analysis: City Temper pressed the early pace and tired to finish seventh last out against $25,000 non-winners of three. She returns off a two-month break here for the Abreu barn that has good numbers with horses coming back off short breaks. This gal beat $40,000 non-winners of two in the slop at the Spa last September in a race taken off the turf which was off a 7 1/2-month layoff. She catches a soft group here dropping in for a $14,000 tag.

Left Leaning Lucy also exits a $25,000 non-winners of three there she was sixth and seventh in her first two starts at the condition. Three back she took $16,000 non-winners of two gate to wire while down along a deep rail much of the trip and that outing was in the mud. She gets in light with the bug Cardenas and she should be more forwardly placed against this group.

GULFSTREAM PARK RACE 6 ANALYSIS (2:37 P.M. ET)

Race 6 Md Sp Wt

  • #7 Perfect Grace 6-1
  • #6 Another Woman 7-5
  • #5 Meet the Beauty 4-1
  • #3 Surrealist 6-1

Analysis: Perfect Grace debuts for the Nicks barn that is 16% winners with first time starters. This filly has been working sharply for her debut and with Pletcher and Mott having runners in here this gal should end up a fair price. She is by Tapit out of the three-time G1 stakes winner Havre de Grace ($2.5 million) who has dropped three foals to race all winners, top earner Graceful Princess ($98,474) who was a debut winner.

Another Woman came with a good late rally to finish in the runner up spot in a solid debut where she was sent off at 16-1 in a field of 10. None of these runners have come out of the race to run back yet. She was a $105,000 Keeneland purchase, by Broken Vow out of a Malibu Moon mare that has dropped two other foals to race with one winner. Mott hits at a 16% clip with second out maidens and could have a pretty good afternoon 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 wager.

Aqueduct

  • R1: #6 Principino 10-1
  • R6: #1 Adhwaa 8-1
  • R7: #4 T Loves a Fight 8-1

Good luck today!