At the Gate - Friday
By Mike Dempsey
The opening day card on the main track at Aqueduct on Wednesday did not go well for us, and after my early Pick 5 tickets were obliterated in the first leg on Thursday, I was starting to miss the inner track.
Thankfully, things turned around in a hurry yesterday, with my top pick Missy Bay ($12.20) winning the second race and topping a recommended exacta that returned $34.00. That would be the first of six winners on top on the nine race card.
The winners paid $12.20, $9.10, $5.70, $12.00, $4.30, $11.40. In the other two races, my second choice won, making it pretty easy to hit both Pick 4’s. The late Pick 4 returned $217.50 for a $1.
We have rain in the forecast for Friday at Aqueduct, and the early Pick 5 looks on the chalky side.
Keeneland opens on Friday, and there is a heavy rain in the forecast which could wreck havoc on the turf races including the opening day feature, the $100,000 Transylvania (G3), which is scheduled to be run on the grass.
The weather looks better for Saturday and we have a huge day that includes three Derby points races. I will have my full card reports for both Keeneland and Aqueduct and my Best Plays will include some of the action from Santa Anita including the $1 million Santa Anita Derby (G1).
The three Derby preps will be televised live on the NBC Sports Network in a two-hour telecast that gets underway at 5:00 ET.
Here is today’s opening from Aqueduct to get the day off to a good start:
AQU Race 1 Alw $62,000N1X (1:20 ET)
3 Understanding 2-1
5 Flirtatious Spring 9-5
4 On a Snowy Evening 5-2
2 Literata 6-1
Analysis: Understanding caught a muddy track last out and made a mild late run to finish third at this level. The mare broke her maiden against open maidens at Laurel Park four back and then was beaten just a nose against Alw-1 foes in her first start against winners. She is proven over a wet track which we likely get today and Jara figures to keep this gal closer to the pace in this spot.
Flirtatious Spring pressed the early pace and could not match strides late with the winner in a runner up finish last out at this level. She beat $12,500 non-winners of two in her previous start easily, drawing away to win by 10 1/4 lengths. She has landed in the money in three of her four trips over wet tracks but does have a habit of landing for minor shares.
Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 2-1 or better.
EX: 3 / 4,5
TRI: no play
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:
AQU Race 8 Alw $72,000N1X (4:57 ET)
6 Mine for Life 5-2
2 Irish Sweepstakes 7-2
1 Diannestillworks / 1a Checkupfromzneckup 2-1
3 Sheriffa 3-1
Analysis: Mine for Life stretches out to a mile here for her third career start here for the McLaughlin barn that is 18% winners moving runners from sprint to route. The filly was a smart looking maiden winner last out on the inner track, drawing off to win by nearly eight lengths. The third place finisher Relax came back to graduate in her next start on March 28. This gal is bred to go long and to handle a wet track.
Irish Sweepstakes tracked the early pace from the rail and made a mild late rally to finish in the runner up spot behind a gate to wire winner over a racing strip that was kind to inside speed. The fifth and seventh place finishers came out of the race to win next out. She has passed her first two state bred allowance conditions and her best puts her in the mix in this spot.
Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 2-1 or better.
EX: 2,6 / 1,2,3,6
TRI: 2,6 / 1,2,3,6 / 1,2,3,5,6
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
R5: #1 Holy Invader 8-1
R6: #9 Bridget Moloney 10-1
R6: #7 Ecoach 12-1
R7: #3 Too Good to Be True 8-1
R9: #6 Rollie Mass 8-1
Good luck today!
