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At the Gate - Friday
October 2, 2015
Keeneland opens this afternoon for their fall meeting, and we have the first two of seven Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” races today. This year’s Breeders’ Cup will be held for the first time at Keeneland, the two-day championship event getting underway on Oct. 30.
The $250,000 Phoenix (G3) drew a field of 12 with the winner securing a spot in the field for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). Work All Week is the defending champion of both the Phoenix and the Sprint and is the 2-1 second choice on the morning line.
The gelding looks back on track after an eight-length romp at Mountaineer Park in his last outing, snapping a two race losing streak.
He faces Runhappy, who ran huge winning the King’s Bishop (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 24. The colt earned a 113 Beyer Speed Figure for his first stakes win.
The $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) winner earns a fee-expenses trip to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and drew a field of 11. My selections and analysis for the race are below.
We have a huge day of Breeders’ Cup prep races coming up on Saturday including the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (G1), both of which will be televised live on NBC at 5:00 ET.
There will be coverage on Sunday on NBC as well, featuring the $250,000 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes (G3) and the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1), both Breeders’ Cup Challenge races.
Selections for all of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge races can be found in my Best Plays Report each day.
Here is today’s opener from Belmont Park to get the day off to a good start:
BEL Race 1 Clm $16,000N2L (12:55 ET)
#3 Special Agent 3-1
#1 Stevie's Moonshot 6-5
#2 Lyrical Miracle 12-1
#4 Bossmon 4-1
Analysis: Special Agent was not a threat last out in a seventh place finish against open $35,000 claimers and finds a better spot here tagged for $16,000 and facing non-winners of two. He has not been on the main track since last year, but he has a solid off track pedigree, by Medaglia's d'Oro out of an A.P. Indy mare.
Stevie's Moonshot was a decent third three back in the slop in a race washed off the turf versus $40,000 non-winners of two. He did not have good trips in his last two starts on turf and now drops into a softer spot here for Pletcher.
Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 1,3 / 1,2,3
TRI: no play
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Keeneland:
KEE Race 9 The Alcibades G1 (5:30 ET)
#1 Gomo 3-1
#9 Dothraki Queen 5-2
#11 Just Wicked 3-1
#8 Lookout Sister 6-1
Analysis: Gomo returns to dirt here after a third last out in the Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar going a mile. The Beyer (66) is coming up on the light side while the BRIS number is the second highest number in the field. By Uncle Mo out of an Elusive Quality mare, she seems better suited to two turns on dirt and this will be her first try.
Dothraki Queen romped in her debut to win by seven lengths at Ellis Park on turf and then was sent off at 7-1 in her dirt debut in the Pocahontas (G2) with lasix added and she pulled off the mile upset. She raced near the back of the pack, made a god middle move, had to wait briefly for some running room at the quarterpole and took over shortly after for the win. The McPeek barn has won this race three times, the most recent with Dream Express in 2008.
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 1,9 / 1,8,9,11
TRI: 1,9 / 1,8,9,11 / 1,6,8,9,11
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:
BEL Race 8 Alw $62,000N1X (4:46 ET)
#2 Giantinthemoonlite 5-2
#1 True Bet 6-1
#5 Little Popsie 6-1
#7 David Rocks 3-1
Analysis: Giantinthemoonlite stalked the early pace and was interfered with in the stretch when a foe drifted in on him, checking in fourth and place third via DQ. Two back off a 4 1/2 month break he was beaten just a head in a game effort. He makes his third start of his current form cycle, has done his best running over the main track here, and has run well on wet tracks if the rains come.
True Bet faces winners for the first time after a sharp maiden win last out in his ninth career start. Two back over the main track here he ran a good second behind repeat winner So Noted, who came back to beat state bred Alw-1 foes in his next outing on Aug. 2 at the Spa. The gelding looks headed in the right direction and this is not a real tough spot for his first go against winners.
Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 2-1 or better.
EX: 1,2 / 1,2,5,7
TRI: 1,2 / 1,2,5,7 / 1,2,3,5,7
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.
Belmont Park
R1: #2 Lyrical Miracle 12-1
R4: #6 Kitten 12-1
R6: #4 Queen of the Spa 8-1
R7: #1 Saint Finian 12-1
R9: #8 Ask the Lonely 10-1
Good luck today!
October 2, 2015
Keeneland opens this afternoon for their fall meeting, and we have the first two of seven Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” races today. This year’s Breeders’ Cup will be held for the first time at Keeneland, the two-day championship event getting underway on Oct. 30.
The $250,000 Phoenix (G3) drew a field of 12 with the winner securing a spot in the field for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1). Work All Week is the defending champion of both the Phoenix and the Sprint and is the 2-1 second choice on the morning line.
The gelding looks back on track after an eight-length romp at Mountaineer Park in his last outing, snapping a two race losing streak.
He faces Runhappy, who ran huge winning the King’s Bishop (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 24. The colt earned a 113 Beyer Speed Figure for his first stakes win.
The $400,000 Darley Alcibiades (G1) winner earns a fee-expenses trip to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and drew a field of 11. My selections and analysis for the race are below.
We have a huge day of Breeders’ Cup prep races coming up on Saturday including the $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) and the $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile (G1), both of which will be televised live on NBC at 5:00 ET.
There will be coverage on Sunday on NBC as well, featuring the $250,000 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes (G3) and the $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster (G1), both Breeders’ Cup Challenge races.
Selections for all of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge races can be found in my Best Plays Report each day.
Here is today’s opener from Belmont Park to get the day off to a good start:
BEL Race 1 Clm $16,000N2L (12:55 ET)
#3 Special Agent 3-1
#1 Stevie's Moonshot 6-5
#2 Lyrical Miracle 12-1
#4 Bossmon 4-1
Analysis: Special Agent was not a threat last out in a seventh place finish against open $35,000 claimers and finds a better spot here tagged for $16,000 and facing non-winners of two. He has not been on the main track since last year, but he has a solid off track pedigree, by Medaglia's d'Oro out of an A.P. Indy mare.
Stevie's Moonshot was a decent third three back in the slop in a race washed off the turf versus $40,000 non-winners of two. He did not have good trips in his last two starts on turf and now drops into a softer spot here for Pletcher.
Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 1,3 / 1,2,3
TRI: no play
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Keeneland:
KEE Race 9 The Alcibades G1 (5:30 ET)
#1 Gomo 3-1
#9 Dothraki Queen 5-2
#11 Just Wicked 3-1
#8 Lookout Sister 6-1
Analysis: Gomo returns to dirt here after a third last out in the Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar going a mile. The Beyer (66) is coming up on the light side while the BRIS number is the second highest number in the field. By Uncle Mo out of an Elusive Quality mare, she seems better suited to two turns on dirt and this will be her first try.
Dothraki Queen romped in her debut to win by seven lengths at Ellis Park on turf and then was sent off at 7-1 in her dirt debut in the Pocahontas (G2) with lasix added and she pulled off the mile upset. She raced near the back of the pack, made a god middle move, had to wait briefly for some running room at the quarterpole and took over shortly after for the win. The McPeek barn has won this race three times, the most recent with Dream Express in 2008.
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 5-2 or better.
EX: 1,9 / 1,8,9,11
TRI: 1,9 / 1,8,9,11 / 1,6,8,9,11
Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:
BEL Race 8 Alw $62,000N1X (4:46 ET)
#2 Giantinthemoonlite 5-2
#1 True Bet 6-1
#5 Little Popsie 6-1
#7 David Rocks 3-1
Analysis: Giantinthemoonlite stalked the early pace and was interfered with in the stretch when a foe drifted in on him, checking in fourth and place third via DQ. Two back off a 4 1/2 month break he was beaten just a head in a game effort. He makes his third start of his current form cycle, has done his best running over the main track here, and has run well on wet tracks if the rains come.
True Bet faces winners for the first time after a sharp maiden win last out in his ninth career start. Two back over the main track here he ran a good second behind repeat winner So Noted, who came back to beat state bred Alw-1 foes in his next outing on Aug. 2 at the Spa. The gelding looks headed in the right direction and this is not a real tough spot for his first go against winners.
Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 2-1 or better.
EX: 1,2 / 1,2,5,7
TRI: 1,2 / 1,2,5,7 / 1,2,3,5,7
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.
Belmont Park
R1: #2 Lyrical Miracle 12-1
R4: #6 Kitten 12-1
R6: #4 Queen of the Spa 8-1
R7: #1 Saint Finian 12-1
R9: #8 Ask the Lonely 10-1
Good luck today!
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