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Saturday’s Race Recap from Aqueduct & Keeneland:
(All odds US)
Aqueduct:
Race 8: 1st@ 2.15/1 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Race 9: 7th@ 6.60/1
Race 10: 6th@ 10.10/1
Race 11: 4th@ 2.30/1
In the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct it was BEST BET Mo Donegal who ran down loose leader Early Voting to get us a win to start the action in New York. In the Grade 1 Carter, Speaker’s Corner dominated again leaving First Captain and all the rest in his wake. First Captain was up closer than usual to the pace and appeared to pull himself out of the race and wasn’t persevered with. In the Gazelle, Morning Matcha was taken far back off a slow pace and wasn’t able to produce a winning stretch kick. In Race 11, the Bay Shore, Dean’s List was taken back to last with a change in tactics and could only manage a closing fourth.
Keeneland:
Race 5: 7th@ 28.80/1
Race 6: 1st@ 0.70/1 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Race 7: 2nd@ 5.60/1
Race 9: 2nd@ 1.90/1
Our day at Keeneland began with an uninspired effort from Manny Wah first time racing over a muddy track. He was given a nice ride by Florent Geroux but faded in the drive. In Race 6, it was our selection, Spendarella showing that she doesn’t need the lead to win as she stalked and when the time came she handily defeated her rivals. In the Grade 1 Madison, Bell’s the One got the right trip and took the lead in mid-stretch. She looked home but got run down at the wire. In the Toyota Bluegrass it was Smile Happy taking the lead in the stretch only to relinquish it to Zandon before the wire.
Two winners, one BEST BET and two second place finishes from eight picks on the day.
We’ll move back to Keeneland for Sunday’s races. We expect better weather than we had on Saturday with a fast main track and a turf course with a little give in it.
Race 9: Trending - 2 pt win - BEST BET (US Morning Line Odds: 3/1)
Growing up, Shug McGaughey was always a dirt trainer. Horses like Personal Emblem, Seeking the Gold, Orb, all helped get McGaughey notoriety with dirt runners, but he wins his fair share with turf runners as well. Trending’s speed figures are trending in the right direction with improvements in every start since her first. This runner owns the field’s top speed figure but only by a few points but it’s the improvements with each start that make me give this one the “BEST BET” designation for the day. The 22% winning trainer and top rider are cherries on top.
Best of luck to everyone playing Sunday’s races from Keeneland!