Football is the focus of our Saturdays at this time of year, but there’s always time to turn into the horse races and look for value at tracks from coast to coast.
This Saturday, I’m joined by my friends, Ed Sehon – aka Mr. Ed from “Mr. Ed’s Saratoga on (about) $100 a Day” column from over the summer – and Rampart race and sports book manager Duane Colucci. Sehon has two spot plays at Aqueduct, plus the Late Pick 4, while Colucci also tackles the Aqueduct Late Pick 4 and also offers Pick 4 plays at Oaklawn and Gulfstream along with a play in the featured Cigar Mile at Aqueduct. Last and hopefully not least, I have price plays at Aqueduct and Gulfstream.
Good luck today (and every day)!
SATURDAY
Aqueduct Race No. 4 (1:18 p.m. ET/10:18 a.m. PT)
Ed Sehon likes #3 Legit (8-1 morning line). “After brief vacation, recently gelded son of Curlin returns with new rider (Trevor McCarthy), drops in class, moves from turf to dirt and adds blinkers for veteran conditioner Dominick Schettino. As the song says, sometimes the change will do you good. Wager: Win and Place.”
Aqueduct Races Nos. 7-10 (2:43 p.m. ET/11:43 a.m. PT)
Ed Sehon likes the following $.50 Pick 4 (cost $67.50)
Race 7: 1,2,3,6,7
Race 8: 1,2,7
Race 9: 5,6,7
Race 10: 3,4,5
Duane Colucci likes the following $.50 Pick 4 (cost $72)
Race 7: 2,5,6,7
Race 8: 1,2,7
Race 9: 3,5,6,7
Race 10: 1,4,5
Aqueduct Race No. 8 (3:14 p.m. ET/12:14 p.m. PT)
Dave Tuley likes #8 Mr Jefferson (20-1 morning line) in the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes. “Full disclosure: my friend John Lauro and I have Kentucky Derby future–book tickets at 100-1 on #1 Mo Donegal (8-5 favorite), but when looking for value on Saturday, I’m betting Mr Jefferson, who should be sitting just off the pace like he’s already done in his two career victories. He’s certainly stepping up in class, but trainer Michael Trombetta is 20 percent in graded stakes races, so I’m trusting he believes this colt fits here. Wager: Win and Place.”
Gulfstream Races Nos. 8-11 (3:28 p.m. ET/12:28 p.m. PT)
Duane Colucci likes the following $.50 Pick 4 (cost $72)
Race 8: 1,2,6,7,9,11
Race 9: 3,5,6,9
Race 10: 4,5,6
Race 11: 2,3
Aqueduct Race No. 10 (4:13 p.m. ET/1:13 p.m. PT)
Ed Sehon likes #3 Americanrevolution (5-2 morning line) in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile. “Following solid third to flashy Hot Rod Charlie in the Pennsylvania Derby, late-blooming son of Constitution chalked up a sloppy, 11 3/4-length romp vs. lesser in the Empire Classic. Trainer Bill Mott retains Luis Saez while cutting 3-year-old back in Big A debut. Wager: Win and box him in exactas with #4 Code of Honor (6-1) and #5 Independence Hall (7-2).”
Duane Colucci likes #1 Following Sea (5-1). “This top sprinter has enough class to win this. John Velazquez and Todd Pletcher always bring their ‘A’ game. The last three workouts ensure he can go a mile, especially the last one. Pletcher has a positive ROI in graded stakes this year at a small $2.02, but the BC Sprint effort wins this. Bet 1 to Win and key 1 over 4,5,6 in exactas, trifectas and reverse.”
Oaklawn Races Nos. 7-10 (4:19 p.m. ET/1:19 p.m. PT)
Duane Colucci likes the following $.50 Pick 4 (cost $112)
Race 7: 1,3,4,5,8,9,12
Race 8: 2,4,5,6
Race 9: 1,2,6,9
Race 10: 10.11
Gulfstream Race No. 11 (5:05 p.m. ET/2:05 p.m. PT)
Dave Tuley likes #1 Mid Day Image (6-1 morning line) in the Claiming Crown Emerald Starter Stakes. “The Claiming Crown races are usually wide-open. I think we have the lone speed here in this race with Mid Day Image, who should go right to the front off the rail and hopefully go wire-to-wire. We also like that this 5-year-old is 3-for-4 at Gulfstream (with two of those wins coming at this 1 1/16-mile distance) and picks up jockey Paco Lopez. Wager: Win and Place.”
Note: also check out our A.I. Pick of the Week at vsin.com/horses as we’ve gone 17-for-35 since taking over the feature. There are also more plays from 1ST/BET handicappers on that page at vsin.com/horses.
