Three Race Horse Play – Track Action from Aqueduct and Keeneland

We saw several more bombs land at Keeneland on Thursday. Among the longshots that scored included Artisan at $46.40 and Afternoon Stroll paying $102.60.

Both of those longshots were part of the Pick 6, and led to a carryover of $73,460 going into Friday’s card.

The Pick 3 play today kicks off in the seventh race at Keeneland. The three race sequence includes four horses at 6/1 or higher on the morning line on our modest $24 ticket.

The play of the day comes from Aqueduct, where True Rebel will be looking to rebound off a poor effort and should go off at a generous price.

Today’s Play of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 7 Clm $7,500B (3:55 et)

#8 True Rebel 6/1

#6 Surfing Ian 7/2

#4 Confirmondi 8/5

#7 Energy Center 5/1

Analysis: #8 True Rebel took up after taking a couple of awkward steps and never got untracked in a seventh place finish. Two back this guy was a good second behind Make the Point, who returned to beat $15K non winners of three or four year olds in his next outing on 3/27. This gelding can be in the mix here with a better start and we should catch a decent enough price.

#6 Surfing Ian chased the early pace, took over the lead and could not hold off the winner late in a runner up finish, holding onto the place spot in a photo. The gelding owns solid early and mid pace numbers and will be mixing it up early with our third choice, who is the likely favorite. The gelding does appear to be heading in the right direction form wise and gets a decent jock switch to Coa.

Wagering

WIN: #8 to win at 7/2 or better.

EX: 6,8 / 4,6,7,8

TRI: 6,8 / 4,6,7,8 / 3,4,6,7,8

Today’s Pick 3 Play from Keeneland:

Starting in Race 7: $1: 1,6,7 / 2,5,6,7 / 5,8 = $24

KEE Race 7 Alw $58,000N2X (4:05 et)

#6 Targe, #7 Izanagi, #1 Big Stick / #1a Slam Dunk

#6 Targe makes his first start since a fast closing second last out against Alw-1 optional claimers. He returns off a 2 1/2 month freshening for the Maker barn that is 27% winners (with a +ROI) with horses coming back off a 61-180 day layoff. Some of his best work has been on the fake stuff where he has won 3 of 5 including one trip over the poly here. He looks ready to fire off the short break for a sharp barn and we might catch a decent price o this gelding.

#7 Izanagi checked in third against a solid group of Alw-2 optional claimers in his U.S. debut back in January. The winner of that race was Forest Command, who had finished third in a couple of G3′s, the runner up Dream Maestro recently beat Alw-2 optional claimers at Gulfstream Park on 4/1. Frankel is 19% winners with runners returning off a 61-180 day layoff.

KEE Race 8 Alw $66,000C (4:35 et)

#7 Colina Verde, #6 Ariege, #2 You Go West Girl, #5 Winsome Ways

#7 Colina Verde gets the slight nod in here. The mare is making her first start in a year for the McLaughlin barn that takes over the training duties from Drysdale. The mare won her U.S. debut against allowance foes off a long layoff, so perhaps she runs well fresh. She ended her campaign in Brazil by winning three straight G1′s. She was prepping at Palm Meadows and has one breeze here over the poly.

#6 Ariege returns off a six month break for Frankel. She was last seen checking in fifth in the G1 QEII Cup over the turf here last fall. She is a G1 winner, taking the Santa Anita Oaks in March of ’08. She won a stake at the Spa off a four-month break last summer. She is the class of the field but her price is going to be on the light side.

KEE Race 9 Doubledogdare S. G3 (5:05 et)

#5 Drop a Line, #8 Indescribable

#5 Drop a Line tracked the early pacesetter and held on gamely until late in a fourth place finish on the grass in the G3 Hillsborough at Tampa going nine furlongs. The mare was third two back in the G3 Suwanee River, having to steady in traffic heading into the first turn and coming up just 1 1/4 lengths shy of the top spot. She is just 1 for 10 on turf and the switch to the fake stuff should suit as she is 3 for 5 in her career on synthetic surfaces. She won a stake over the Tapeta at Presque Isle and passed her Alw-2 condition over the poly here last spring. In good hands with Motion who is having a trough luck meeting, 0 for 11 with five runner up finishes.

#8 Indescribable makes her first start since winning the G3 Cardinal over a yielding turf at Churchill Downs last November. She is 3 for 7 on the fake stuff and her career top speed fig came in a stakes win at Arlington over poly last May. The Mott barn is 20% winners (with a +ROI) with horses coming back off a 61-180 day layoff.

Price Plays From Aqueduct:

These are price plays to watch today. A small win-place wager is in order or if your pockets are deep enough, use these runners in your trifecta and Pick 3 and Pick 4 wagers. One or two of these could be the difference between a regular day at the track and hitting the IRS window with a signer.

R1: #1 Boss Tiffany 8/1

R2: #4 Spanish Life 12/1

R4: #8 She’s Got Thunder 15/1

R9: #1 Century Gold 12/1

R9: #5 Roma Di Notte 8/1

Good luck padding your bankroll today!