Horse Racing News and Notes Friday December 22, 2017

At the Gate - Friday
December 21, 2017
By Mike Dempsey
VegasInsider.com

We have just two days of betting action and three shopping days until Christmas. I guess I can finish up my shopping on Christmas Eve.

We will have a four-day break at Aqueduct, with racing resuming on Dec. 26, but we could have a work stoppage in a couple of weeks.

The New York Racing Association and the Jockeys’ Guild have not come to an agreement for a contract for health and insurance benefits and the jockeys could stop accepting mounts on Jan. 1, with the first racing day in danger being Jan. 6.

The Daily Racing Form is reporting that according to Tom Kennedy, an attorney for the Jockeys’ Guild, the Guild is seeking a three-year contract with NYRA that calls for no increase in benefit payments in 2018 and a 1 percent increases in 2019 and 2020. Kennedy said Thursday that NYRA has refused to sign the contract and is seeking to pay less than it did in 2017.

The NYRA is the only major racing jurisdiction that has not come to an agreement with the Jockeys’ Guild, so other tracks are not in danger of closing, and jockeys could relocate if the impasse in New York extends into the new year.

If there is a stoppage of racing in New York we will move our tack to Gulfstream Park, but I have a hunch an agreement will be coming shortly.

Here is the opening race from Aqueduct to get the day off to a good start:

AQU Race 1 Md $40,000 (12:20 ET)
#1 Silberado8-5
#5 Love Your Buttons 3-1
#3 Distorted Admiral 7-5
#4 Pawn It Back 15-1

Analysis: Silberado brushed the gate and was bumped soon after the start last out, then rallied to finish a good second between a pair of next out winners. The winner Holland Road came back to beat $40,000 non-winners of two in his next outing on Dec. 14 here. Our top pick returns as a gelding as he makes his first start for Handal who is 11% winners first off the claim. He steps up for $40,000 but there really are not any tougher than he faced last out.

Love Your Buttons rallied to finish in the runner up spot two back and then last out regressed in a sixth-place finish, with the top pair next out winners. The colt was claimed out of that race by the Cannizzo barn that is 6% winners first off the claim. The cut back should suit him as his runner up finish two back came at 5 1/2 on turf at the Spa. Pedigree wise he may be better suited to dirt.

Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 8-5 or better.
EX: 1,5 / 1,3,5
TRI: no play

Today’s Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 7 Clm $16,000N2L (3:17 ET)
#7 Daddy's Home 2-1
#9 Façade 8-1
#1 The Great Samurai 7-2
#10 Cotton Town 8-1

Analysis: Daddy's Home takes a plunge here for his first start off a four month break here for the Rice barn that claimed him two back for $40,000. He checked in eighth last out going 5 1/2 on turf versus $50,000 starter allowance foes. He now drops in for a $16,000 and catches a field where none of these really look interested in winning. The barn is having a strong meting and is 25% winners (with a +ROI) with runners coming back off a 61-180 day layoff.

Facade stretches out to a mile after racing wide throughout and making up some ground late in a fifth-place finish last out at this level. Two back at a mile he managed to make a mild late bid to finish fourth behind a couple of these foes he faces again today. Looks as if he is going to be a decent price in this spot.

Wagering
WIN: #7 to win at 2-1 or better.
EX: 7,9 / 1,7,9,10
TRI: 7,9 / 1,7,9,10 / 1,7,8,9,10

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
R1: #4 Pawn It Back 15-1
R4: #9 Majestic Kiss 8-1
R5: #4 Bluegrass Singer 8-1
R6: #5 Carmine’s Honor 10-1
R7: #9 Façade 8-1
R7: #10 Cotton Town 8-1

Good luck today!