Sunday's Best Bet: Uno poised to move forward in Gander
Sunday's 8th race from Aqueduct is the $100,000 Gander Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds traveling one mile on the main track (Post Time 4:25 p.m. ET).
#6 UNO (3-1) stalked and smartly pulled clear in his local sprint debut in the mud last fall. He was entered in the NYSS Great White Way on Dec. 6, but had a foot bruise and scratched that day, and ultimately made his second start in the Rego Park on Jan. 10. He was bet down in the latter race and missed the show by a nose after a less than ideal start. Todd Pletcher’s $255k purchase might be ready to move forward in his second start after a layoff, and he might settle into a nice stalking rhythm at this longer trip.
#4 Perfect Munnings (2-1) had a great trip when beating his stablemate Uno in the Rego Park, and that was his second solid stalk and pounce victory from as many starts. He definitely has the credentials to win a race like this.
#5 Nicky the Vest (9-5) was able to spurt clear from the inside post in his local one mile debut Dec. 18, and he was clear through below par fractions that day. That was a promising debut run for the $110k son of Runhappy, and he has had plenty of time to recover, but there was not much behind him in his lone start.
#2 Dancing Buck (6-1) was clearly second best behind Perfect Munnings in his career debut on turf, and he switched to dirt and graduated in the slop as the favorite second time out Dec. 31. The show finisher from his last was a next-out winner and he should attend the pace.
#3 Lobsta (8-1) was well behind Dancing Buck in his bow, and he stretched out to one mile, dueled on the lead, and easily graduated in the mud second time out Jan. 16. He should be forwardly placed.
#1 Horn of Plenty (15-1) broke his maiden right out of the box and failed to threaten in his last two stakes starts. He adds blinkers and might be able to rally for a share.
#7 Re Created (30-1) broke through with a gritty maiden win over a pair of rivals in the local mud at this distance Nov. 27. He will probably try to get into a forward position from the outside post but appears outclassed.
Wagers:
#6 to win
Exacta 6/1-2-3
Trifecta 6/1-2-3-4-5/1-2-3
Recent Best Bet Winners
Feb. 2 - PADDOCK PICK ($4.80), Trifecta ($149.40)
Feb. 5 - Earls Rock/Beer Can Man Exacta ($23.40)
Feb. 6 - HIT THE ROAD ($8.20), Exacta ($24.60), Trifecta ($111.00)
Feb. 9 - BIG BARREL ($4.60), Quinella ($16.00)
Feb. 10 - QUEEN OF THE GREEN ($10.60), Exacta ($51.00)