Super Screener: Beat the vulnerable favorite in the Gazelle

A strong pace presence in the Grade 3 Gazelle Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct has Mike Shutty thinking the 1 1/8-mile race sets up for a closer, but not the short-priced one.

Ballerina d'Oro is even money on the morning line, and why not given her class? Her last two starts were both on dirt after starting her career on turf, and she finished second in the Demoiselle to Ashland Stakes morning line favorite Muhimma at this track and distance before returning as a three-year-old to be third in the Davona Dale Stakes at Gulfstream.

She is really only as fast as a few of these, though, and that's a tough highlight given the expected short price.

"This year's edition of the Gazelle is shaping up to be a handy wagering opportunity if the field stays in tact on a day with a lot of rain expected," Shutty says. "Sitting an advantaged pressing trip will be Deloraine.

"She has moved forward in every one of her five starts since her debut while taking on more ground and facing progressively tougher competition. She owns that ideal balanced Energy Distribution Profile coupled with stamina-rich breeding that makes stretching out to 9 furlongs here more plausible. Form-cycle analysis is projecting another move forward here, which is what she'll need to deliver in order to have a shot, but the (8-1 morning line price) seems to indicate the risk is worth the reward here."

Deloraine is one of two fillies Shutty identifies as a Top Win Contender. Each race in Super Screener also includes wagering strategy to go along with picks and analysis. 

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