Last Saturday card of 2018 at the Big A, and it is the customary nine race card that we have every Saturday of the meet. The highlight for today is the Alex Robb for state bred three year olds and upward on the main track at nine panels.
1st race 1 Mile. MC 30000 Purse $35,000 FOR MAIDENS, TWO YEARS OLD.
Brazen Prince (7), Midnight Entrée (5), Angelo’s Corner (2)
Not much quality in the opener. Brazen Prince had a bit of an eventful start on his most recent, and seems that he will relish the added ground. Midnight Entrée was a Pletcher trainee, now drops to the bottom and trained by Rudy R. A $400,000 purchase now being offered by a mere $30,000. Doesn’t look good at all. Angelo’s Corner can be the one that dictates the pace, and, you know what I say; no big late runs in these kind of races.
2nd race: 1 Mile. Clm 8000 Purse $16,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
Proud Zip (1), Wicked Freud (4), Oneballnostrikes (5)
My top pick drops from twice the price he ran last time out, but Rudy has given him five breezes in preparation for this one, and Manny Franco stays up. From that rail port, he should be forwardly place from the gitgo. Wicked Freud is making his first lifetime start on the dirt, after 24 races on the grass, and is also dropping sharply, from 25K to 8K. Works have been easy, and its the second entry for Rudy Rodriguez. Oneballnostrikes is another claim plunger, and trainer Toscano is hitting at a 20% clip doing that.
3rd race: 6 Furlongs. ™‘MC 25000 Purse $33,000 FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Saratoga Sass (6), Discount Diva (7), Frederica (8)
Another group of slow runners, in this case, fillies. Saratoga Sass showed some life in her most recent, and now takes a cutback in distance. She is working nicely for trainer Carlos Martin and Fragoso keeps the assignment. Discount Diva is a debut runner for Linda Rice, and just because she hasn’t show how slow she is, she has a good chance. Frederica didn’t run that bad last time out after an awkward beginning. Nice jockey upgrade to Cancel for this race.
4th race: 1 Mile. Clm 14000b Purse $28,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Big Thicket (5), Call Me (3), Maimo (4)
Big Thicket ran just last week for the first time in six months. Now Linda Rice sends him right back, dropping him sharply and Alvarado keeps the mount. I expect him to be on the first flight from the start. Pletcher horse came back from eight months on the shelf and disposed of a non-winners of two rather easily. He is facing more seasoned horses now, and was able to get away with very slow early fractions, so needs to show that he can repeat. Maimo is maybe the fastest in here, but just a month ago he won for more than twice the price tag in this race. Not a good sign at all.
5th race: 6½ Furlongs. ™Mdn 68k Purse $68,000 (UP TO $11,832 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES TWO YEARS OLD.
Alisio (2), Jasminesque (7), Effiemeister (6)
If my top choice runs just as she has done in her first two starts, she will be a very tough beat. The blinkers on is the thing that makes me wonder a bit and casts some doubts. You either play her as aa single or hit the All button. Jasminesque returns to a sprint, where she ran very creditably. With some improvement, she can be a danger for my favorite. Effiemeister has nice works and seems to me she is fleet footed out of the gate.
6th race: 1 Mile. 100K EastViewS. Purse $100,000 FOR FILLIES TWO YEARS OLD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Espresso Shot (7), Sassy Agnes (6), Take Me to Hardoon (10)
I expect both Sassy Agnes and Take me To Hardoon to go for the lead, which can propitiate a very hot pace up front. This is why I prefer Espresso Shot, who I think will be closer now to the pace and can come with her late run from mid pack on. She is working lights out for this one, including a bullet less than a week ago. Any of the two speedsters that can wrestle an easy early lead turns into the immediate danger for my top picks aspirations.
7th race: 1 Mile. OC 62500n2x Purse $75,000 (UP TO $13,050 NYSBFOA) FOR FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD
Jump Ruler (3), Indy Union (5), Miss Mimosa (2)
Pace wise, Jump Ruler has the advantage versus her fiercest rivals. She can either go to the front or sit right off the pace and take control of the race from the three sixteenth pole on. Cancel repeats for trainer Kelly Breen. Indy Union is maybe the filly that is performing better here, but she needs some pace upfront for her late push to be effective, and I am not sure that will be the case. Miss Mimosa was Junior Alvarado’s pick to ride, and he had some very enticing options in here.
8th race: 1 1/8 Mile. ‘AlexMRobbB 100K Alex M. RobbS. ROBB S.. Purse $100,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
Control Group (6), Mr Buff (2), Winston’s Chance (1)
The extremely consistent Mr Buff will have to contend with the likes of Black Tide, and that means Control Group will be able to sit right off the pace and dominate when all the marbles are on the table. Mr Buff is tough as nails and will take a lot to defeat him. Cohen knows him well and will be on the saddle again. Winston’s Chance has looked better later and that rail post at this trip is a nice thing to have. 8-1 is inviting on him.
9th race: 7 Furlongs. ‘MC 25000 Purse $33,000 FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
The Mason Factor (4), There He Goes (5), Cross Multiply (8)
The two favorites have a big pace advantage over the rest of this suspect field. I prefer the 4 because he has less races run so far. Cross Multiply is 0 for 17, but in these kind of races everything is possible, so you just can’t take him for granted.