A nine race card ends the racing week here at Big Sandy, but the graded action does not stop. The Grade III Poker is the feature, for four year olds and up going a mile on the turf. Let’s go to the comments:
1st race: 6 Furlongs. Clm 14000n3L Purse $28,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD WHICH HAVE NEVER WON THREE RACES.
3-5-2
Not much quality in this field. Unsullied’s last two races were uninspiring, but his trainer gave him some time and returns with three works. Dylan Davis keeps riding, which is always a good sign in these lower claiming groups and the six furlongs should right up his alley. Laura’s Posse is probably the fastest in here, but should have some company up front and in his most recent, the wire came up just in time in his last after setting up pretty moderate fractions. Flatexcel takes a drop in class after three disappointing efforts, but Irad shows up in here, and that alone makes me wonder.
2nd race: 6 Furlongs. (Inner Turf) ™MC 40000 Purse $41,000 INNER TURF (UP TO $7,134 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
6-8-2
Ghostly Beauty drops from Maiden Specials to maiden claimers, and takes a good cut back in distance. She should be in a good stalking position from the start and Franco has already ridden her at Saratoga in her debut. Franco and Weaver form a very effective team. Isabelle’s Joy has the outside post now, much better that the number two post she drew in her last race. Davis should be watching the speed duel unfold and the blinkers can be a difference maker. Tiple has burned some money in her last two, now gets back to a sprint and Irad returns to her saddle. The rail post is no easy picking, if she finds the space can be dangerous in the stretch.
Off Turf Picks: 8-4-6
3rd race: 1 1/16 Mile. Clm 12500 Purse $32,000 FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
1-5-2
Dangerous race, because the best horses have some major question marks. Cause I’m Alex is dropping from 25,000, a drop not as sharp as the other horses that are part of my selection. He will be way back and come flying late, so he needs some pace to run against, and I think he will get it. Davis came within a nose of winning him in his most recent, he gets another chance with him. Leitone has run in three straight stakes races, including the Grade II Elkhorn. Freefalling into this bottom level group, he is maybe the speediest in here, the question is why the sudden drop in class. Sandy Lane just cleared the now winners of three condition and should be in a garden spot position from the start, with an outside chance of prevailing.
4th race: 1 Mile. ‘Mdn 62k Purse $62,000 FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
5-4-6
Seven Is Heaven seems to have a pace advantageous scenario in this event. He should be at or near the lead and if the track still is playing for speed, he will be tough to catch. Irad Ortiz gets the call back for trainer Linda Rice. Six Percent beat my favorite in their most recent, and most probably will be the favorite on the stretch out to a mile. Castellano keeps the mount and he will make his presence felt late. Daddy Knows takes a good cutback in distance, he needs all the help he can get pace wise, and probably there is not enough speed for a hot pace to materialize.
5th race: 1 3/8 Mile. (Inner Turf) OC 62500n2x Purse $90,000 INNER TURF (UP TO $15,660 NYSBFOA) FOR THREE YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
5-7-8
Horses that have run in distances similar to the eleven furlongs they will travel definitely have an advantage over the rest. Sentry and Winter Union have been very consistent stayers in New York, and both are coming back from almost five months rests. I prefer Sentry because he can be closer to the pace, in a race in which we don’t see much speed. Winter Union cannot be overlooked, Jose Ortiz rides him, and with him, he has run his best races. Lemonist has been running in much shorter trips, but he is by Lemon Drop Kid, a Belmont winner, so I think he should have no problem with the added ground.
Off Turf Picks: 6-2-1
6th race: 1 1/16 Mile. (Turf) ™MC 40000 Purse $41,000 (UP TO $7,134 NYSBFOA) FOR MAIDENS, FILLIES AND MARES THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD.
11-3-10
Art Thief drew the far outside post, a disadvantage at this distance. But she drops from allowance to maiden claimers, gets Jose Ortiz in a jockey upgrade and she will sit around four to five lengths from the leader and pounce late on the outside. Trainer is 4 out of 7 when dropping from MSW to MC. Blue Jean Kitten will be forwardly placed from when they spring the latch and that three post will enable her to save important ground on these two turns. Carmouche repeats for trainer Danny Gargan. Andy’s Kitten is making her first start in more than six months, and entices Johnny V. to climb on her, dismissing the Pletcher trainee in here. Works have been average but the mere drop in class gives her a chance.
Off Turf Picks: 7-1-8
7th race: 1 1/16 Mile. OC 100000b Purse $87,000 (UP TO $15,138 NYSBFOA) FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
1-3-4
The extremely consistent Expert should get a perfect set up with all the early zip entered in this race. Jose Ortiz takes over the riding assignment from the suspended Rajiv Maragh and the rail post should serve him well. Tour de Force has been running against tougher company, especially Marconi, who last week won the Grade II Brooklyn. He is not much of a consistent winner, but he always gives a good account of himself. Backsideofthemoon is another one who can benefit from an early speed duel, and it’s Johnny V. riding for his father in law.
8th race: 1 Mile. (Turf) Poker-G3 Poker S. Grade III. Purse $300,000 FOR FOUR- YEAR- OLDS AND UPWARD
1-4-6
Favoritism goes to Clyde’s Image, who is taking a considerable drop in class, from facing Grade I competition (and doing well in the meantime) to a Grade III. Now has the services of Javier Castellano in the irons and he should enjoy a very nice garden spot trip on the rail. He is not slow at all, and with not that much speed signed in, should get first run at the leaders. Gucci Factor is coming from maybe the best effort of his career, and he certainly can build momentum from that. Three of his five wins have been at Belmont, so he loves the track. Ticonderoga flunked in his last, but that was in a Grade I, and he hasn’t show he is that kind of horse. Now gets an easier spot and takes a bit of a cut back in distance.
Off Turf Picks: 4-8-9
9th race: 6½ Furlongs. ‘MC 25000 Purse $33,000 FOR MAIDENS, THREE YEARS OLD AND UPWARD FOALED IN NEW YORK STATE
8-3-1
Impossible to handicap this last race of the card, so we will take a swing with Mounted Cop, who sports blinkers for the first time for trainer Chris Englehart, and with Junior Alvarado staying for the last race in a Sunday. Any changes made with these poor quality horses can mean an improvement, and this horse still has some upside, with just four races lifetime. Schwabertown has the speed figures to win in here, Linda Rice puts blinkers on him and he can be long gone if they don’t go with him early. The Confidante is a first time starter from trainer Jeremiah Englehart, with Manny Franco on the irons. In such a bad group of maidens, that alone gives him a fighting chance, but his works don’t tell us much.