Hello, My name is Andrew Rdesinski, and my twitter handle is @phillyboy415. I am honored to be apart of the Colonial Downs group of analysts making our selections throughout the meet. I will be handicapping the Thursday cards, each week. Let’s print money!
Last Week the card didn’t even run due to bad storms hitting the area right around first post. Some races came back this week and some didn’t. Let’s get to picking winners.
My top picks for the first two weeks went – 16 Top picks – 2-3-3-1
Win ROI ($2 base) – Wagered – $32 Return- $16
Top picks so far have me at -$16 on $2 Win wagers
Let’s bounce back today!
RACE 1- 1M Turf – Maiden $50k
TOP PICK- #1 Noble Authority- Vargas Jr/ Graham
- With speed from the 3,5, and 8, the race sets up perfectly for this gelding. 2nd off the 9 month layoff, and his second start as a 3yo, I can see this horse being fit and ready for a huge run. Vargas should have him in the right spot and fire coming out of the turf.
UNDERNEATH- #3 Lucky Mike- Sanchez/Kurtinecz
- The speed of the speed, and this horse has technically finished first in a race but was DQed. Shipping in from Gulfstream, and catches a somewhat easy field today, but has some speed from the outside to test him early which is why he is not my top pick.
RACE 2- 1Mile Turf Maiden 50K
TOP PICK- #7 Secure Connection- Boyce/McGaughey III
- Just missed last time out at Laurel, and stretches out today. I think the added distance will only help this horse win. 2yos usually don’t go this long yet, but this horse looks ready.
UNDERNEATH- #4 Three Sided Story- Lynch/Proctor
- She ran 5th to the #6 horse last time out and now comes back for her second start in which she is also stretching out. She is bred for the distance I just don’t know if this early on in her career she can go the distance.
- #6 Princess Cadey – Toledo/Potts
- Has ran at the distance, and is also running 2nd time on turf at this distance. Ran 2nd in two turn turf debut and running 2nd on the dirt. I think she prefers turf, and the experience at the distance should be beneficial.
RACE 3- 7F DIRT OC 40K
TOP PICK- #2 Sharp Art- Lopez/Vance
- Should go right to the lead here, and I think the distance won’t be a problem. CC Lopez was a little quiet last week at Colonial which was a first for him at the meet. I expect him to make some noise here but at a short yet fair price.
UNDERNEATH- #1 Whateveryouwant- Karamanos/Vasquez
- Another speed horse and shipping in from Parx. This gelding is in top form and I like him in this spot. I also like the other part of the entry due to the possible speed duel early on.
- #3 Divine Interventio- Rosado/Gaudet
- He should be the strongest closer in the field, and should go off around 5/1. Rosado stole a stake race over the past weekend at Colonial, so he at least knows the course well. Use underneath if odds aren’t favorable.
RACE 4- 1m 1/16TH Turf OC62K
TOP PICK- #3 Frippery- Daniel Centeno/Arnauld Delacour(CO-BEST BET)
- This is my best bet of the day. Hopefully she can sit a nice trip and be 2nd or 3rd all the way around until the stretch. If Centeno puts her in the right spot, I think she runs right by and wins in hand. The distance might be a problem, but I think if timed right, no one will catch her.
UNDERNEATH- #2 Madame X.- Forest Boyce/Susan Connelly
- This filly ran 3 straight solid efforts coming into this race. She could of won all 3 in my opinion but has had to settle for one win and two in the money finishes. She is in top form right now and 8/1 ML for me looks like a gift that we most likely won’t see. IF she is above 5/1 bet her, if not use her in horizontals.
RACE 5- 5 Furlongs Turf Claiming10Kn3L
TOP PICK-#11 Flirtation Walk- Ruiz/Salzman Jr.
- This filly is shipping from Laurel, and has ran her best races with Ruiz aboard. This field is weak for a claiming 10K. I expect her to go either to the lead or sit right off. I like the value here too.
UNDERNEATH- #7 Miss Steffi – Sanchez/ Hallmark
- I only like this horse underneath because of the question, “Why would Mychel Sanchez ride this horse”. The horse might be the worst horse on form in the field but he goes to a new trainer and gets a way better rider. Why not use underneath.
RACE 6- 1M 3/16th Turf OC10K
TOP PICK- Here’s to Mike- McCarthy/Ness(CO BEST BET)
- At a slightly shorter distance last time out at Colonial, this gelding ran 2nd. I think he should run huge today and with the experience over the course with the added distance. I think this could be the play of the day and that’s why it is my TOP PICK today.
UNDERNEATH- #7 Do with Pride- Karamanos/Aguayo
- An off the pace run style type of horse that has done some traveling around the mid atlantic recently. I think with Karamanos aboard, he should get enough urging to make some noise near the wire.
RACE 7- 1Mile turf Claiming 5000n2y
TOP PICK- #12 Charlie Mops- Davis/McMahon
- Some outside speed in this 12 horse event. Went to the lead and was run down at the same distance and at Colonial by a 75/1 shot in the finale on the 15th. I think there will only be 1 horse to pressure her on the lead and it is the #2 horse going from dirt to turf. I think Katie Davis can sit a better trip today.
UNDERNEATH- #1 Ismusbemyluckyday- Boyce/Godsey
- I like this horse underneath because of the 2nd off the layoff angle in a cheap, cheap field. He ran a very weak 5th in his first race back after a year layoff. Coming back 2 weeks later makes me like this spot.
RACE 8- 5 F TURF CLM 16K N2L
TOP PICK- #5 Maximum Factor- Lopez/Dickey
- This Mountaineer Shipper, has been running huge races recently and only one of them stayed on the turf, in which he won at 4 ½ F by 2 ½ Lengths. I expect nothing but a huge effort today off the pace.
UNDERNEATH- #6 Secret Life Style- Sanchez/Roberson
- This horse is always in contention early. He also just missed in the same race for 10K at a Mile, last time out. I expect the cut back in distance to be beneficial, and the blinkers off should give him more confidence.
RACE 9- 5 ½ F Claiming10K 2nL Turf
TOP PICK- #6 Take Another Shot- Mawling/Vlands
- Most people, will stay away from this horse. Yet, in the nightcap I like to take horses with tons of value, especially on turf and at a weak level. I like him because he has a great tomlinson numbers for the turf and has hit the board twice in 5 starts on the turf. Charles Town does not have a turf course, so they couldn’t get a turf race for him. I think he wants no part of dirt and the switch to turf should be the winning factor.
UNDERNEATH- #9 Chess Master- Karamanos/Galvan
- Turf is this geldings specialty. With some bullet works coming into this spot and some time off to get fit, I expect nothing but a top effort.