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, my top picks hit the board in almost every race, and my picks in general hit a few exactas. I wish the meet was longer, but this will be the last write up on Thursdays for the season.
My top picks for the first two weeks went – 22 Top picks – 3-6-4-2
Win ROI ($2 base) – Wagered – $44 Return- $25
Let’s bounce back today!
RACE 1- 5 ½ F Maiden 10K TURF
TOP PICK- #6 Midskipman – Perez/Robb
- This gelding just missed last time out in a career effort on the turf at Colonial on the 17th. However that was with Julio Correa, an apprentice that could win the Eclipse award, and he doesn’t ship in to ride today which is a concern. I still think that this field is weaker than the last and he can get up today.
UNDERNEATH- #2 Neo- Karamanos/Allen III
- I liked this horse as a first time starter, and he ran pretty evenly in debut. He wasn’t bet heavily but was one of the favorites. He draws the rail today, and that is the only reason I didn’t put him as my top pick.
RACE 2- 7F dirt MSW
TOP PICK- #1 Ununderstandable- Sarvis/Kobleskie
- These two have been great this meet with 2yos. This filly just missed at 5 ½ on the Turf in her debut. Now she gets dirt and looks to be the best out of the experienced horses. With trainer stats of a 32% win percentage with 2nd time starters.
UNDERNEATH- #4 Long Point Beach- Rosado/Gaudet
- This filly has been working out at Laurel and is shipping in. I think she is bred more for the turf, but I think the connections pointing for a specific distance and shipping in means that they have been prepping for this.
RACE 3- 5 Furlongs OC 40K Turf
TOP PICK- #3 Faction Cat- Centeno/Bennett
- I see a lot of early speed scheduled for this race. This is the only horse I can see that can sit right off and attack the pacesetters. If the pace duels early on like I expect, this horse will win effortlessly if in the right spot. Either way this is a TOP PICK for me.
UNDERNEATH- #5 Mas Chikilin- Russell/Connelly
- He has never ran on turf, but has done very well on synthetic. I can see him taking to turf well, but not quite sure how he will take to it. Another runner to come off the pace, but I think he might be a little farther back so I have a feeling he won’t get up in time.
RACE 4-Starter ALW16K 1 mile 1/16th turf
TOP PICK – #7 He’s One Wild Dude- Carrasco/Sillaman
- This Laurel invader looks to be able to rate or attack the pace himself. That makes me like this horse more. Increasing beyer figures tells me he is fit, which makes me like him as a single in horizontals as well.
UNDERNEATH- #6 Minister’s Strike- McCarthy/Ness
- This is the best closer on paper to me. He should be able to have some early pace to run into. However he is a one run closer which means, if it doesn’t set up for him he won’t run at all.
RACE 5- 1 M 3/16ths Turf Claiming5000n1y
TOP PICK- #5 Camalus- Mawing/Campbell
- He’s coming into this race 2nd off the lay-off and 2nd over the course. The drop is class will help him, and I expect nothing less than stellar performance. Can’t get lower than this when it comes to class.
UNDERNEATH- #8 Front Line Page
- Should be the best horse in this field, but seems to hang and that is why I think the connections dropped him into this level.
Race 6- 5F Turf CLM 16K
TOP PICK- #7 Bust Another- Russell/Ness
- I had Bust Another on top last time out, and he won. In a race with a lot of speed lined up, I can see him sitting off like he did last time. Repeat performance today.
UNDERNEATH- #3 Betting on Red- Sanchez/Roberson
- This horse dropped the rider last time out, so you can draw a line through that. Sanchez hops back aboard for a second chance and if he runs the race he ran at Tampa Bay back in April, he can win this race.
RACE 7- 1M 1/8th Turf CLM10KN3L
TOP PICK- #13 Nana’s Shoes- Carrasco/Smith
- The only horse I remotely like in this field just has to break from the 13 hole. However, I think she might be the favorite and I think she might be a lock here. I am only worried about the post.
UNDERNEATH- #11 Zarbanda- Perez/Morgan
- She just ran 2nd in the same race last time out at Colonial. In this wide open weak field, 6/1ML would be a gift on her.
RACE 8- 1M 1/8th Turf HCP 75K
TOP PICK- #8 Deposit- Karamanos/Fout
- How this horse is 12-1 Morning Line is beyond me. Just missed last time out to the horse inside of him today. I expect him to get up today. Wide open race, so it figures to be a good one.
UNDERNEATH- #2 Zumurdee- McCarthy/Stidham
- The layoff is a concern, but he just won at 1m ½ at Keenland and had a career beyer. I think he can run well today, but might need a race and it also might be just a little too short.
RACE 9- 5F CLM16KN2L
TOP PICK- #12 Happy Lantern- Karamanos/ Leatherbury
- With slight rain in the forecast and a possible yielding turf, I like how she ran over a yielding course last time out. King Leatherbury is a legendary turf trainer, and she just missed last time out. I like this spot.
UNDERNEATH- #13 Slowpoke- Carrasco /Lawrence
- She just ran 4th at colonial last time out. Now a slight jump up in class and an another outside post, should line up for a repeat and if not a better result today.