Set for a new week of racing. 7 races on tap for this Thursday. Lot of two turn races and a special Abel Cedillo sighting today and tomorrow. Here are my thoughts for today:
Race 1: 5.5 Furlongs $12,500 Maiden Claiming 4 year olds & up (5-2-1)
Trying to beat the morning line favorite 6 Winter Fog who shows speed and fade every time.
5 Ice Or Fire will be the pick here. Comes out of a common race with a few other runners in which he finished the best out of them. Frank Alvarado retains the mount and should sit just off the pace looking to pounce.
2 Rocky Roses is a second time starter for Andy Mathis. He had the lead momentarily in the stretch before getting past late. The cutback from 6 to 5.5 furlongs should benefit this gelding who should also improve off just one start.
1 Second Bold draws the inside post. He’s a 6 year old who takes a slight bump up the class ladder. He should benefit sitting off the pace to his outside. Always picks up the pieces for minor placings.
Race 2: 1 Mile $8,000 Claiming 4 year olds & up (2-1-4)
2 Taste’s Legend picked up a win last out first off the claim for leading trainer Jonathan Wong. Today he steps up slightly in class but appears to be one of the picks. There appears to be some pace for this gelding to run into. Leading jockey Juan Hernandez gets the call. Lethal tandem of Hernandez and Wong.
1 Call Me Soul one of my favorite runners always comes from well out of it. I’m willing to bet nobody will be behind him after the first turn. This horse always runs a consistent race stalking well off the pace and rallying in the stretch. Hopefully he won’t be too far back.
4 Sooner Better faces slightly easier company going from open claimers to n2x condition. Runner should be sitting midfield looking for the first jump around the turn. Jockey Francisco Monroy gets the call once more. The price (4/1) could float up come post time.
Other to consider: 3 Rey Coliman is taking a drop in class and is a closer from just off the pace. He has faced tougher company last couple tries. Interesting to see how he does.
Race 3: 1 Mile $8,000 Claiming F & M 4 & up (6-2-5)
6 Streetlightromance takes a drop in class. She’s faced tougher company last two times. Theee back she was in this condition and sat off the pace and rallied to win. This 8 year old mare should benefit with speed to run into but she’s always consistent in picking up checks underneath.
2 Pacific Strike is one of two runners in the race for trainer Jacqui Navarre. Navarre has hit at a very high 71% clip going 5 for 7. This horse is dropping in class from 20 down to 8. She should sit a stalking trip today.
5 Beyond Pleasure goes from a sprint to a route. Trainer Tim McCanna has a tremendous 24% clip out of 33 runners fitting that angle. This mare does have all three wins at this mile journey. Will try to go gate to wire today.
Other to watch: 4 Side Effect is coming off a two month break but also drops in class. Has showed speed in the past against tougher. Drops in for the lowest claiming tag she’s run for today.
Race 4: 1 Mile $40,000 Claiming F & M 4 & up (3-2-5)
Good group of higher level claimers here each with a shot. Two speedsters (1&4) could tire each other out
3 Renny’s Lady has been close a couple times most recently three back finishing second in the Miss America stakes to Blue Diva. She will hope her stablemate is able to set her up with a blazing tempo to chase.
2 True To Herself attracts the services of Abel Cedillo who was based here in NorCal before shipping his tack to SoCal last summer. This horse comes out of a stakes race at Turf Paradise. Blinkers are coming off so maybe she’ll stalk the pace and look to rally.
5 Music Babe is extremely high in terms of morning line odds especially in such a tight compact group. She is a quality mare who likes to run into super hot speeds. She may get that but she might not because this is a group of five.
Race 5: 1 Mile & 1/16 $12,500 Claiming 4 year olds & up (3-4-1)
3 Pioneerofthestorm comes in off a wire to wire victory at a slightly lower level. He could very possibly be sitting just off the pace today. Wire to wire at 8.5 furlongs is hard to do considering there is another speed in the race. Also it’s Hernandez and Wong again.
4 Shifty Dancer is another entrant for Jonathan Wong. This one tends to lose as the favorite recently and winning as a non favorite. Had every chance to win last time but lost the lead in the stretch. Could be eligible for the 8 n2x condition but opts here for the 12.5.
1 Earnest makes his first start off the claim for trainer Jack Steiner. He’s making his second start off a layoff and should be rallying late with an extra half furlong today.
Other to consider: 5 Magic Rate is the other runner for owner Johnny Taboada who also owns our top pick. This horse comes off the claim after rating last out. His wins have been wire to wire so he could try to push the pace for his stable mate.
Race 6: 1 Mile $3,200 Claiming 4 year olds & up (4-6-7)
Trying to beat the morning line favorite Taelyns Prince who’s a 1 for 19 9 year old on tapeta. Much rather likes the turf.
4 For Him appears to be the lone speed in this race. Was claimed for 5 and runs for 3,200. That alone is a class drop. Speed and fade against tougher last out so the drop in class helps. Trainer Quinn Howey is winning at a 33% clip at the current meet and is 35% off the claim. All signs point this horse to being our best bet of the day at 3/1.
6 Get Like Me was beaten a nose last time to another old veteran Unusually Green. This horse should sit off the pace. He wishes for more speed but should be running on late.
7 Kid Arcade has a similar tactic to our second pick. He wishes for tons of speed to run into but if not he should still grind his way into the money. Will be making his second start off a two month break.
Race 7: 5.5 Furlongs $12,500 Maiden Claiming 3 year old Fillies (6-4-3)
6 Gray Lives Matter has been knocking on the door to graduate. She’s finished in the money 6 of 7 but still no W’s to show for. Could finally breakthrough today against a group without much experience.
4 Spirit Lake ran on at 67/1 last time out. She follows up today at 8/1 on the line. She should be coming late and with a race under her belt she could very much improve at a good price as well.
3 Big Fun is debuting as a shipper for SoCal based trainer Tim Yakteen. Trainer has good numbers debuting and finds a spot up north hoping to avoid classier horses down south.
Others to consider: 10 Charming Lass gets a drop in class from 25 to 12.5. With the easier competition she could find a way into the money with David C Lopez. 11 Kenna Is Spicy is a second time starter drawn out wide. She will be rallying but the lone negative is the outside post. 1 Sassy and Hot ships north after debuting for 30 down south. Didn’t have much of a kick in the stretch. A couple firsters to watch out include 5 Ima Silver Lady who runs for trainer Efrain Miranda and 7 Subtweet who has been working 3 furlongs most recently. These horses could improve next out for sure.
Best Bet: Race 6 For Him 3/1
Price Play: Race 7 Spirit Lake 8/1
That’s a look at the Thursday card! Good luck this weekend and most importantly stay healthy everybody!