We have a card of 11 races and 5 maiden races looks like a tough card where if you guess right you could get a nice price! Weather looks perfect mid to high 70s, partly cloudy, wind a nice breeze going in I bet @ItsMeEddieC is having a blast down there!
Race 1 Maiden Special Weight for 3 Year Old Fillies Going 5 Furlongs on the Lawn
11 Funny Feeling 6-1 with Irad Ortiz for Mark Casse an American Pharoah sired filly that was an 875,000 dollar purchase at the Fasig Tipton sales. Works have been blistering and wanted the turf first time out, seems from the vacancy of works though has been hurt. Irad jumps back on for another time and was in a perfect position to win and just seems like she hung. Now with a little racing experience and what the plan was originally should run an 875,000 dollar race.(And if not dud)
7 American Goddess 4-1 I promise I don’t like American Pharoah like that. But when I think Wesley Ward has a good 1st time starter I think that this horse is live and if she breaks, she could speed away. I don’t like this workout pattern Dec 7th to Dec 28th, Dec 28th to Jan 4th, Jan 4th to Jan 12th. Too many long layoffs in there for me to feel like this is a Wesley Ward type horse because his good ones don’t miss works. But with that said if she breaks it could be lights out.
1 Clarkson 10-1 if the 11 scratches I think this is the bet the 1 is a first timer for Mark Casse with a 230,000 purchase. Owner Robert Masterson who also owned Tepin so he knows about good horses being out of Tiznow and Smart Strike. I think with these connections and Jose Ortiz getting on shows me this horse at least has some potential, might not be this race but sure does have potential. Works tell me that she isn’t ready to fire at 100% maybe about an 80% but still could show something that you could look back to this article and be like “I remember that horse!”
Selections 11-7-1
Bets $3 win & place 11($6)
Race 2 Claiming 8,000 n/3L Going 1 Mile on the Dirt for 4 Year Olds & Up
3 Lawyer Drill 7-2 on a small stretch out in distance which I think suits him better, distance record is 4-2-1-1. I wish this horse shows speed like he did earlier in his career, last three times closed and just hasn’t seemed the same horse.
4 Mysterio 2-1 now from what I want to happen which is speed to this horse coming from last, deep closer. Couldn’t close for 12,500 but could for 6,250 now in for 8,000 claiming could get the job done! And now with weight off of the horse with apprentice jockey Gaddiel Martinez could help that horse get going sooner and make it easier on him.
7 American River 20-1 if I was reaching for a horse to maybe hang on for something, I would use him. He was bet down a bit last year then went on a long layoff and a trainer change; I just have a gut feeling he could run alright.
Selections 3-4-7
Bets $1 exacta 3,4-1,3,4,6,7($8)
Race 3 Maiden Claiming 12,500 for 4 Year Olds & Up 1 Mile on Dirt
12 Gambit 10-1 I dont know how he is still a maiden, I thought he had a lot of talent especially in his workouts and just never made anything of it. They tried everything and to me his best race was going long on dirt and for the first time in a very, very long time he is doing that. And I feel like doing a small risk with him. This is a difficult race being so cheap and so many horses.
8 Mt. Mitchell 5-2 people are going to see this race as a give up race, because of dropping in from maiden specials and maiden claiming 40 and 30. I disagree I see the Turfway MSW as the give up race, this is the get out of my barn race. McPeek has done this many times with horses and they still dont run even after they drop the horse where it belongs the damage is done. The horse has all the signs to run well though today, so I think in this weak of a field is worth a high mention as my second pick.
2 Vinestone 9-2 beat Gambit last time out and is now 2nd off the lay-off and 2nd time in for this low of a price. The horse got beat double digits every time besides last time so I think last time might have been kind of flukey. Or they figured the horse out and know he can’t run for no higher than 12,500 and is going to win this race.
Selections 12-8-2
Bets $2 win $5 show 12($7)
Race 4 Maiden Special Weight for 3 Year Old Fillies Going 1 Mile on the Turf
7 Sylvanella 4-1 the Christophe Clement trainee has a French mare and War Front blood coming from The Factor. The works have been average, typical for Clement. Tyler Gaffalione gets the call and since it is a top-notch jockey maybe the horse is really good, or they could have Tyler on to see how they can improve her for next time out. I’m leaning to being really good in this spot because breeding says she can do it first time out.
9 Mimina’s Team 5-1 was a big price last time out at 22-1 had a troubled trip and finished up strong to run 4th, closed in from 7 lengths to 3 lengths then from 3 lengths to 1 length. Jaramillo gets back on for the 2nd time and speaking of 2nd time should improve on grass 2nd time on it. That is a huge angle for me is 2nd time turf.
11 Gotta Go Mo 15-1 ran horrible first time on dirt and so they switched to the lawn and she ran a lot better. A 425,000 purchase for a NY bred is quite a bit, so for her to run that bad on dirt she had to run better on turf. She broke out took the lead at Aqueduct for NY bred only and just slow faded. Slow time which is not great but at least you know she can run on grass better than dirt and she shows speed.
Selections 7-9-11
Bets $2 win and place 7($4)
Race 5 Claiming 12,500 n/3L for 4 Year Olds and Up Going 1 Mile on Dirt
5 Third Army 5-2 Looch owns him and in my opinion his best two races are on the dirt, really exploded last time to win by 3 lengths and got an 87 speed figure. Could bounce or could run another huge race I am leaning to run another good race. Going to have to get a trip closing but with Christan Torres he is a good enough jockey to position him right.
2 Seemee 6-1 I normally don’t like Canada shippers cause every time I have bet them they have turned me wrong, but this one doesn’t seem as bad as it could get. Has ran some average races at Woodbine and fits in here well for 12,500. Was beaten favorite last time out which is a nice angle I use. Needs to get about 1 second faster and that could be the poly track or he is just that slow.
4 Zippy 2-1 off the claim to a better barn of David Fawkes after a strong 2nd place finish. Deserves to be favorite in here but the only thing is he keeps getting close but just can’t do it, they have tried to close, they have tried the lead, the dirt sprinting, routing, turf, everything. So, what can David do to make this horse finally win?
Selections 5-2-4
Bets $2 win and place 5($4)
Race 6 Maiden Special Weight for 3 Year Old Fillies Going 1 Mile on the Turf…. AGAIN
9 Veer 8-1 first time starter out of Temple City and Leroidesanimaux mare and working 48’s on the turf in the morning. I don’t like the fact that she is a May foal but if she is really really ready to pop first time out like I think she could be she might be a horse for the future. Brian Lynch and Julien Leparoux make a great team together.
8 Pearlescent 5-1 hasn’t ran since July at Saratoga which is disconcerting, because off of an average run at that track off of a first time out you would think they would be dying to get back to the track. So that tells me she was hurt just a minor little nick but I am sure she is fixed now. Also, there were 2 next out winners out of that maiden race. Mott trains and they put Johnny V on which a veteran jockey knows how to get a young horse to go.
4 Tomorra 9-2 I remember Jorge Vargas Jr trying to get everything out of that horse in that race, and he closed her in nicely for 5th. She had a troubled trip and really fought to overcome that. Also, two horses came out of the race to win next time out. Lastly Irad gets on which means that she has some type of ability because he is a good jockey who really only gets good mounts.
Selections 9-8-4
Bets $2 win $6 show 9($8)
Race 7 Claiming 16,000 for 4 Year Olds & Up Going 1 Mile on Turf
10 National Honor 9-2 closed last time but had too much to do and maybe today Jario doesn’t give him that much to do. The 3 got the jump on him last time and will get the jump again but if they go just a little slower the 10 can be a little closer and get to the 3 sooner than what could have happened last
time. They went smoking last time 22, 45.2, 109.2, 134 finish. So, if they go like a 23 47 and change this horse should be closing fast.
3 Til the End 7-2 won last the last two times out after the pace change from trying to close to be stalking ish. I just have a feeling that he got lucky the last two times and is due to fall off course, but if not oh my he could be extremely tough.
4 Remember the Maine 10-1 just a small stretch out from 7 and ½ to 1 mile could make him close better and catch more placings, I don’t think he wins here I just think a good show bet.
Selections 10-3-4
Bets $2 win and place 10($4)
Race 8 Claiming 8,000 n/3L for 4 Year Olds & Up going 6 furlongs on Dirt
1 Followhisfootsteps 9-2 I like when a horse just keeps getting claimed it shows that everyone wants him and that’s a horse I want to bet. 6 claims on the pp’s and everyone has made money with him, I expect that trend to continue. The only time was in this low was the last time in for 6,250 n/2l, went wire to wire and won by 5 lengths at .40 cents to the dollar. Back into a previous barn where he had success and I expect this horse to run big and get claimed again.
6 Frank Alone 4-1 cut back in distance where he runs better for 6 furlongs might show speed and stop, he has a tendency to do that. But he can also hold on and that is why I am worried about this horse going out and pressing the 1 or even going out and not stopping.
2 Rayo My King 2-1 not a deserving favorite the 1 beat the 2 horse before. You could say this is the lowest the 2 is in, but the time the 1 went in this low he won, if he lost I could understand if he lost but he destroyed. Not deserving favorite but if the pace is hot I think he actually does something different and sit off of it and that is the way he can win this race.
Selections 1-6-2
Bets $3 win and place 1($6)
Race 9 Allowance for 4 Year Olds & Up Going 1 1/16th on Turf
8 Kadar 5-2 I really think they are trying to get this horse a win after trying stakes they realize he isnt good enough for that company yet. Get him a win get his confidence up and then maybe try stakes again later in the career. On paper he towers on this field with Prime Power numbers and makes me like the 5-2 better.
3 Largent 9-2 ran the day before Preakness which tells me after he broke the maiden Pletcher had hopes for the 460,000 priced horse. Ran a promising 2nd to a next out winner and the comment line says game. Seems like he needed a freshening cause Pletcher backed off him in the spring into summer, came back into the fall. Could need a race but has the same probability to fire off this long layoff. I think is a must use because this horse is a good horse Pletcher is telling the signs that this horse is good.
10 Motataabeq 12-1 improved 2nd time on turf has by far the fastest times of the field but not necessarily the class. 450,000 dollar purchase out of City Zip and Dynaformer mare owned by Shadwell and trained by McLaughlin. Needs a quick set up but if he gets that could be flying late picking up pieces.
Selections 8-3-10
Bets $4 win and place 8($8)
Race 10 State bred 16,000 Allowance Optional Fillies 3 Year Old Going 6 Furlongs on Dirt
4 Dancing Destroyer 6-1 ran well in open company now when in state bred she won. I love the 6-1 price and think she will go off 3-1 because of how well she is placed. And couple that with she has always been bet down in every start I don’t see the 6-1 at all but one can dream.
5 Let’s Be Honest 3-1 exiting state bred stakes races and ran poorly, I think the 4 is going where the 5 has been. Cause the 5 ran great in open company tried state bred stakes and didn’t perform like they hoped for so they put her in here to see if its weak company she faced in open or if she belongs in state bred.
9 Dienda 6-1 another horse exiting state bred stakes and won for maidens in open company. There is not really too much of a difference between the 5 and the 9 they look like the same horse but for some reason the price is difference and which leads me to the 5 might be slightly better than the 9. Jaramillo gets pulled off for Irad Ortiz and I see that as an equal, not that Irad and Jaramillo are equal cause Irad is better. Just at 6 furlongs they are about equals so I expect this horse to run neck and neck with the 5 and the 4 be pulling away from both.
Selections 4-5-9
Bets $3 win & place 4($6)
Race 11 Maiden Special Weight for Fillies & Mares 4 Year Olds & Up going 1 Mile and 16th on turf
1 North Broadway 7-2 Chad Brown, Peter Brant, Johnny V, 750,000. What took this horse so long to get to the track??? I don’t care she is here now she looks special, she has worked slow I don’t care. Well the dam side isn’t really known for producing much, I don’t care. I have 750,000 reasons and a good trainer and owner to take all that way.
6 Elle M’a Souri 4-1 is going to break the maiden soon, has had 4 starts and 3 close 2nd place finishes. I am afraid this is too tough of a field for her to win today but she is a good above average horse that is going to be rolling late.
8 Empire Moon 15-1 I think with her breeding being Malibu Moon and Empire Maker could have every right to improve, I wish they put her on the dirt but she could also run on the turf. Winstar Farm bred and sold and with these types of horses she can’t run worse than first time out. Rough trip but show nothing and that’s why I said she can’t do worse.
Selections 1-6-8
Bets $5 win and place 1 ($10)