Guide to Ratings:
My written selections & analysis for various racetracks are available daily on the Internet at www.trackmaster.com and also at www.equibase.com. More information is available by calling (800) 334-3800.
We had a huge day on Saturday, with three top picks winning, including $23 winner Continentalcolonel in the 9th. Return on top picks alone was $40 for every $16 on $2 bets. Good Luck Sunday.
#3 Cat In The Nat - Fair odds 6/5
Cat In The Nat is the lone frontrunner in this short field, 6 for 21 in his career to date and liable to repeat his wire to wire win just one race back over the course today with no other early speed to keep him in check early.
#1 Patriot Noise - Fair odds 2/1
#2 Unusual Glory - Fair odds 5/2
#7 Aimees Pride - Fair odds 5/2
Albert Slewsky and Obermeister (the vulnerable favorite) figure to sizzle early and fizzle late. Patriot Noise rallied for a win and a 2nd in his last two, both over the course. With the rail today and being 9/5 last out but 6/1 today on the line he's a key bet. Unusual Glory shoots for his 3rd straight win, the last his first turf route and now with Hollendorfer taking over his training he should have a big say in the outcome right back. Aimees Pride takes a hidden drop from open claimers to first level allowance, and making his 2nd start in a turf route and facing much easier, plus with a So. Cal. jock that is 3 for 6 for the trainer coming along for the ride he gets a decent look here.
The key here is whether trainer Ward entered either #1 Sanger or #2 Heza Starr to make the race go, as most races need six entrants to make it on the card. Often, a trainer will enter two to make the race go, then scratch one of the two. In this case if one of the two Ward entrants scratches, the other is a decent play, with fair odds of 2/1. Otherwise we pass. Heza Starr ships down from Emerald and comes back from a 9 month layoff, with some ability shown last summer, while Sanger gets BAZE to ride as he makes his first start for Ward, and in his only race at this level, his debut last summer, he rallied from last to fourth to show he too has some ability.
#7 Chautauqua - Fair odds 4/1
#8 Flying With Mimi - Fair odds 4/1
I can't separate five of these, the two listed plus #2 No Peso No Dance, #6 First Draft and #4 Avec Toi. BUT, since those three don't offer the big value compared to the two listed we'll take a swing with win bets, at least for a few bucks on both of those. Chautauqua adds blinkers for his 2nd start off a layoff and moves back to grass where he won just before the rest. With a big work in his new hood he should give us a nice run for our money. Flying With Mimi improved fast from his 1st start off a layoff to his 2nd last out, getting 2nd at this distance on this grass course. Expect the same or better here.
#4 Way Out Story - Fair odds 5/2
#1 Video Cat - Fair odds 5/2
#2 Irish Account - Fair odds 5/2
| Exacta: Box 1,2,4
Way Out Story has a good inside post and the top early speed in the race. He should be tough to keep from going wire to wire in this situation. Video Cat also draws well inside, making his 3rd career start and 2nd in a route. He ran well enough last out when third and should run well again, but is susceptible to a lone frontrunner here, as is Irish Account who rallied for 2nd in his debut last out, at this distance over the track. He too should be competitive right back with logical improvement.
Weak race, compounded by low prices among the contenders. Taj and Mayor Murphy are 0 for 29 combined so far in their careers, and with morning lines of 5/2 and 3/1 it's impossible to take a shot with a win bet. Use both in any pick 3,4 or 6 plays you make.
#3 Aquaduck - Fair odds 2/1
Exactas: Box 3,1 (Wild Linear) Box 3,5 (Cassie Anne) Box 3,8 (Heaven's Mirror)
Trainer Kent Molinaro is BACK! Always competent, he hit a cold streak recently, but has been winning with nearly everything he saddles once again, 5 for 7 at the meet, and 15 for 41 in the past year. He takes over training of Aquaduck for the first time here, bringing the filly back from 10 months of rest, culminating in an awesome 46 second workout on 6/4 to say she's ready to run!
#2 Gottalovefaith - Fair odds 5/2
#3 Espartico Bob - Fair odds 5/2
Exacta: 2,3 over 8 (Miracle Flight)
We should consider #4 Russell Cave and #4 Mayneunderfire as win contenders as well, for the pick 3, 4 and 6 but for win bets and in the exacta I'm going to just use the two above. Gottalovefaith was RECLAIMED for the THIRD time by Sherman, a heck of a sign. The colt is 5 for 12 in his career and needed his last start after 9 months last out, so he's ready to run back to any one of his 4 wins in 2002 here. Espartico Bob lost a tough 3 horse photo last out under identical conditions, his sixth straight in-the-money finish, and would be no surprise here.
The card so far was pretty good, and hopefully we have more in our pockets then what we started with. This is a "RUN for THE BORDER", or in this case a "RUN for THE EXITS" race, a 8K maiden claimer with nothing at all trustworthy enough for even the smallest bet.
My written selections & analysis for various racetracks are available daily on the Internet at www.trackmaster.com and also at www.equibase.com. More information is available by calling (800) 334-3800
I can be reached by e mail. Send to estarr15@insightbb.com
Explanation of common terms.Wheel- Using a horse as a key selection with all the horses in a certain wager. An exacta wheel using the #1 horse would consist of 1 over all the other entrants.
Part Wheel- Similar to a wheel but it does not include the entire field.
Back Wheel- Using a horse (or horses) in the second position in the exacta so if the horse runs second you cash the bet. For example all over #1.
Box - Combining two or more horses in an exacta or trifecta so that if any of them come in either of the places necessary for the bet you are a winner.
Exotics - usually any bets other than straight bets (win, place, and show). Exotics include exactas, trifectas, and pick 3's.