Hoping for fast and firm, focusing on races 9-11.
Race 9 FG Hcp 9f Turf:
Get Rich Quick has run well at FG over last 2 years, 10/1 ML for cold barn.
Blues Street -- your forward moving 6YO Pletcher turfer, 6/1 ML,
Castellano/Pletcher a potent combo.
Race 10 FG Risen Star 3YO 1-1/16th
Like a 20/1 ML bomb here. Mountain Justice has run one race fast enough to
contend, but alas that race was on the turf. MJ is an Afleet Alex trying dirt for
the first time for underrated trainer Andrew McKeever, and shows a bullet breeze
over the main track.
Stay Put, for 31% Steve Margolis, is 2/2 over the track and has plenty of bottom.
A slight move forward after the 6 week breather makes this one look live at ML
8/1.
Drosselmayer is arguably fastest and I am one of Bill Mott\'s biggest fans, but
Mott\'s record in Triple Crown races and TC prep races has been quite
unexceptional.
Ron the Greek is a routine TG bet against at 3/1 ML picking up 4 pounds and
drawing another outside post.
R 11 G Mineshaft Hcp 1-1/16th:
Friesen Fire comes back against some of the same horses he dominated a month ago.
Would love to be able to scream \"bounce\" as this one is likely 4/5, but he seems
to be pace advantaged here and is 4/6 LT over the strip. One of the runners who
may have pressured FF, the improving Country Flavor, ran Friday night.
P3s R9: Get Rich Quick, Blues Street/Mountain Justice, Stay Put/Friesan Fire.
Bonus Selections: Race 12-- 1 Mile Turf Optional Claimer
Kiss My Kriss (6/1) and Willist (15/1) each are entered for the tag and may have
a surface/ course edge here.
RichieB:
I think the FG turf race is best looking of the day, value wise.
I am actually looking to see if Gretsky can do better on a turf with a little more give and one that plays better to closers.
Now turned 4, not a bad effort versus slow pace on a rock hard turf at Sam Houston in last. Looking to get him on my exacta and trifecta tickets at (hopefully) 15-1 or better.
Good Luck,
Joe B.
Good morning Richie.
I like Discreetly Mine in the Risen Star. Like the series of 5\'s as he stretched out last year, and he\'s certainly bred to get 1 1/16. Toss the slop race, and I\'ll be surprised if he\'s not 2-3 pts faster, which will be enough to put him close with the good speed and inside post. Agree that Stay Put is an interesting longshot. Well bred runner could hit the 3 or 4 lvl today, but Jamie is gonna have to work out the trip.
Key DM.
Richie, no Dubious Miss in the 9th? Has fast races over 3 different poly tracks, and some tactical speed in a race w/out a lot of pace.
Michael:
An imaginative selection, and the close second to eventual BC winner Furthest
Land is noted.
DM is however a 6YO who will only be trying turf for the second time lifetime.
He\'s won fast, wet and synthetic, but I will let him beat me looking for his first
lifetime turf win in a (soft) Grade III.
richiebee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Michael:
>
> An imaginative selection, and the close second to
> eventual BC winner Furthest
> Land is noted.
>
> DM is however a 6YO who will only be trying turf
> for the second time lifetime.
> He\'s won fast, wet and synthetic, but I will let
> him beat me looking for his first
> lifetime turf win in a (soft) Grade III.
Well done Richie. Keep the pk\'s going. A fair $53 exacta with the Miss though.
Good call on both DMs, Michael.
Pletch obviously on a ridiculous roll now.
3 GSW in 50 minutes.
...add another TAP 3YO GSW at Golden Gate...
Yeah, he was winning Allday.
richiebee Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ...add another TAP 3YO GSW at Golden Gate...
Tabor\'s gonna make a fortune on Giant\'s Causeway before it\'s done. Pays for all of those Storm Cat flops, many times over.
Eskendereya was king today (wish I had MJ\'s futures ticket on that guy - good pick). Buddy got wiped out, but I doubt it mattered for the win. JR was on cruise control, and could have gone another 1/4 of mile it seems.
A big question for a whole bunch of horses will be the rocket fuel testing in Ky in May. Last year it was very good at the start of the CD meet.
As long as I can remember, the Kentucky Derby has never been won in February.
Pletcher peaking two months too early....same old story will end up in the same old result.
Good Luck,
Joe B.
Stay Put, for 31% Steve Margolis, is 2/2 over the track and has plenty of bottom.
A slight move forward after the 6 week breather makes this one look live at ML
8/1.
Richiebee,
Drf chart has this one 3w/4w.Potential 2 1/2 point move forward?Hopefully comes
back in LA derby with pace and ground-save.Xtra 1/16 probably can\'t hurt either.
mjs
I keyed Stay Put and really liked his effort but the gallop out left something to be desired IMO. If he can save ground next time and he\'s more than 5-1 he\'d be worth a play.
I\'m more curious about the number Northern Giant gets. He ran wide the whole race and looked good on the gallop out, but that 6 point jump from 10 to 4 followed by his effort last Saturday probably has bounce written all over his next race.
SP\'s gallop out wasn\'t inspiring.Almost as if he ran out of gas last 50-70 yds.
G/L for him was at least 3.5w/3-4w.NG was 3w/3w and did seem to go out pretty well,but Motts horse really went out well.Nice horses here,however they\'ll have
to step up their games by May.
Good luck
mjs