ROTW

[Michael D.]

Best of the Rest - looks like one of the fastest. I share TG\'s concern about the ship though. I think Calder is his best track, and beating Booklet by half a length at GP last time didn\'t change my mind. could win, but I will try to beat him.
Strive - looks a touch slow, but he was making up good ground into a very fast race last time. will the extra sixteenth and the weight make the difference? not sure, but at decent odds, I will take the chance. top three pick for me.
Balto - tough weight assignment. I think this horse will be a factor, but as the favorite and highweight, I will hope he gets passed in deep stretch.
Bonapaw - no thanks
Mineshaft - closing well last time, end gets the extra sixteenth. first time lasix? not sure what that is about. this horse, like Strive, looks a touch slow, but with a few speed/stalking types inside of him, he might get a decent trip. more of a hunch here, but I will use him in my top three.
Olmodavor - I had very high hopes for this horse, and I have not given up on him yet, but just too many question marks at present.
Booklet - will be a factor, but he just doesn\'t hang on going nine furlongs. not for me.
Sunday Break - one of the more talented horses here, but too many damn question marks.
Tracemark - not for me
Learned - looks like Barnet has one goal in mind for 2003: this race. was closing very well in his last, and gets a bit more ground to work with. tough post, but enough speed/stalker types in the race to let him lope a long only two or three wide. obviously needs the clean path coming home, which is a huge if, but at big odds, I will toss him in there.

so I will use Strive, Mineshaft, and Learned, all at decent odds, and hope to get a bit lucky..... good luck everybody!!

[kev]

1.Best of the rest---Hes my top pick in here. Coa has to rate him back like this horse running style shows and he will be there at the end. 1st or 2nd place.
2.Strive---Has a nice closing kick will be pasting horses in the lane, the neg. on this horse is hes a little too slow for this group.
3.Balto Star---Nah.
4. Valhol---too slow and will not make a big impact in here.
5. Bonapaw---this horse scares me hes fast and he will be on the front end again winging it. The key will be Martinez if he gets this horse out in front by 3,4,5 early on hes done. W. Martinez has to rate this horse enough to have something left in the lane.
6.Mineshaft---This is a tough read for me, is slow on numbers, but has done nothing wrong yet.
7. Olmodavor---Goes for the same on this horse.
8. Booklet---Has some class, but i think the pace in the race doesnt set up for him this time.
9. Sunday Break---I\'ll give this horse a slight edge over Mine and Olmodavor.
10. Tracemark---Another Nah.
11. Learned---is slow has no class, only thing he has going on is his big kick in the lane.