Pricci's Free Daily Feature Race Analysis
Five days per week and every racing day during the Saratoga meet, John Pricci will provide horse racing selections of that day's feature race. When the racing schedule dictates otherwise, there will be analysis from other major thoroughbred
Tracks. Check back here 5 days a week for free horse racing selections.
In addition to his race analysis, John will provide commentary in a weekly
"On the Line" column and daily blogs under the
"Pricci's Morning Line" banner.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Blazing the Way
Today's Belmont Park feature, the Good Reward overnight stakes for older turf runners going 10 furlongs, marks the U.S. debut of South American 5YO import Quick Casablanca (9-2) for the team of Clement/Rosario. He's a G1 performer on turf and dirt, is training steadily and willingly, and has run very well at this trip.
However, we'll play percenatges and shade a Horse for Course that has also done well at this distance; Barcley Tagg's Sky Blazer (5-2). He owns enough tactical speed to stay within hailing distance of Teks North and inside position insures a ground saving trip that will be sure to help in the late stages.
Taking Sky Blazer to win at 5-2 or greater and key boxing exactas with Clement's import and the McGaughey-trained Reflecting. Exotic players can add Chad Brown's Hyper (6-1) to their mix.
Number of Selections: 1314
Number of Win-Place-Show Finishers: 401-249-202
Amount Wagered: $2,628 [to win only]
Total Dollar Return on Investment: $2,749.10
Profit to Date: $121.10
Written by John Pricci
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Run Run Runbird
No one should be surprised if they see the likely favorite in today's featured fourth race from Belmont, the Albert The Great overnight stakes, Birdun, back in the G2 Brooklyn trying to make amends from last year after winning it in 2011.
The bad news is that the 7-year-old is making his first start in a year. The good news is that he's trained by Bill Mott, 21% effective off long layoffs, worked at Payson like a horse possessed, and can be viewed as Flat Out light, given a Belmont Park slate of (9) 3-4-0.
Taking Birdrun to win, no price restrictions, and key boxing in exactas with Percussion and Fast Falcon.
Number of Selections: 1313
Number of Win-Place-Show Finishers: 401-249-201
Amount Wagered: $2,626 [to win only]
Total Dollar Return on Investment: $2,749.10
Profit to Date: $123.10
Written by John Pricci
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Honest Abraham
Today's Belmont Park feature is the local prep for the Belmont Stakes, the Grade 2 Peter Pan. What it lacks in star power it makes up for in compettiveness. This renewal is a real skullbuster on the Equiform scale with about six of the entrants within a couple of easily made-up lengths of each other.
Since routing, Abraham (7-2) has been coming into his own, especially last out when he distributed his energy properly for the first time. Further, he raced wide throughout, not usually the best tack at Hawthorne, and was forced to move premature when the winning Departed made his sweep on the outside heading into the straight. Abraham continued fairly gamely considering how he was used to maintain.
We're taking Abraham to win at 5-2 or greater and key boxing him in multiples with uncoupled mate Battier (8-1), first-time Pletcher with Rosario, Incognito (5-1), the gamest of winners last time while showing improved early lick, Declan's Warrior (4-1), the meltdown-aided winner of the Bay Shore, and Fear The Kitten (12-1) much improved on the AW recently but a one-turn winner at a mile at 2.
Number of Selections: 1312
Number of Win-Place-Show Finishers: 401-249-201
Amount Wagered: $2,624 [to win only]
Total Dollar Return on Investment: $2,749.10
Profit to Date: $125.10
Written by John Pricci