First, there are six horses, mostly racing at the top of their form. They are sharp, in good hands, including those of the riders. Yes, a six-horse rider’s race; that’s what makes it trappy.
Mike Hushion has been on a tremendous run for what seems like forever. And in Spa City Fever (7-2) he has a gelding coming up to this off an incremental career best effort with seven weeks of recovery time.
He can set the fractions of follow from close range, which is likely the tack that Rosie Napravnik will take, given the other speed types entered. The shift back to Belmont probably will help as well.
The other 6-year-old gelding, Inherit The Gold (5-2) owns consistently best figures on the Equiform scale and has won half his four lifetime starts at this trip.
Fiddlers Afleet (6-1) was claimed from his last at Santa Anita by John Sadler—and he shows up in New York for a small state-bred stakes and attracts Johnny Velazquez. Considering Sadler is a profitable 30% in first start off the claim. Could he be better meant?
Taking Spa City Fever to win at 3-1 or greater and key boxing him in multiples with his two rivals here.
Running Totals: (1070) 329-210-160 Total Dollar Return: $2,262.40 [win selections only]
29 Apr 2012 at 09:59 am | #
“Spa City Fever” begins with me about 24 hours after closing day in September. It is difficult for me, because I also suffer from that Elvis affliction for Saratoga; “Hunka Hunka Burning Love.”
TTT
29 Apr 2012 at 10:01 am | #
For me, it’s usually the Sunday after the Belmont.
29 Apr 2012 at 12:42 pm | #
HI GUYS THIS IS MY BEST BET
#5
JOHANNESBURG SMILE
30 Apr 2012 at 06:56 pm | #
JP, your readers will trust you for an honest opinion on Hayward abd Crist. Personally, I feel strongly that Crist should resign. He didn’t stand up for his people. I know you would.
01 May 2012 at 06:18 pm | #
HH, a man does what he has to do, or not.
I’d like to think that had I committed to go off the record--not an easy call either way--under the circumstances, I would not have written a column subsequently stating that something was true if I had serious doubts it was. Those e-mails certainly seems to contradict the essence of that piece. Thanks for your confidence; it means a lot to me.
JP