Sunday, September 02, 2007

Spa Couldn’t Make Bullet Bob Any More Happy

Today we’ll find out what the juvenile fillies have with respect to their ability to go on. The Grade 1 Spinaway at seven furlongs has always proven a useful barometer when things begin to really stretch out in the fall.

The Spinaway has drawn a field of 10 and we’ll take a look at half of them, from the inside, out: A to the Croft (6-1), Yonagucci (20-1), Irish Smoke (5-2), More Happy (5-1) and Blitzing (9-2).

A to the Croft was flying at the end of the Adirondack behind More Happy, prompting trainer Ken McPeek to say that if the race were longer they wouldn’t know which was his filly went. She certainly looked like added ground would suit her, she made a step forward on figures while facing tougher and comes up to this off graduating distances.

Yonagucci chased the Adirondack pace three-wide throughout and held fairly well late. She demonstrated she could run with these horses after winning two straight at Calder. Florida-based two-year-olds have a history of outrunning their odds here. The top spot is tough but a money finish at long odds is appealing.

Irish Smoke lived up to her name, a winning debut in :57 3/5 with something in reserve. Patrick Biancone is a profitable 25 percent with career second-starters and her recent half mile work in :47 was third fastest of 103 juvenile fillies to work that week here. She could be anything but makes a considerable stretch-out here.

More Happy set a strong pace to win the Adirondack, remaining undefeated in two starts. Her prior was pace pressing maiden score at Del Mar, decidedly anti-profile. Bullet Bob Baffert said she might have bounced off her :59 workout from the gate here six days before the race. Baffert has yet to lose with a juvenile at this meet.

Blitzing was a game third in her local debut, the opening day Schuylerville, after chasing the pace wide throughout, a trip not unlike that of Yonagucci, albeit with better results. She too comes up to the added distance perfectly and her figures are forward looking for the Asmussen/Bridgmohan Team.

Taking value here with More Happy at 5-2 or greater, keying her first and second with A To The Croft and Irish Smoke in exactas.

Running Totals: (94) 38-22-11. Dollar Return: $225.00 [win selections only] {Saturday’s results not included}

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Saturday, September 01, 2007

Take The Other Pletcher In The Woodward

The calendar says it’s not yet fall but when you look at a Saratoga Grade 1 at nine furlongs for three-year-olds and up and see all the entrants carrying scale-weight of 126 pounds, the calendar lies. It’s weight-for-age time.

Today’s Win-And-You’re-In Woodward is Lawyer Ron’s to lose, IF he can duplicate his career best performance figure earned in the Whitney. While the odds are against that happening, given the level of performance, are slim, there’s reason to think it might.

It’s been five weeks, arguably enough time, and the fact that it’s Saratoga, where horse’s fill up quickly, given the cooler nights, environment, etc., rebounding becomes more than a reasonable expectation. Further, if you love this surface, you love it, and that effort came at today’s distance from post 10. Today Lawyer Ron (2-1) gets the pole and virtually the same rivals he beat last out.

Two of them figure to improve, however, and both are well drawn in posts two and three, respectively.

Diamond Stripes (4-1) also had a wide draw in the Whitney and didn’t run nearly as well as Lawyer Ron. But he did make a wide mid-race move and finished willingly without threatening. Returning from his Aqueduct best, he appears set for best in third start off the brief layoff.

Magna Graduate (5-1), the uncoupled mate of Lawyer Ron, never had a chance in the Whitney, stuck down on the inside--not the best place that day--all the way. Those tactics don’t suit the horse’s comfort zone, either. In his prior, a tough trip cost him a score in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster. He figures to improve here and Garrett Gomez hasn’t lost confidence in him and will ride him back.

Taking the value offered on Magna Graduate at 9-2 or greater, keying him first and second in exactas with Lawyer Ron and Diamond Stripes.

Running Totals: (94) 38-22-11. Dollar Return: $225.00 [win selections only]

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Friday, August 31, 2007

It’s Two… Two Stakes In One!

As advertised, it’s the With Anticipation/P.G. Johnson Stakes, restricted to two-year-olds but for colts AND fillies. (The Johnson originally didn’t fill, thus the dual stakes).

Kind of an interesting concept, actually.

It’s wide open, as you might expect, but we’ve narrowed it down to five (two geldings, a colt, and two fillies). From the inside, out: Sherine (7-2), Carry the Day (12-1), High Appeal (3-1), Pulla Fast One (12-1) and the filly, Sea Chanter, 8-1.

Sherine is the fastest on performance figures, owns a strong late kick, attracts Alan Garcia, who's riding the turf course very well, and hails from a clever barn. The hope is that her mates will scratch so that some value might be available. Certainly don't want to take a short price with such a competitive group.

Carry the Day shipped to Monmouth for the Continental Mile after breaking his (turf) maiden at Belmont Park but the trip wasted his time after the race was rescheduled to the main track. But he’s right back in 13 days here, is back on turf, and Gary Contessa reaches out for turf ace Garrett Gomez. He showed good late kick in his grass score, has some tactical speed and is drawn inside. Good value at early line odds.

High Appeal has done nothing wrong, as his 2-for-2 grass slate suggests. He has dominated both sprints, including the Chenery at Colonial last out, hails from excellent Maryland connections and is stoutly bred on the dam’s side (Sadler’s Wells). He is the controlling speed and hails from the hot Trombetta/Dominguez team. Ramon is adept at nursing speed horses on the grass and he figures to shake loose without much difficulty here.

Pulla Fast One broke his maiden with determination over this course, at this distance, August 19 after the removal of front bandages. It’s not often you see such gameness from a young, inexperienced animal but the pedigree for grass probably makes this all possible, by More Than Ready, from an A.P. Indy mare. Horses fill up quickly here in Saratoga so the fact that he’s entered back quickly is not as significant a factor as it might be at another venue. Besides, the early line odds are attractive.

The other filly, Sea Chanter, also is interesting. Stabled at Belmont Park, set to reopen next week, why ship up here to meet colts? The answers lie in the fact that Todd Pletcher is a profitable 28 percent the first time his horses go long and her bullet work is second fastest of 48 two-year-old fillies to work that week at Belmont Park. She’s reuniting with winning rider Johnny Velazquez and her pedigree suits today’s route. A real interesting spot to be sure.

Taking a filly, Sherine, to win at 3-1 or greater, keying her first and second in trifectas with the other listed contenders.

Running Totals: (93) 38-21-11. Dollar Return: $225.00 [win selections only]

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