http://www.horseraceinsider.com/blog.php en jpricci@nycap.rr.com Copyright 2012 2012-05-16T09:47:00-06:00 http://www.horseraceinsider.com/john-pricci-blog/05132012-taking-the-fresh-fiddler/ http://www.horseraceinsider.com/john-pricci-blog/05132012-taking-the-fresh-fiddler/#When:09:47:00Z Today’s Belmont Park feature is a good one, the Cannon Shell Stakes run at 6-furlong on turf, going as the second half of the early double. We’ll not try to explain the positioning of this interesting stakes but rather look at the contenders. They are many and all have a license. We’ll concentrate our play around Fiddlers Patriot, Noble’s Promise and Bergerac. Noble’s Promise finally gets back on grass, where he’s 1-for-2 lifetime, and turns back to this trip while reuniting with Julien Leparoux. Trainer McPeek is profitable lifetime in third-off-layoff scenarios. Bergerac is the now horse, turning back from the 7-furlong Grade 2 Commonwealth on Keeneland Polytrack returning to his preferred surface on which have come three of his four lifetime scores. Javier Castellano takes the return call. But it’s the fresh gelding Fiddlers Patriot that looks most interesting but virtue of the fact that he does his best racing when fresh. Not only have two of his three most recent wins come off layups, but the third was on this course, his only try over this ground. Versatile 6-year-old can either front-run to victory or stalk, his workline has gotten more aggressive since he left his Palm Beach winter base, George Weaver is having a banner 2012, knows how to get one ready and taps Johnny V. for the assignment. We’re taking course loving Fiddlers Patriot to win 7-2 or greater and key boxing him in multiples with Noble’s Promise and Bergerac. Running Totals: (1078) 331-210-161 Total Dollar Return: $2,281.10 [win selections only] 2012-05-16T09:47:00-06:00 http://www.horseraceinsider.com/john-pricci-blog/05122012-teeth-of-the-dog-sharp-for-peter-pan-sorry/ http://www.horseraceinsider.com/john-pricci-blog/05122012-teeth-of-the-dog-sharp-for-peter-pan-sorry/#When:12:13:00Z Today's feature at Belmont Park is the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes for three-year-olds racing 9 furlongs and for those with a possible eye on the Belmont Stakes. No fewer than half the 12 horse field have a better than puncher's chance to win it and value, even with public choices, almost seems assured. We'll take any value offered on Teeth Of the Dog. Originaly consider a Preakness probable, trainer Michael Matz called an audible and has entered the colt here. After breaking maiden at Gulfstream Park, Bluegras Cat colt shipped north and finished a valiant third in the G1 Wood Memorial, an excellent finish considering the increase in distance and class. The grandson of Deputy Minister is developing beautifully. Never taking a backward step of the Equiform scale, he's shown an ability to distribute his energy efficiently from his very first start. His Wood Memorial figure was competitive to the group and the spacing is excellent for his return. Colt had sharp blowout at Fair Hill training center, Joe Bravo takes a return call and should take advantage of a favorable race shape. Taking Teeth Of The Dog to win at 5-1 or greater, and key boxing him in multiples with sharp working Mark Valeski (5-2), Jerome winner The Lumber Guy (7-2) and Le Barnardin (15-1), who defeat older horses last time out. Running Totals: (1077) 331-210-161 Total Dollar Return: $2,281.10 [win selections only] 2012-05-12T12:13:00-06:00 http://www.horseraceinsider.com/john-pricci-blog/05132012-clements-filly-figures-to-make-amends-in-belmont-feature/ http://www.horseraceinsider.com/john-pricci-blog/05132012-clements-filly-figures-to-make-amends-in-belmont-feature/#When:09:50:00Z Today's featured 9th race at Belmont Park is for older allowance fillies and mares going a mile and a sixteenth feature a classy filly making her U.S. debut, and Todd Pletcher trained $575K purchase that looked good breaking her turf maiden at first asking in Lexington and a Christophe Clement second-time starter in this country. And we think Limonair (4-1) will offer some value given the presence of Chad Brown's import La Pernelle (5-2), and the Pletcher-trained filly, Counterparty (3-1). When last seen, Limonair, bet to favoritism in her American debut, chase the pace throughout while slightly wide on a hard Gulfstream turf course, appearing a bit headstrong in the process. Tried as he might, Jose Lezcano couldn't quite settle her down but did his until she set sail for the leader while in the three-path on the far turn. She rallied smartly, cutting into the leader's margin, but couldn't match strides with the winner's explosive turn of foot. Nevertheless, she continued gamely inside a weakened late, as if in need of the effort. Subsequently, she's worked sharply at her Payson Park base and ships to Belmont, where Clement has gotten off to a good start; (7) 2-2-0 through Thursday's racing. Jose Lezcano accepts a return call and the filly figures to be a lot more fit for today's trip. Taking Limonair to win at 3-1 or greater and key boxing her first and second in multiples with her rivals here. Running Totals: (1077) 331-210-161 Total Dollar Return: $2,281.10 [win selections only] 2012-05-12T09:50:00-06:00 http://www.horseraceinsider.com/john-pricci-blog/05102012-my-sweet-speed/ http://www.horseraceinsider.com/john-pricci-blog/05102012-my-sweet-speed/#When:09:49:00Z Today’s Belmont feature is a beauty, a preliminary allowances for older fillies and mares sprinting 7 furlongs and a wide open affair it is. Questing is the early line favorite (3-1) and most likely winner if she improves on a solid U. S. debut going a mile from a wide post at Gulfstream when heavily backed. She’s been getting ready for this at the Greentree training center in Saratoga. She broke her maiden at today’s distance in Europe and Julien rides her back for Kiaran McLaughlin. But it’s Sweet Miss Avery (5-1) that looks the best interesting. For openers, she has never taken a backward step on the Equiform scale, the kind of incremental improvement that indicates continued development. Trainer Michael Stidham is 23% efficient second-time turf and she comes into this with a game front-running money finish on Keeneland Poly last time out. Her recent 3F breeze was fastest of 20 in her peer group that week at Belmont. Taking Sweet Miss Avery to win at 4-1 or greater, an exacta box with Questing; exotic players can add sharp working Considerate (12-1), from a key race, to their mix. Running Totals: (1076) 331-210-161 Total Dollar Return: $2,281.10 [win selections only] 2012-05-11T09:49:00-06:00 http://www.horseraceinsider.com/john-pricci-blog/05092012-jersey-town-can-boss-this-group/ http://www.horseraceinsider.com/john-pricci-blog/05092012-jersey-town-can-boss-this-group/#When:09:43:00Z Today’s featured overnight stakes at Belmont, the Diablo at 6 furlongs, has attracted a graded-stakes quality group, a spot where one can vote against the early line favorite. Travelin Man (2-1) clearly is not the same horse he is a Gulfstream Park, where he’s done much of his winning and fastest racing. Having said that, we’re supporting a horse that frankly hasn’t looked like the same individual since he won the Cigar Mile in the fall of 2010. But there are reasons to like Jersey Town (5-2). When last seen, making his season’s debut, Jersey Town was finished second to the favorite after moving a bit prematurely into a hot pace going 6-1/2 furlongs, often a difficult dynamic at which to succeed. Jersey Town seemed to benefit from a switch to veteran Edgar Prado, the mini-turnback and outside draw is a better scenario, and the return to Belmont, where he’s never been off the board, all augur well. Taking Jersey Town to win at 2-1 or greater and key-boxing him in exactas with the fast working favorite and This One’s For Phil (7-2), emerging from the super key G2 General George, a race producing four next-out winners. Exotic players can add nicely positioned, sharp working invader Royal Currier (8-1). Running Totals: (1076) 331-210-161 Total Dollar Return: $2,281.10 [win selections only] 2012-05-10T09:43:00-06:00 http://www.horseraceinsider.com/john-pricci-blog/05092010-maryland-shipper-appears-well-spotted-in-belmonts-marta-stakes/ http://www.horseraceinsider.com/john-pricci-blog/05092010-maryland-shipper-appears-well-spotted-in-belmonts-marta-stakes/#When:09:42:00Z Today’s Belmont Park feature is the Marta, an overnight stakes for older fillies and mares sprinting 6½ furlongs and, to be honest, it’s not a very compelling heat. However, it is interesting in that it’s hard to know with any certainty where the quality speed is coming from, since the best fillies in here fit either a stalker’s or closer’s profile. It does appear that longshot My Sunshine Gal will make the running and Rajiv Maragh is adept at equine robbery on the lead. It’s hard to envision, however, that she’ll make it all the way in front at the hybrid distance. Having said that, we need to side with the sharp filly who carries highweight and lacks experience at the distance; not usually our kind. But Aquitania (2-1) is sharp and fast and owns excellent recent figures and attracts Ramon Dominguez for Maryland’s Hamilton Smith. We’re hoping to see Ramon mid-move this group, using her sharpness to get first run. Taking Aquitania to win at 2-1 or greater and boxing her in exactas with surface and distance specialist, Belle of the Hall (6-1) and the classy, fast working favorite, Her Smile (7-5). Running Totals: (1075) 330-210-161 Total Dollar Return: $2,275.60 [win selections only] 2012-05-09T09:42:00-06:00 http://www.horseraceinsider.com/john-pricci-blog/05052012-take-the-u-train-to-times-square/ http://www.horseraceinsider.com/john-pricci-blog/05052012-take-the-u-train-to-times-square/#When:09:56:00Z Won’t be needing a search warrant to find the favorite in today’s split feature at Belmont Park, the Times Square division of the New York Stallion series for New York-breds 3-year-olds sprinting 6-1/2 furlongs in today's ninth race. That distinction goes to Sportswriter (1-1), which on Equiform performance figures towers over the group. Further, those figures have moved up since transferred to the Rudy Rodriguez shed, the trainer a profitable 26 percent efficient with horses turning back from a route to a sprint. But it’s I’ll Stake U (4-1), who broke his maiden in an open claiming race at Parx at today’s hybrid distance and now it looks like he might have the most upside. His ability at the distance, his development this season as his figures continue marching forward, and a switch to patient finishing Rosie all augur well. We’re Taking I’ll Shake U at 3-1 or greater, an exacta box with the favorite, and will add Disco On and Frisky Warrior to the exotics mix. Running Totals: (1074) 329-210-161 Total Dollar Return: $2,262.40 [win selections only] 2012-05-06T09:56:00-06:00 http://www.horseraceinsider.com/john-pricci-blog/whats-left-to-sayhappy-birthday-horseplayers/ http://www.horseraceinsider.com/john-pricci-blog/whats-left-to-sayhappy-birthday-horseplayers/#When:04:41:00Z Except this... For the record, we're taking Union Rags to win at 5-1 or greater. For the record, we're taking a saver wager on Daddy Knows Best to win at 10-1 or greater. We're using Take Charge Indy, Sabercat and Prospective in money positions in the super exotics. Happy Derby Day, everyone Running Totals: (1073) 329-210-161 Total Dollar Return: $2,262.40 [win selections only] 2012-05-05T04:41:00-06:00 http://www.horseraceinsider.com/john-pricci-blog/05022010-saving-grace/ http://www.horseraceinsider.com/john-pricci-blog/05022010-saving-grace/#When:09:44:00Z Two full gates tomorrow and one full gate today for the distaff version of Derby 138, the Kentucky Oaks and a field of 14 well matched fillies, where as many as six have a serious chance. Just like tomorrow, there is a lot of speed signed on to compete at today’s 9 furlong trip, and the post position gods were with the early line choice, Grace Hall (5-2), nicely drawn inside in slip number two. After showing too much freshness in her season’s debut, Grace Hall relaxed nicely from close range, bided her time under new rider Javier Castellano, took the lead soon after entering the stretch and drew off impressively to win the Gulfstream Park Oaks by 6-1/2 lengths. In her only start over the surface, she finished second to eventual undefeated champion, My Miss Aurelia, so there are no worries in terms of handling the surface. After Grace Hall, things open considering. But we're Grace Hall to win, no price restrictions, and keying her first and second in exactas with the speedy Broadway’s Alibi (4-1) and price shot Summer Applause (15-1). Running Totals: (1072) 329-210-160 Total Dollar Return: $2,262.40 [win selections only] 2012-05-04T09:44:00-06:00 http://www.horseraceinsider.com/john-pricci-blog/05022012-have-a-safe-trip/ http://www.horseraceinsider.com/john-pricci-blog/05022012-have-a-safe-trip/#When:10:16:00Z Interesting sprint feature at Churchill Downs, today’s 10th, a non-winners of 3 allowances/optional claiming featuring a very sharp and fast favorite in Riley Tucker (5-2), a hard-hitting old pro that owns a pair of victories over the surface for trainer Steve Asmussen. What makes him so tough is the fact he can win with the lead or without it, giving his rider lots of options. But it’s Safe Trip (3-1) that intrigues us more. He comes off an excellent comeback effort in his first start off a very lengthy layoff—fast, but not too fast, and a good race to build on. Not only does he also own two victories on this surface but has earned some of his best performance figures here. The 5-year-old gelding makes his second start for trainer Bret Calhoun, Miguel Mena takes a return call and returns to his favorite venue seven weeks fresh. Taking Safe Trip to win at 5-2 or greater and an exacta box with the favorite. Running Totals: (1071) 329-210-160 Total Dollar Return: $2,262.40 [win selections only] 2012-05-03T10:16:00-06:00