It’s rare in this game to see and approach to getting a horses set for his best run when a clear pattern emerges. Such is the case in today’s eighth in Hallandale Beach.
Clearly, Doc Amster (6-5) will go favorite because he deserves to. Getting class relief here, Doc Amster simply has become faster this year since he was claimed by Jorge Delgado last fall for $50K.
Doc has been highly competitive vs. better this winter. now drops into a $20 starter. The only question is his inexperience at 5-1/2 furlongs. Can he be out-quicked in this test? Unlikely but possible, and sure to be odds-on we’re taking a why chance it approach.
Not as fast, being in the neighborhood figures-wise, when Mister Kelly (5-1) went turf-to-dirt last fall, he won. Three starts back he raced on Tapeta, moved to dirt on JAN 14, he dominated by 9-3/4s at this level. Last out it was back to Tapeta. See a pattern emerging?
Returning to dirt following a troubled start in which he was eliminated any chance [see video, JAN 30, Race 9] he breezed very sharply for Cheryl Winebaugh, who is 16% profitable with sprinters in her career. He returns freshened, is drawn nicely, and gets a switch to Junior Alvarado.
Seeking value, we’re taking Mister Kelly to win at 9-2 or greater, and keying him in the quinella with the favorite, and with Absolute Grit (5-2), who won off the Rohan Crichton claim last out with Irad on the re-ride here.
