What does one do when an irresistible handicapping force meets an unmovable winning object? The wise guy answer would be to look for a third option. But then horseplayers are not known for taking the easy way out.
In Friday’s featured fourth race, returning Top Line Growth (5-2), a perfect 2-for-2 at the trip, 3-for-3 at the distance which never has lost a non-stakes races in his career and working well, obviously looks like the one to beat.
We noted that he’s working well because this will be his first start in 322 days. Now he has won fresh, is consistently fast at these trips, and this cannot be the ultimate goal. So what to do when Horses for Course and Horses for Distances collide?
We’re going for the irresistible force; a slower but forward four year old with recency, having placed gamely after setting the pace throughout a recent two-turn return at Delaware and just missing, now is not back to one where he’s 2-for-2 lifetime, including a win over this track, at this distance.
And did we mention he’s a two-time daylight winner on wet tracks–the expected conditions Friday afternoon–or that trainer Jorge Duarte Jr. is batting 25% the past 90 days or that rider Jevian Toledo, on a recent roll, overall 23% as a team?
Further, it is like that Compound It (4-1) will match his early line odds ante post–good value in this spot. Taking Compound It to win at 4-1 or greater and key-boxing exactas with the favorite above and fast Dilodovico trainee, Taco Supream (7-2).
2 Responses
Fourth at Laurel is a nice race to wager on. No heavy M/L favorite. I’m throwing a bob or two on the ole’ man in the field John Jones. Gaudet has been getting better year after year and has gone rather easy on this plater. Appears ready for a good run.
Thanks for playing the home version of our game, WMC. May your bets go forward and multiply…