Coast-to-coast

Five winners on top in eleven events (Belmont, $2.50; Monmouth, $6.00; Arlington, $8.00; Prairie Meadows, $4.40; Hollywood, $16.60) -- for a happy 70% ROI in the win-only category.

Otherwise a good mix of gimmicks. The highlight was a cold exacta at Hollywood ($41.80/$2) with our fourth pick following our top two to complete the $211.00/$2 tri. And it's worth noting that our third pick there completed the $485.80/$2 super. Our top four also boxed for the super at Churchill ($64.60/$2).

WAGERED: $417.00
COLLECTED: $570.55

Clearly we ended up in the red this week with our Best Bets -- but it was the kind of week you can't be too disappointed about. The win by Purim put us squarely in position to make a profit and we had three or four decent runs in the stretch from our others. When the results are that close you can feel like you're on the right track. You have to get worried when you're not getting a run for your money. So we accept the narrow defeat and move on to next week...

Belmont, Race 9, Pollard's Vision... 3rd at 5-2 (xxx, xxx, 2.80).
Churchill, Race 8, Souris... 2nd at 4-5 (xxx, 2.20, 2.10).
Churchill, Race 9, Shaconage... 2nd at 5-2 (xxx, 3.40, 2.60).
Arlington, Race 9, Purim... WON (8.20, 5.40, 4.40).
Thistledown, Race 11, Unbridled Energy... 8th at 3-1.
Hollywood, Race 7, My Dream... 2nd at 9-5 (xxx, 3.00, 2.40).

Stellar Jayne 1-5
Provincial 11-1
Summer Rainbow 4-1
Aesculus, Madonna Lily scratched

Wager: $5 W on Stellar Jayne.
Collected $6.25 on the W ($2.50).
...$4 exacta box top two.
Scratched.
...$2 tri key Stellar Jayne.
Scratched.

Stellar Jayne...G1 winner finds a cozy restricted stake for seasonal return. Should just be classier than this bunch.
Aesculus...Actually might be at her best sprinting on dirt.
Summer Rainbow...Looks better than last.
Madonna Lily.

Wend 9-5
Wonder Again 7-5
Film Maker 3-1
Vallera scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on Wonder Again.
Collected $7.00 on the WP (xxx, 2.80).
...$2 exacta box on top two.
Ran 2-3.
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $15.00 on the tri box ($30.00/$2).

Wonder Again...Started 2004 season running sixth in G2 stake, followed with bang-up win in this race. Started 2005 season running third in same G2 and now comes into this. Like the repeat pattern.
Film Maker...Got off to a solid start to the year winning a G3 at Pimlico. Tough if able to improve.
Wend...Mott filly undefeated since moving to turf -- but gets tested here.
Vallera.

Offlee Wild 7-2
Tap Day 25-1
Pollard's Vision 5-2

Wager: $5 WP on Pollard's Vision.
Ran 3rd.
...$2 exacta box on top two.
Ran 1-3.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-3-6-8.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-3-6-8.

Pollard's Vision...Pletcher trainee on a steady diet of graded stakes and ran second last time in G1 Pimlico Special. Should be able to sit just off the early pace and inside post will help with starting gate on the turn.
Offlee Wild...That Pimlico Special dud as the favorite was just too bad to believe. We'll give him another chance.
Record Buster...Undefeated in three starts for Frankel/Stronach. Could be this good but this is a step up from NW2.
Funny Cide.

Cherokee's Boy 2-1
Aggadan 4-5
Cherokee Spook 4-1

Wager: $5 WP on Cherokee's Boy.
Collected $21.00 on the WP (6.00, 2.40).
...$2 exacta box on top two.
Collected $12.00 on the ex box ($12.00/$2).
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $6.00 on the ex box.
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $11.50 on the tri box ($23.00/$2).

Cherokee's Boy...Works have him on his toes and a front-running style should suit him over this racetrack.
Aggadan...Toss last -- but if he was able to get anything out of that one he can move forward and fits here.
Pass Rush...Could be an interesting play making third start off of a long layoff and stretching to two turns.
Cherokee Spook.

Better Talk Now 2-1
Silverfoot 6-1
Request for Parole 8-1
Navesink River scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on Exterior.
Ran 5th at 4-1.
...$2 exacta box on top two.
Ran 1-5.
...$1 exacta box top four, sub next if scratch.
Collected $21.80 on the ex box ($43.60/$2).
...$1 tri box top four, sub next if scratch.
Collected $111.80 on the tri box ($223.60/$2).

Exterior...Beaten favorite in last two -- a couple of SoCal stakes. Capable at the distance and we wonder if the west coast marathoners might not be a little tougher than these.
Better Talk Now...They are employing uncouple entry-mate Shake the Bank as a "rabbit" so there should be some pace to shoot at. Ran well in seasonal debut then had some trouble closing into a snail's pace last time.
Request for Parole...Won this race last year and he's better than latest.
Silverfoot.
Navesink River.

My Ro 3-2
Souris 4-5
Edge Sweep 47-1

Wager: $5 WP on Souris.
Collected $5.50 on the WP (xxx, 2.20).
...$5 exacta box on top two.
Collected $20.50.
...$2 tri key Souris over next two.
Ran 1/2-6.

Souris...Seems to tower over this bunch.
My Ro...Third start of the season and look to be rounding into good form.
Hippogator...Hollendorfer trainee was dull to start the season in NoCal earlier this year. Will compete if able to rebound off of the layoff.

Delta Princess 6-5
Shaconage 5-2
Marwood 8-1
Katdogawn ran 4th, completed $64.60/$2 super.

Wager: $5 WP on Shaconage.
Collected $8.50 on the WP (xxx, 3.40).
...$2 exacta box on top two.
Ran 2-4.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $5.60 on the ex box ($11.20/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $30.50 on the tri box ($61.00/$2).

Shaconage...Ran fifth in the G3 Locust Grove last year and followed up to win this with an improved effort. Comes into this race off of same stake this season -- but ran second. Probably is best coming off the pace so let's hope Smith shows some patience -- although there isn't much pace to sit behind today...
Katdogawn...Typically in the hunt and comes off of a G3 win last time.
Delta Princess...Won a stake here last time -- beating the top pick -- but we're not high on the jock switch.
Marwood.

Purim 3-1
United 20-1
Cosmic Kris 28-1

Wager: $5 WP on Purim.
Collected $34.00 on the WP (8.20, 5.40).
...$2 exacta box on top two.
Ran 1-9.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-4-5-9.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-4-5-9.

Purim...Son of Dynaformer is undefeated in two starts. Gets tested here but looked the part winning turf debut last time.
Guillaume Tell...Pletcher trainee having trouble finding the winner's circle but was very close in a couple of graded stakes most recently.
Hole in the Head...Seems to be rounding into good form. A nice third in stakes debut last time.
Gold Minister.

Palladio 8-1
Magna Graduate 8-5
It's Time to Smile 49-1

Wager: $5 WP on Unbridled Energy.
Ran 8th at 3-1.
...$2 exacta box on top two.
Ran 2-8.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 2-5-6-8.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 2-5-6-8.

Unbridled Energy...Second behind horse-for-course in Churchill stake last time -- and had some trouble in that one. Lightly raced and on the improve.
Magna Graduate...Been burning some money in most recent races and might turn the corner under Pletcher's tutelage -- but we want to see that before backing on top.
Pinpoint...Front-running style might be a plus on this track -- but "blinker off" might dull speed. Mixed signals.
Straight Line.

Lord of the Game 6-5
Silver Axe/entry 10-1
Mambo Train 40-1

Wager: $5 WP on Lord of the Game.
Collected $20.50 on the WP (4.40, 3.80).
...$2 exacta box on top two.
Ran 1-5.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $11.40 on the ex box ($22.80/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-5-8/entry.

Lord of the Game...Claim-of-the-year can blame only blemish on record on poor start -- and none of these compare to Pollard's Vision or Badge of Silver.
Cryptograph...Looks like the one to beat -- but deep-closer might have too much to do late.
Tricky Mocha/Silver Axe...Both halves of entry come in off of win over track and "local heroes" often make noise in these types of stakes.
Skipaslew.

Inidan Breeze 7-1
River's Prayer 3-5
Mystery Girl/entry 13-1
My Lucky Free ran 4th, completed $485.80/$2 super.

Wager: $5 WP on Indian Breeze.
Collected $53.50 on the WP (16.60, 4.80).
...$2 exacta box on top two.
Collected $41.80 on the ex box ($41.80/$2).
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $20.90 on the ex box.
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $105.50 on the tri box ($211.00/$2).

Indian Breeze...Youngsters always have room to improve in second career start -- question is, will they? If she does she'll be tough.
River's Prayer...Undefeated stakes winner is the one to beat.
My Lucky Free...Won debut, second in stake last time. Fits here.
Diplomat Lady/Mystery Girl.

Note: Pages on this site are labelled with the equidaily.com logo. Some links are for information only and lead to pages at other sites. equidaily.com is responsible only for the pages on this site. equidaily.com assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Always check with official sources to verify info.