Coast-to-coast

All-in-all it was hit-and-miss on Saturday but we live to fight another day...

WAGERED: $598.00
COLLECTED: $376.35

Our Head-to-Head feature pits Coast-to-Coast's Seth Merrow against DRF's Weekend Warrior, Mike Watchmaker. Whenever the two columns make selections in the same race we'll tally the results for each.

12/10/2005

DRF's Watchmaker just missed a clean sweep this week -- losing only the Larkspur at Golden Gate, and then only by the slightest of margins in a photo. Of course, that was the only race where our picks overlapped this week. Doh! Otherwise two solid wins for the Weekend Warrior to move him into a tie for races won and give him a solid lead in the money-won category.

We had a good mix of solid prices and favorites -- but, like last week, the public made some of ours shockingly low-value plays. A couple of our price horse at least gave us decent tries -- with 14-1 Leestown Light battling for the lead early but fading late and just missing the show spot. Ocean Beauty, off at 36-1 at Calder, probably was left with a little too much to do late but certainly outran her odds by getting up for fifth in the twelve horse field. On the other hand, Barton Creek was a disappointment, showing no interest in his return off a brief layoff. Of the three short prices we had, Yankee Master was caught right on the wire in a photo. Sevenavenuegolda seemed perhaps a little too confidently ridden. And our winner this week, Bondage, was still a loser. How so? Going off at 4-5 the price was laready too short for us to enjoy -- but when she had to fight to get up at the wire it was more stressful than it was worth. And then to find out the price was cut to 2-5 by the dead-heat. Ugh. Our other play on the day was canceled according to our terms of turf races by turf only -- however, Thunder Again did win, but it won't be counted in our totals.

Calder, Race 8, Ocean Beauty... 5th at 36-1.
Calder, Race 11, Yankee Master... 2nd at 3-5 (xxx, 2.60, 2.10).
Calder, Race 12, Seventhavenuegolda... 5th at 4-5.
Laurel, Race 4, Bondage... WON at 4-5... Dead-heat (2.80, 2.60, 2.10).
Tampa, Race 5, Thunder Again... Off-turf... WON (3.00, 2.40, 2.10).
FG @ La Downs, Race 4, Leestown Light... 4th at 14-1.
FG @ La Downs, Race 7, Barton Creek... 7th at 15-1.

Philanthropist 5-1
West Virginia 5-2
We Can Seek 7-1

Wager: $5 WP on Trapped Again.
Ran 5th at 9-5.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-5.
...$2 tri key Trapped Again over next three.
Ran 5/1-2-4.

Trapped Again...Has enough speed to be forwardly placed and has been going well since late summer.
Philanthropist...Always in the hunt and might be ready to fire a good one coming out of a one-turn mile.
Evening Attire...Second in this race last year but clearly seems to have lost a step -- although last was his best in awhile.
West Virginia.

Promenade Girl 2-1
Take a Check-e 7-2
Dance Fee 5-1
Stickey -- entrymate of Take a Check -- scratched. Due to our rule on entries (see bottom of page), we scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on Lexi Star.
Ran 6th at 2-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Scratched.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-3-6.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-3-6.

Lexi Star...Lightly raced but has improving Beyers with each start. Third start off a layoff. Looks ready.
Sticky...Finished just in front of top pick last time and is clearly in good form now.
Dance Fee...She could wind up being the one to catch.
Promenade Girl.

Christmas Stocking 2-1
Sprightly 20-1
Warrior Girl 30-1

Wager: $5 WP on Ocean Beauty.
Ran 5th at 36-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 4-5.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 4-5-6-12.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 4-5-6-12.

Ocean Beauty...We shot for the long odds on this gal twice at Saratoga then missed her win last month over this oval. That effort off the layoff might indicate she's gained some maturity and is ready to move forward.
Categorize...Claimed out of a solid debut winning effort at Belmont.
Frozen Treat...Won debut on the Aqueduct turf just about one month ago. Hard to ignore the gaudy win percentage Pletcher has accumulated at the meet.
Survicat.

Up an Octave 7-1
Yankee Master 3-5
Mr Silver 5-1
Can't Beat It -- entrymate of Elizbul -- ran 4th to complete $556.40/$2 super.

Wager: $5 WP on Yankee Master.
Collected $6.50 on the WP (xxx, 2.60)
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 2-3.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $23.60 on the ex box ($47.20/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $90.60 on the tri box ($181.20/$2).

Yankee Master...2-2 so far and both wins were impressive -- including a stake at Keeneland last time.
Mr Silver...Took a little break and came back with her best yet.
Elizabul...Has shown some talent and might just be taking some time to really get the hang of it.
Up an Octave.

R Loyal Man 3-1
Forestry Prince 45-1
Neverbeendancin' 20-1

Wager: $5 WP on Liquoreux.
Ran 6th at 8-5.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 6-8.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-6-8-9.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-6-8-9.

Liquoreux...Experience counts and this guy is 2-2 so far including a small stake at Philly.
Forest Danz...Also a stakes winner. And ran second in a $100K event last time.
R Loyal Man...Really stepped it up last time and Tues work says he's on his toes.
I Am Trouble.

Tortuga Flats 3-5
Grand Facile 31-1
Leesa Lee 5-1

Wager: $5 WP on Leestown Light.
Ran 4th at 14-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-4.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-3-4-7.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-3-4-7.

Leestown Light...Followed winning debut by facing the boys twice. Then went to the sidelines and now makes third start back. Turf-to-dirt and route-to-sprint, trainer solid in those pertinent categories.
Tortuga Flats...The horse to beat off of her last -- but the Beyer bump is big enough to wonder if it was an aberration. We'll know more today.
Gracie's Gem...Laid off for better part of two months and returned with improved effort. Trainer and jock going well at the meet.
Leesa Lee.

Mr Sulu 7-5
Spruce's Prince 1-1
Sevenapriladthirty 9-1

Wager: $5 WP on Spruce's Pine.
Collected $5.50 on the WP (xxx, 2.20).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Collected $9.80 on the ex box ($9.80/$2).
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $4.90 on the ex box.
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $18.90 on the tri box ($37.80/$2).

Spruce's Pine...Comes into this with a three-race win streak including a similar stake three back. Jock is red-hot.
Mr Sulu...Defending champ is working well. The one to beat if ready -- but hard to feel super-confident about off the long layoff.
Bebe Garcon...Might offer some value off of the two recent duds. But could be ready to rebound to prior good form in third start off the bench.
Sevenapriladthirty.

Zarb's Dahar 1-5
Zarb's Luck 15-1
Meteor Impact 9-2

Wager: $5 WP on Zarb's Dahar.
Collected $11.25 opn the WP (2.40, 2.10).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-3.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-3-4-8.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-3-4-8.

Zarb's Dahar...Ran a lifetime best Beyer last time and can probably regress 10-12 points today and still win.
Meteor Impact...First start in two months and off a long time before that but working well and is an exacta threat with this bunch.
Mr Barracuda...Route-to-sprint, turf-to-dirt. Showed speed last time and might offer some value in here.
Sidebuster B.

Nob Hill Deelite 2-1
Hud's Playmate 23-1
Voodoo Gold 2-1

Wager: $5 WP on Barton Creek.
Ran 7th at 15-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 6-7.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $42.70 on the ex box ($85.40/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-6-7.

Barton Creek...Maiden went well in his first two starts then flopped. Expect a rebound off the brief layoff for Asmussen.
Carson Bay...Came back from a short break with an improved effort last time.
Nob Hill Deelite...Has shown some ability in four starts.
Hud's Playmate.

The Beter Man Can 4-5
Bonita's Reinbeau 26-1
Destiny Calls 2-1

Wager: $5 WP on Destiny Calls.
Ran 3rd.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-3.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-3-6-7.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-3-6-7.

Destiny Calls...Only one race since April but nice steady string of works including a 1M effort on 11/21. Could be the controlling speed.
The Beter Man Can...Likely fave was solid in comeback but has some question marks. The distance. And this is only her second try against older.
Legs O'Neal...Could be rounding back into top form.
Equestrian Girls.

Badtotheboneandrew 4-1
Nitro Chip 3-2
Sanctuary's Omooni 14-1
Witt ante ran 4th to complete the $461.00/$2 super.

Wager: $5 WP on Witt Ante.
Ran 4th at 3-2.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 2-4.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $15.50 on the ex nox ($31.00/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $136.60 on the tri box.

Witt Ante...Hasn't missed the board against La-breds in a long time. Comes into this off of three solid turf races. Won this race last year.
Nitro Chip...5-5 over the track. Tossed in a dud last time but that could have simply been a prep.
Badtotheboneandrew...Won a stake when last seen on dirt.
Sanctuary's Omooni.

Trotamondo 9-5
Bully Hayes 6-1
Spellbinder 18-1

Wager: $5 WP on Preachinatthebar.
Ran 4th at 4-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 4-8.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-4-7-8.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-4-7-8.

Preachinatthebar...Has come into his own this spring at perhaps a C-level -- in others words he should be a good fit in this G3 event.
McCann's Mohave...Wired a Cal-bred stake last time and a repeat puts him right there -- but he hasn't been as lucky in graded company.
Trotamondo...It looks like there is plenty of speed in here and this guy should be rolling late.
Courtly Jazz.

Loyalton 12-1
Seattles Best Joe 3-1
Wilko 6-5

Wager: $5 WP on Seattles Best Joe.
Collected $10.50 on the WP (xxx, 4.20).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 2-3.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 2-3-4-7.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 2-3-4-7.

Seattles Best Joe...Lightly raced and is perhaps rounding into top form now. The question mark is whether or not that big number last time was aided by the off track. We'll know more today.
Wilko...Kind of a disappointment as a 3YO thus far -- but this group is far, far easier than the G! company from earlier this season.
Stellar Magic...11/30 work says he's ready for comeback.
Wind Water.

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