Coast-to-coast

Although there was not much value we had the exacta and tri cold in the Aristides at Churchill. Our top three boxed for the tri in a couple of the other races [although, admittedly, in the Hollywood stake there was no tri offered in that 5-horse field. Our big score of the day came in the Texas Glitters at Churchill with the boxed exacta and tri being headed by our fourth selection, 14-1 Yucatan. We don't typically use super's on our wagering template -- but it's worth noting that in the Texas Glitters our four picks boxed for the $1167.60/$2 superfecta.

WAGERED: $191.00
COLLECTED: $398.00

We kept things light because it looked like weather be a factor at some of the venues -- and that turned out to be the case. We lost one play with a scratch. We were live turning for home with Free Thinking at Churchill, but in the short field he went to the front early and that might not be his best tactic. Finally, at Pimlico we were frustrated by the strategy employed by jockey Harry Vega aboard Christmas Stocking. It looked like that one was sent to the front early with the express purpose of denying our, Somethinaboutbetty the lead we expected would be hers. Christmas Stocking had shown some early speed in races last year -- and there were a couple of quick works, so being forwardly placed wasn't completely unexpected -- but again, it really had the look of an attempt to take the advantage away for ours. Nothing wrong with that if you wind up making it work -- but Christmas Stocking faded late from here early efforts and finished fourth in the field of five. So she lost the battle and the war. In the meantime, ours, Somethinaboutbetty, was forced into a pressing position early and actually looked good turning for home,, but just had been forced to use a little too much early on to hold off the late charge of the 24-1 winner. Frustrating.

Belmont, Race 8, Zaynab... Scratched/off-turf.
Churchill, Race 8, Free Thinking... 3rd at 9-2 (xxx, xxx, 3.00).
Pimlico, Race 9, Somethinaboutbetty... 2nd at 6-5 (xxx, 2.40, 2.10).

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.

Wait a While 1-2*
Diamond Spirit 7-2
Hostess 12-1
Moved off turf to main track

Zaynab...Euor-invader looked good in US debut for Clement. Should be up to this assignment.
Perilous Pursuit...Three decent starts as a 2YO and came back even better in 3YO debut. Will be rolling late.
Wait a While...Has been knocking heads with some good ones on dirt. Won only turf start.
Diamond Spirit.

Wager: $5 WP on Zaynab.
...$4 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.

Rush Bay 5-2
Purim 1-1*
Free Thinking 9-2
Everything to Gain scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on Free Thinking.
Ran 3rd.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 3-5.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 2-3-5.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 2-3-5.

Free Thinking...Looks like he's turned the corner and found a homee on grass. Should stalk early and get first jump.
Senor Swinger...Has the horse-for-course angle working. Won this race last year.
Purim...Back on turf after taking grassy Illinois-bred stake last time. 1-1 on the track, 2-2 at the trip.
Everything to Gain.

Joint Effort 8-5*
Ready to Please 9-5
Victorina 5-1

Wager: $5 WP on Ready to Please.
Collected $7.50 on the WP (xxx, 3.00).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 2-3.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $7.10 on the ex box ($14.20/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $27.60 on the tri box ($55.20/$2).

Ready to Please...Came back to the races as an improved 3YO. Stretched out successfully last time. Should appreciate the one-turn mile.
Victorina...Lost in thee Fog's connections bring her east again -- she won a stake at Hawthorne in April. She's very fast, but the distance is still a question mark.
Joint Effort...Horse-for-course and ran her best yet winning a G3 here on Derby day.
Humorous Gal.

Lost in the Fog 1-2*
Kelly's Landing 7-2
Level Playingfield 9-1
Yes Yes Yes scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on Lost in the Fog.
Collected $13.50 on the WP (3.00, 2.40).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Collected $9.20 on the ex box ($9.20/$2).
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $4.60 on the ex box.
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $13.00 on the tri box ($26.00/$2).

Lost in the Fog...Another chance for the champ. Horse that beat him in 2006 debut is no slouch. Should be tighter for this. Working well.
Kelly's Landing...Ran huge to win this race last year.
Level Playingfield...Likes this track and is capable of being heard from on best effort.
Yes Yes Yes.

Yucatan 14-1
Atticus Kristy 6-5*
Mighty Beau 5-1
Justice for Auston ran 4th completing the $1167.60/$2 super.

Wager: $5 WP on Justice for Auston.
Ran 4th at 6-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 2-4.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $45.50 on the ex box.
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $246.80 on the tri box ($493.60/$2).

Justice for Auston...Just missed in a similar stake here last time. Has tactical speed and should be able to stalk and pounce.
Atticus Kristy...A specialist at this turf trip. Also likes this track.
Mighty Beau...Was going so well at this time last year that they shipped over to try Royal Ascot (unsuccessfully). Has yet to reach that good form from 2005 but is eligible to wake-up at anytime.
Yucatan.

Fin 10-1
Dance Fee 4-5*
Little Buttercup 4-1
Moved off turf to main track.

Film Maker...Off since December but has fired when fresh before and has a little class edge on these.
Joyful Chaos...Third start of season and last seems to signal she's in good form.
Humoristic...Similar to Choas this one is making third start of the season off a good effort last time.
Amorama.

Wager: $5 WP on Film Maker.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.

Royal Descent 24-1
Somethinaboutbetty 6-5*
Keep On Talking 2-1
For Kisses scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on Somethinaboutbetty.
Collected $6.00 on the WP (xxx, 2.40).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 2-4.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 2-3-4.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 2-3-4.

Somethinaboutbetty...Pletcher filly makes first turf start but looms as the lone speed.
Christmas Stocking...Improved on turf. Will be heard from in the lane.
For Kisses...Think she's better than last.
Keep On Talking.

Proposed 3-2
Star Parade 1-1*
Somethinaboutlaura 9-1

Wager: $5 W on Star Parade.
Ran 2nd.
...$4 exacta box top two.
Collected $17.20 on the ex box ($8.60/$2).
...$2 tri key Star Parade over next three.
No tri offered.
...$1 tri box top three.
No tri offered.

Star Parade...Rebounded from Oaklawn dud to win G3 here last time. Kind of on a good-bad-good-bad streak -- and this is "bad's" turn, but we'll give her a tepid nod.
Proposed...Nice win in 7F stake should set her up for a good effort today.
Somethinaboutlaura.
Memorette.

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