Equidaily Racing Journal

Coast-to-coast

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Saturday, April 14, 2007
Picks and plays for some of the day's major stakes
by Seth Merrow

A pretty solid line-up of nine stakes -- including a couple of major steps along the Derby Trail at Keeneland and Oaklawn.

Turf wagers are turf only

Best Bets

Aqueduct: Race 5, Phone Confession.
Keeneland, Race 1, Cointreau.
Keeneland, Race 8, Steel Light.
Keeneland, Race 9, Zanjero.
Keeneland, Race 10, Palmilla (note: This bet holds even off-turf].
Gulfstream, Race 5, Goldville.
Oaklawn, Race 8, Mr Soul.


Aqueduct: Comely G2 $150K

Boca Grande...Her Demoiselle win was very impressive. Her 2007 debut was equally disappointing. But she had some trouble in that one so we'll willing to give her another chance.
Perfect Forest...Pletcher filly looks talented and should have a stakes future -- which could start today.
Lost Etiquette...Cuts back to one-turn and might benefit from the stakes education last time.
Fee Fi Fo Fum.

Wager: $5 WP on Boca Grande.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Laurel: Dahlia $100K

Grigorieva...Been off since last summer but wonder if she might not have a little edge on these coming over from France.
Top Ten List...Trainer's solid going sprint-to-route, so the latest might have been in anticipation of this.
Cozy Gain...Looks to compete if ready for a top effort off the bench.
Humoristic.

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


Keeneland: Jenny Wiley G2 $200K

Wait a While...Impressed as a 3YO and came back to impress in 4YO debut.
My Typhoon...Talented Mott trainee is a bona-fide graded-stakes performer.
Mauralakana...Toss the BC F/M Turf try. She fits with these.
Precious Kitten.

Wager: $5 WP on Wait a While.
...$3 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri key Wait a While over next three.


Keeneland: Commonwealth BC G2 $400K

Steel Light...Has some nice turf sprints -- so he should like the Poly, And his style should be suited to this track.
Midnight Lute...Baffert's SoCal invader is clearly the one to beat.
Ramsgate...Ran best Beyer in 4YO debut. Has three wins on the synthetic surface at Hollywood.
Buddy Got Even.

Wager: $5 WP on Steel Light.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Keeneland: Blue Grass G1 $750K

Zanjero...Been expecting this guy to pop in both starts this year -- and won't jump off that bandwagon today because he might be set up well. Third start off the year and his come-from-behind kick should be suited to the KEE Poly.
Great Hunter...His lone start this year was his best yet -- and he won G1 over this track last year.
Street Sense...The BC Juvie win always looked flukey to us -- but he kind of validated it at Tampa. Still not quite convinced however. We'll know more today.
Teuflesberg.

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


Oaklawn: Northern Spur BC $100K

Mr Soul...Lightly raced but showing some promise.
Run Alex Run...Very interesting. Only loss was a third behind Circular Quay. 3YO debut was a gutsy win. Working well.
Harrow Land...Likes the track.
Front Court.

Wager: $5 WP on Mr Soul.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Oaklawn: Instant Racing BC $100K

Wellofaprize...Showed a little bit of promise as a 2YO -- now moves into the Pletcher barn so a big move forward wouldn't be out of the question.
Angel Smoke...Makes stakes debut but seems to be improving and has shown an affinity for the track.
Chatham...Stretching off of some nice sprint efforts at Fair Grounds.
Champagne Sue.

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


Oaklawn: Arkansas Derby G2 $1 mil

Deadly Dealer...Stepped it up after moving into Pletcher barn. Could appreciate the move to two turns.
Curlin...Hard to knock this guy after the first two wins. Wouldn't be a surprise to win -- but with only two starts also wouldn't be a shock to see him lose.
Officer Rocket...A couple of decent efforts in the preps leading into this.
Delightful Kiss.

Wager: $5 WP on Deadly Dealer.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Santa Anita: La Puente $100K

Streets Ahead...Came over from UK and was a decent fourth in Woodbine stake last year -- behind Dreaming of Anna. The 7F work seems to indicate intent and he should give a good account of himself first-time for Drysdale.
Desert Code...The one to beat coming out of the two nice grass sprint wins.
Vauquelin...Showed a lot of promise last year and might have needed the 2007 debut. Scary.
Star Inside.

Wager: $5 WP on Streets Ahead.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Coast-to-coast Archives...Picks, plays and results from previous weeks

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