Equidaily Racing Journal

Coast-to-coast

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Saturday, June 5, 2010
Picks and plays for some of the day's major stakes
by Seth Merrow


Turf selections/wagers are turf only

Best Bets

Belmont: Race 8, Fantasy Free.
Belmont: Race 9, Tanda.
Churchill: Race 6, exacta box, Trac N Jam/Timuquana/Magical Appeal.
Churchill: Race 9, Ash Zee.
Churchill: Race 9, exacta box, Limpopo/Cascabella/Ash Zee.
Calder: Race 9, Roman Bluff.
Calder: Race 9, exacta box, Hotuttable/Canadian Magic/Roman Bluff.


Belmont: Woody Stephens G2 $250K

D'Funnybone...Won a G2 this track and trip last year.
Eightfiveinafifty...When he's good, he's very good...
Thank U Philippe.

Wager: $5 exacta key D'Funnybone over next two.


Belmont: Just A Game G1 $400K

Fantasia...Sheppard/Augustin runner looked good in US debut -- and was still OK last time despite a slight fade. Might benefit from the track condition today.
Phola...On a 3-race win-streak - including a G2 victory over the top pick last time.
Proviso...Should be rolling late.
Speak Easy Gal.

Wager: $5 WP on Fantasia.
...$2 exacta key Fantasia over next three.


Belmont: True North Hcp G2 $250K

Fantasy Free...SoCal shippers have been coming east and taking these kinds of races for a few years now. Picks up Dominguez.
Gato Go Win...Also in from the left coast and just missed in a G2 sprint last time.
Custom For Carlos...Has been solid in the last five - all sprint stakes.
Elusive Warning.

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


Belmont: Acorn G1 $300K

Tanda...Again - SoCal shippers have done well in 3YO stakes this season.
Amen Hallelujah...A little bit of a clunker last time with some traffic trouble -- but a rebound to prior form makes her dangerous.
Much Rejoicing...Could be any kind.
Crisp.

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


Belmont: Manhattan Hcp G1 $400K

Just As Well...Should be heard from in the lane.
Gio Ponti...Won this race last year and is clearly the one to beat - but this is first-back from Dubai.
Strike a Deal...Could be interesting in here if allowed to sneak away again - but that's a big "if".
Court Vision.

Wager: $5 WP on Just As Well.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Belmont: Belmont Stakes G1 $1mil

Fly Down...Lightly-raced and improving. Will be tough if able to hold form shown in G2 Dwyer and bullet work seems to indicate that's in the cards.
Make Music For Me...Out-ran his odds in the G1 Ky Derby -- and that was his first start on dirt.
Ice Box...Come-from-behind style means he'll be heard from late -- but will he have the pace to shoot at?
First Dude...Doesn't seem like a confirmed front-runner - but could fall into that role again here.

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


Monmouth: Red Cross $100K

Lady Alexander...Speedy sort cuts back to a sprint and returns to her favorite track.
Christine Daae...Looked like a potential superstar in first two of 2010 then flopped in stakes debut. Another that might appreciate the cutback.
Strut The Canary...Better than latest.
Sunday Geisha.

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


Churchill: Mint Julep Hcp G3 $100K

Hot Cha Cha...Took a lead and was caught in a similar stake last time. Winner that day comes back in today's Just a Game at Belmont so you might watch that race for more clues.
Keertana...Undefeated this season. Has never missed an exacta on this track. Things to like.
Acoma...Defending champ in this race -- but has been off since November.
My Baby Baby.

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


Hollywood: Redondo Beach $60K

Czechers...Might take them all the way.
Annihilation...Will be coming late.
Exquisite...Another likely to be heard from in the lane.
Turning Top.

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


Hollywood: Whittingham Mem Hcp G1 $250K

Loup Breton...Just missed at Churchill. Will get firmer footing today.
Rendezvous...Could be set to go well today.
Acclamation...Likely to try and steal another one -- and able to do it if let go early.
Battle of Hastings.

Wager: $5 WP on Loup Breton.
...$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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