Coast-to-coast

What happened was that, as gimmick players, we were zapped by a parade of "gimmick-busters". It's not unusual to have a few of those stomp on us each week -- this week however they were kind of consistent throughout the card. In the ten races you'll note place horses priced at 81-1, 17-1, 21-1, 42-1, and 35-1. We did manage to collect a couple of minor gimmicks but they lacked any value.

One winner on the day, M d'Oro at a meager $2.20.

Next!...

WAGERED: $422.00
COLLECTED: $10.80

Classic Endeavor 3-1
Balto Star 5-2
Tempest Fugit 8-1

Wager: $5 WP on Snake Mountain.
Ran 4th at 1-1.
...$5 exacta box top two.
Ran 3-4.
...$2 tri key Snake Mountain over next three.
No tri offered after scratches.

Snake Mountain...Just going too good to ignore right now and has previously shown an affinity for the main track.
Tempest Fugit...Has also shown a liking for this surface and comes in off of a good stakes win in Maryland.
Classic Endeavor...A nose and a half length away from bringing a seven race streak into this. If they let him get away early he might be tough to run down.
Balto Star.

Highway Prospector - entry 2-1
Swift Replica 81-1
Native Heir - entry 2-1

Wager: $5 WP on Burning Roma.
Ran 4th at 7-5.
...$3 exacta box top two.
Ran 4-7.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1/3 (entry)-4-5-7.
...$1 tri key Burning Roma over next three.
Ran 4/(1-3)-5-7 ...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 4/(1-3)-5-7.

Burning Roma...Just missed in similar event last time. Should be primed for a better effort today making third start of season.
Tour Of The Cat...Headed top pick last out. Almost always in the mix.
Highway Prospector...Closed late last time to run third behind top two picks. Again today.
Storm Craft.

Dynever 4-5
Supah Blitz 4-1
Massive 31-1

Wager: $5 WP on Valid Video.
Ran 6th at 3-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-6.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $6.70 on the ex box ($13.40/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-6-9.

Valid Video...Throwing the dice a little bit here since this one has never gone two turns -- but is third start of '03 and Beyers seem to indicate some good improvement as a 3YO. And his one start on this oval was a good stakes win.
Dynever...Another somewhat unknown -- but promising -- quantity... Coming off a maiden win in his second start but it was a good looking daylight win over this track and Prado sticks.
Supah Blitz...Drops back to distance of solid second-place finish in G1 Fountain of Youth. Not quite as tough in latest but today's competition isn't as tough either.
Private City.

Elloluv 2-1
Lady Tak 6-5
Holiday Lady 28-1

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

Yell...McGaughey filly has risen quickly, taking a G2 last time in only her fourth start. Looks like one to reckon with in this division.
Lady Tak...Undefeated in five starts, she's already one to reckon with!
Elloluv...SoCal filly should appreciate not seeing Composure in the starting gate.
Ivanavinalot.

Azeri 2-5
Take Charge Lady 7-2
Mandy's Gold 17-1

Wager: $5 WP on Affluent.
Ran 4th at 4-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-4.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $4.10 on the ex box ($8.20/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-4-6.

Affluent... Looks like there's plenty of speed amongst the three outside runners -- if they battle up front it might be a good set-up for this one. Ran second here last year and the nice G1 sprint win in latest should have her ready.
Azeri... 2002 HOTY so what more can you say? Won this race last year but came in with a more solid recent race schedule. Four month break leaves some question marks here. Tough if ready but that's the X-factor.
Take Charge Lady...Won over $1 mil last year as a 3YO. Off since December so she's another with some fitness questions -- but style should work well on this oval.
Bien Nicole.

M d'Oro 1-9
Slider 17-1
Kudos 7-2

Wager: $10 exacta M d'Oro over Kudos Ran 1-3.
...$4 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-3.

Medaglia d'Oro... Broke his maiden over this track last year. Should be able to boss this short field start-to-finish on the front-end.
Kudos.

Ten Most Wanted 2-1
Fund of Funds 21-1
Foufa's Warrior 33-1

Wager: $5 WP on Cherokee's Boy.
Ran 5th at 9-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 5-7.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-4-5-7.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-4-5-7.

Cherokee's Boy...always in the hunt but the Beyers look a little light today -- however just have a feeling this guy might be ready to uncork one. Has the speed to be near the front early and might have first jump on the rest late.
Alysweep...This track should be conducive to front-running style. Win in G3 Gotham last time got him some important two-turn experience but still needs to prove ability off of the Aqueduct inner track.
Ten Most Wanted...With all the big-money events around the country today it's interesting Pat Dat chooses to ride this one. Jock got a good run from him last time and with any more improvement he should be in the tri at least.
Lone Star Sky.

Heat Haze 5-2
Icantgoforthat 42-1
Paga 5-2

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

Embassy Belle...Making third start of the year and cuts back to distance she might prefer.
Heat Haze...Frankel filly has been on the bench since end of '02 but won this track and trip in last start which was US debut.
Brocky's Dream...Necked top pick two back. Her latest are her best yet and might indicate some interesting improvement.
Repository.

Buddy Gill 6-1
Indian Express 35-1
Kafwain 8-5
Minister's Wild Cat scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on Atswhatimtalknbout.
Ran 4th at 3-2.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Scratched.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 3-4-9.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 3-4-9.

Atswhatimtalknbout...Normally we don't like to jump on these "wise guy"-types coming off big closing -- but losing -- efforts. But normally the last race wasn't this close. In this case this one just missed last time in a photo. Have to expect the extra distance will suit and he looks ready.
Ministers Wild Cat...Drysdale runner is a solid 4-2-2-0. Adds blinkers today and if they "goose" him to any improvement he will be tough.
Ocean Terrace...Undeafeated in three tries including a G3 win over Ministers Wild Cat last time. So if we like that one we gotta go with this one too.
Kafwain.

Western Pride 4-1
Total Impact 10-1
Fleetstreet Dancer 9-1

Wager: $5 WP on Wooden Phone.
Ran 8th at 2-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 6-8.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-4-6-8.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-4-6-8.

Wooden Phone...About this time two years ago we felt this guy might be blossoming into a force in the h'cp division then he went to the bench. Off for over a year which usually is enough to make us look in another direction but this field isn't the toughest group ever assembled for a G2 and this guy might have a slight class edge. Works says he should be ready to run. We'll see.
Kela...Won a minor stake last time. Faltered in a couple of G2's prior to that but, again, this isn't the toughest bunch.
Piensa Sonando... And yet another one which looks like he might prefer this company.
Western Pride.

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