Coast-to-coast

A couple of the 3YO races, and the two turf sprints stumped us Saturday afternoon -- but we did manage cold exactas in two of the Derby preps, the Wood ($11.40/$2) and the Blue Grass ($20.20/$2). We also had a cold exacta in the Carter ($7.10/$2). Our best scores came in the two undercard stakes at Oaklawn, our mix in each combined for exactas ($100.40/$2, $39.60/$2) and tri's ($240.20/$2, $313.20/$2). Also worth noting: In the latter stake our top four picks combined for the $1543.00/$2 superfecta.

As far as winners, we had four on top (Aqueduct, $3.10, 3.60; Keeneland, 3.20; Oaklawn, 4.60) in ten events.

WAGERED: $494.00
COLLECTED: $541.60

Halo Homewrecker 7-2
Don Six 4-1
Stanislavsky 33-1

Wager: $5 WP on During.
Ran 7th at 2-1.
...$2 exacta top two.
Ran 7-11.
...$1 exacta box top four, sub next if scratch.
Ran 1-7-8-11.
...$1 tri box top four, sub next if scratch.
Ran 1-7-8-11.

During...Baffert's SoCal shipper has stepped up since adding blinkers -- going 2-for-3 with a close-up second to Atswhatimtalknbout.
Gators N Bears...Faltered badly when last seen in NY and that's a concern but Maryland-based runner has hit the board in all other tries and sprinting seems to be his game.
Halo Homewrecker...Put together two nice wins at the trip in Florida and might be developing into a nice one. Makes third start off of bench.
Deadline.
Don Six.

Empire Maker 1-2
Funny Cide 5-1
Kissin Saint 16-1

Wager: $5 WP on Empire Maker.
Collected $14.00 on the WP ($3.10, 2.50).
...$2 exacta top two.
Collected $11.40 on the ex box ($11.40/$2).
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $5.70 on the ex box.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-4-7.

Empire Maker...Talk of a Triple Crown is far too premature. Certainly have to give him the nod here after the monster win in Florida -- but that's his only stakes win in three tries so we need to see this one to know if he didn't just freak on the Gulfstream surface. But if he runs back to that one he'll be tough to beat.
Funny Cide...Might be the speed of the field and could give a solid account of self if able to get clear early.
Sky Soldier...Lightly raced shipper is 3-3. Gets tested for class here but seems to have some upside potential and could add value to the gimmicks.
New York Hero.

Congaree 4-5
Aldebaran 2-1
Peeping Tom 10-1

Wager: $5 W on Congaree.
Collected $9.00 on the W ($3.60).
...$10 exacta Congaree over Aldebaran.
Collected $35.50 on the ex ($7.10/$2).
...$4 exacta Congaree over Affirmed Success.
Ran 1/5.

Congaree...2-2 over this track including a win at the trip last fall in the Cigar. Stepping back of a just-miss last time in the 'Big Cap but am drills should have put some speed back into him.
Aldebaran...Monster win last time at this distance in SoCal stake and he has tended to show some improvement in second start off layoff.
Affirmed Success... Old guy is still going strong at age 9 and loves the track and trip. Would be no surprise.

Bop 3-1
Take Achance On Me 14-1
Jeb's Wild 57-1

Wager: $5 WP on Lord Abounding.
Ran 6th at 2-1.
...$2 exacta top two.
Ran 2-6.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 2-5-6-7.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 2-5-6-7.

Lord Abounding...Has always been competitive but seems like a new horse over the past couple. If able to maintain that form -- and that's a question mark after stringing together two exceptional Beyers -- he'll be tough. Trainer solid off the claim.
Take Achance On Me...Seems to have come to hand nicely in Maryland for new trainer. Ships in off a couple of new Beyer highs and -- like top pick -- will be competitive if able to duplicate those efforts.
Callthesheriff...3-for-4 sprinting on the grass.
Shuman entry.

No Jacket Required 12-1
Testify 3-1
Abderian 9-5

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

Abderian...Loves the trip. Layoff is a concern but trainer stats in that department are solid.
Testify...Ran fifth in this event last year but expect a better try in '03.
Mighty Beau...Second in this race in '02 but he wasn't coming off as much of a layoff.
Fiscally Speaking.

Peace Rules 3-5
Brancusi 8-1
Offlee Wild 5-1

Wager: $5 WP on Peace Rules.
Collected $14.00 on the WP ($3.20, 2.40).
...$4 exacta top two.
Collected $40.40 on the ex box ($20.20/$2).
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $11.10 on the ex box.
...$1 tri key Peace Rules over next three.
Ran 1/2-6-9.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-6-9.

Peace Rules...Showed that dirt was no hinderance with big win in La Derby. Could even regress a little from that and still take this.
Brancusi...Seems improved as a 3YO. Just behind Buddy Gil last time and that one came back to win again in SoCal last week.
Lion Tamer...Have a feeling this guy might improve in second try around two turns.
Great Notion.

Mauk Four 9-1
Rush Around 3-1
Witt Ante 6-5

Wager: $5 WP on Rush Around.
Collected $12.50 on the WP (xxx, $5.00).
...$5 exacta top two.
Ran 2-3.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $50.20 on the ex box ($100.40/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $120.10 on the tri box ($240.20/$2).

Rush Around...Improving for Asmussen and if able to continue that trend he can take on this stakes debut assignment.
Witt Ante...Steps out of state-bred competition but should be up to the task with return to preferred surface.
Cypress Cove...Jump in Beyer last time might signal good things. Has been solid so far despite light Beyers.
Mauk Four.

Sir Cherokee 55-1
Eugene's Third Son 6-1
Christine's Outlaw 10-1

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

Region Of Merit...Has reeled off four straight since missing in debut last fall. Has improved each start Beyer-wise and will probably need to continue that trend today. We'll see.
Eugene's Third Son...Solid 4-2-2-0 record. Just couldn't get by New York Hero in Turfway stake. Will be there in the lane.
Aristocat...Same 4-2-2-0 record. Same near-miss in stake last time.
Crowned King.

Sue's Good News 6-5
Lady Mallory 12-1
Mekko Hokte 17-1
Note: Dyna Del ran 4th completing the $1543.00/$2 superfecta.

Wager: $5 WP on Sue's Good News.
Collected $20.50 on the WP ($4.60, 3.60).
...$4 exacta top two.
Ran 1-4.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $19.80 on the ex box ($39.60/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $156.60 on the tri box ($313.20/$2).

Sue's Good News...Has looked good in wining first two starts. Goes tow-turns for first time today but looks up to the task. Trainer having a good meet.
Dyna Del...Has yet to miss the board in seven starts and should be there again today going turf-to-dirt.
Lady Mallory...Ran away and hid two back when going two-turns in a TX stake.
Mekko Hokte.

Steelaninch 4-1
Singletary 1-1
Urban King 5-2

Wager: $5 WP on Singletary.
Collected $6.50 on the WP (xx, 2.60).
...$2 exacta top two.
Ran 2-5.
...$1 exacta box top four, sub next if scratch.
Collected $14.30 on the ex box ($28.60/$2).
...$1 tri box top four, sub next if scratch.
Ran 1-2-5-6.

Singletary...Only blemishes are two dirt tries. Won a similar event here last month.
Just Wonder...Back to preferred surface. Won this track and trip two back in US debut.
Steelaninch...Second to top pick in latest.
Our Bobby V.
Urban King.

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