Coast-to-coast

Three winners on top in eight tries (Aqueduct, $3.80; Pimlico, $4.60; Santa Anita, $4.60). Cold exactas at Aqueduct ($8.00/$2) and Pimlico ($14.40/$2). Top two picks in reverse order for the exacta at Gulfstream ($7.60/$2) -- our top pick just got caught at the wire. And our second and third choices combined for a $40.80 gimmick at Santa Anita.

There were a number of frustrations on the afternoon... In the Lexington our value play, Eye Of The Tiger, did as expected and added value to the gimmicks by running second at 7-1 -- didn't help us however as we left the winner out of our mix. And our top pick there Trust N Luck really had the race play out in a good fashion for him but he still faded to fourth. Similarly at Hawthorne, one of ours won at 7-1, but we couldn't find any of our others underneath. Also, we ran 1-2-4 in a couple of triples -- the last of which was especially troubling as our top pick ran fourth after getting bumped a couple of times pretty good coming into the stretch by the eventual third-place finisher. It wouldn't have added a lot to our bottom line anyway but we would have liked to see the foul claim made just on principle.

Oh well, we said it was a lackluster card and it played out that way. On to next week...

WAGERED: $288.00
COLLECTED: $194.10

Raging Fever 4-5
Smok'n Frolic 2-1
Nonsuch Bay 3-1

Wager: $10 exacta Raging Fever over Smok'n Frolic.
Collected $40.00 on the exacta ($8.00/$2).
...$4 exacta box top two.
Collected $16.00 on the ex box.

Raging Fever...Won this event last year -- but was in top form then. Tailed off in the fall of last year and we voted against her three weeks ago in '03 debut. However she surprised us a little by staying on to be a decent second to the very good Carson Hollow. Any improvement will let her top the 100 Beyer mark and that should be good enough here.
Smok'n Frolic...Has two graded wins in two starts over the track and should stay close to the top pick.

Cajun Beat 6-5
Get Smarter 4-5
Formal Charade 19-1

Wager: $10 exacta Get Smarter over Cajun Beat.
Ran 2/1.
...$4 exacta box top two.
Collected $15.20 on the ex box ($7.60/$2).

Get Smarter...Lightly raced runner looks to have plenty of upside potential and finds a soft spot for stakes debut.
Cajun Beat...Popped a 104 Beyer in alw try on 1/28. Faltered in stakes follow-ups but this one is more like an alw anyway.

Repository 5-2
Crystal Sea 6-1
On The Fritz 14-1

Wager: $5 WP on Love Talkin.
Ran 5th at 4-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 5-6.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-5-6-8.
...$1 triple box top four.
Ran 1-5-6-8.

Love Talkin...Returned from long layoff ton win convincingly at Oaklawn. That race was on dirt but this one showed some real affinity for the grass last summer.
Read Me My Rights...Solid sprinter is a questionable stakes performer -- but limited turf tries indicate this might be her preferred surface.
Dixie Tactics...Last raced when winning a similar stake on this track -- drawback is that the race was last Oct.
Repository.

Scrimshaw 6-1
Eye Of The Tiger 7-1
Domestic Dispute 7-2

Wager: $5 WP on Trust N Luck.
Ran 4th at 2-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 4-5.
...$1 exacta box top four, sub next if scratch.
Ran 2-4-5-7.
...$1 triple box top four, sub next if scratch.
Ran 2-4-5-7.

Trust N Luck...Proven at the trip. Proven against this level of competition. It just comes down to the first half-mile. If they let him get a daylight lead they won't catch him late.
Minister's Wild Cat...4-2-2-0 record can't be ignored -- but missed SA Derby with a bruised foot and that's a concern.
Eye Of The Tiger...Stretches to two turns but might add some value to the gimmicks.
Ocean Terrace.
Champali.

Cherokee's Boy 6-5
Penobscot Bay 3-1
High Watermark 20-1

Wager: $5 W on Cherokee's Boy.
Collected $11.50 on the W ($4.60).
...$10 exacta Cherokee's Boy over Penobscot Bay.
Collected $72.00 on the exacta ($14.40/$2).
...$5 exacta Cherokee's Boy over Gimmeawink.
Ran 1-4.
...$1 tri box top three.
Ran 1-2-4.

Cherokee's Boy...Faltered in Chi-town but expect rebound to good form with return to home base.
Penobscot Bay...Regressed some after making good improvement in second start of '03. Bad break maight have affected that last start however.
Gimmeawink...Another that should appreciate return to home cooking.

Fight For Ally 7-1
Colonial Colony 8-1
Parrott Bay 18-1

Wager: $5 WP on Colorful Tour.
Ran 7th at 5-2
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 7-8.
...$1 exacta box top four, sub next if scratch.
Ran 1-6-7-8.
...$1 triple box top four, sub next if scratch.
Ran 1-6-7-8.

Colorful Tour...Loves this track and is coming off a solid season at Oaklawn.
Mc Mahon...Another horse for the course. Does best running when able to get to the front but that will be iffy today.
Regency Park...Pletcher runner is always in the hunt and could be sitting on a good one making third start of '03.
Fight For Ally.
Keats.

Megahertz 6-5
Trekking 9-2
Noches de Rosa 9-2

Wager: $5 WP on Megahertz.
Collected $19.00 on the WP ($4.60, 3.00).
...$5 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-5.
...$1 tri box top three.
Ran 1-3-5.

Megahertz...We'll stick with her -- just missed as our top pick last time after running into some traffic. Look for improvement today from Frankel trainee.
Garden in the Rain...A neck in front of top pick last time. Has a win this track and trip.
Noches de Rosa...Wired them last time finishing in front of top two -- but the trip is a little longer today.

Speak In Passing 2-1
Spinelessjellyfish 6-1
Rocky Bar 5-1

Wager: $5 WP on Thunder Ballet.
Ran 4th at 2-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-4.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $20.40 on the ex box ($20.40/$2).
...$1 triple box top four.
Ran 1-2-4-6.

Thunder Bullet...Makes stakes debut but is coming off three solid wins this track and trip. Trainer is hot hot hot.
Speak In Passing...Frankel runner would probably rank as top pick but the layoff is just too long to inspire complete confidence.
Spinelessjellyfish...Seems better suited to restricted stakes but is capable of making presence felt.
Los Solano.

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