Coast-to-coast

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RESULTS Saturday, May 3, 2003 Picks and plays for some of the day's major stakes

Clearly a dull effort -- it followed the pattern of some other dull days we've had in the past. Our gimmicks were squashed by some tough calls. At Aqueduct the giant-killer, Allen Jerkens, managed to pull an upset with Spite the Devil in the Withers. Compared to the rest of the field his form was just a little too suspect for us to include in our mix. At Churchill in the CD H'cp, our top pick Aldebaran did his job and won nicely -- but the place and show spots eluded us. Pass Rush was probably playable but Cappuchino was a stretch. In the Three Chimneys Juv -- we could have used the potent "weaker half of the hidden entry" angle as Pletcher sent out two for Dogwood and the longer price won. Well, we did have the winner in our mix but we couldn't roundup the underneath horses -- the place finisher being a bit of a surprise as this was his maiden effort. In the Woodford Reserve, 24-1 winner Honor in War just looked a little out-classed on paper. And of course the Derby eluded us as the best ours could do was run 2-3-4 -- we left the winner out. But that's how it goes on these "big" days. A lot more variables at work than on a "regular" Saturday afternoon and therefore some strange things happen.

On the other hand, we did manage one winner on top (Churchill, $4.60). And the Beaugay at Aqueduct provided us with a nice exacta and tri box. Plus we dabbled into a couple more small exactas along the way. And we ran a frustrating 1-2-4 in a couple of triples.

WAGERED: $465.00
COLLECTED: $193.25

Turf wagers are turf only

KENTUCKY DERBY

Funny Cide 12-1
Empire Maker 5-2
Peace Rules 6-1

Wager: $5 WP on Atswhatimtalknbout.
Ran 4th at 8-1.
...$5 exacta box top two.
Ran 4-9.
...$1 exacta box top four, sub next if scratch.
Ran 2-3-4-9.
...$3 tri box top four, sub next if scratch.
Ran 2-3-4-9.

Atswhatimtalknbout...Every few years a Derby winner comes along that leaves the Monday morning quarterbacks saying, "Yep, you just can't give too much weight to one bad race..." This guy threw in a little bit of a clunker last time -- running fourth as the fave in the Santa Anita Derby. Has trained well over the CD strip which is a plus. If there's any kind of pace up front this guy should be rolling late and if he's able to repeat that big closing move from two back he's got a big shot.
Ten Most Wanted...The huge try in the Illinois Derby shows one of two things -- either it was a freakish effort, or he's gotten the hang of things and is this good. We'll go with the latter.
Empire Maker...Deserving favorite off of his last two -- but remember he hadn't lived up to his potential prior to those. So the superstar label some have already awarded him seems a little early -- he'll earn it with a win today. Clearly he's capable -- but he's also lightly raced and has some question marks concerning the bruised foot. Can't ignore him -- but don't want to risk too much on him at a short price either.
Peace Rules...Look no further than last year to see what can happen to lone speed. While a couple of others in here look capable of going early this looks like the sure bet to be out front. And if he's able to shake loose and set a reasonable pace it might be all over by the time they reach the final turn.
Buddy Gil...His last two just stamp him as one that it would be foolish to ignore.
Scrimshaw...Lukas has made the Lexington-to-Derby trip work before and this guy has a shot.

Aqueduct: Beaugay H'cp

Delta Princess 7-1
Wonder Again 5-2
Voodoo Dancer 4-5

Wager: $5 WP on Voodoo Dancer.
Ran 3rd.
...$4 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-3.
...$2 exacta key Voodoo Dancer over next two.
Ran 3/1-4.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $40.00 on the ex box ($80.00/$2).
...$1 tri key Voodoo Dancer over next three.
Ran 3/1-2-4.
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $84.75 on the tri box ($169.50/$2).

Voodoo Dancer...Clement's mare is clearly the class of the field. She missed an exacta finish -- running third -- only once last year while running against the best. The layoff would be a concern -- except she won this very race in fine fashion of a longer stretch of downtime last year.
Delta Princess...Mott filly is still fairly lightly raced. Looks to be improving as a 4YO which gives us hope for the Beyers bump she'll likely need to land the place-spot here.
Owsley...Was kind of a won-or-done type last year although she looked good when in the mood. Question here is the layoff.
Wonder Again.

Aqueduct: Withers

Spite the Devil 16-1
Alysweep 9-2
Stanislavsky 11-1

Wager: $5 WP on Don Six.
Ran 4th at 9-2.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 4-6.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 2-4-5-6.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 2-4-5-6.

Don Six...The nice win two back tells us this could be a good one. Faltered a little last time but still ran a quality second and perhaps it was a bounce -- or the mud. Look for a rebound here.
Halo Homewrecker...Was a length in front of the top pick last time and should go well again today.
New York Hero...Won the G2 Lane's End then couldn't hold off Empire Maker last time. Proven stakes performer wouldn't be a surprise.
Alysweep.

Churchill: CD H'cp

Aldebaran 6-5
Pass Rush 10-1
Cappuchino 79-1

Wager: $5 WP on Aldebaran.
Collected $19.50 on the WP ($4.60, 3.20).
...$5 S on Binthebest.
Ran 6th at 27-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-4.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-4-6-10.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-4-6-10.

Aldebaran...Frankel/Bailey runner making third start of season. Won a G1 at this trip two back. Followed with a second behind Congaree last time. Career so far has been marked by second-itis but perhaps he's ready to breakout.
Peeping Tom...Has been solid in five tries this year including finishing just behind top pick in latest.
Binthebest...This guy can add some solid value to the gimmicks. Well-beaten last time in a Keeneland stake at 35-1 -- but look, he was drilled in that same stake last year before just missing in this race at 18-1. Yet to miss the board in nine tries on this surface.
Mountain General.

Churchill: Three Chimneys Juv

Limehouse 6-1
El Sysco Kid 24-1
East Bay 9-1

Wager: $5 WP on Fashion Girl.
Ran 7th at 13-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 4-7.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-4-6-7.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-4-6-7.

Fashion Girl...Lukas/Overbrook filly was solid in winning debut. Lukas brought a filly in to beat the boys here last year.
Heckle...Just ran away with a HUGE win in debut effort. But it was over a muddy strip which leaves some questions marks.
Korsakoff...Another with a nice maiden win under belt.
Limehouse.

Churchill: Distaff Turf Mile

Heat Haze 2-1
Quick Tip 6-1
Sentimental Value 8-1

Wager: $5 WP on Dedication.
Ran 4th at 2-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-4.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $19.50 on the ex box ($39.00/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-4-11.

Dedication...Clement filly is a G1 winner in France and just miss effort -- after encountering traffic -- in US debut should set her up well for this.
Heat Haze...Frankel turfer should go well stretching to a mile off of two sprint wins.
Quick Tip...Competitive when in the mood -- and in the mood more often than not.
Strait From Texas.

Churchill: Humana Distaff H'cp

Sightseek 4-5
Gold Mover 3-1
Miss Lodi 9-1

Wager: $5 WP on Gold Mover.
Collected $8.00 on the WP (xxx, 3.20).
...$4 exacta box top two.
Collected $17.20 on the ex box ($8.60/$2).
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $4.30 on the ex box.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-4-7.

Gold Mover...Won this event last year (was DQ'd to second) and came in with a similar pattern of races leading up to this.
Sightseek...8-4-4-0 lifetime. Frankel/Bailey runner is clearly capable at this level.
Slews Final Answer...9-5-4-0 lifetime. Mott filly has yet to try graded company but has the talent to land a piece.
Sixtyone Marguax.

Churchill: Woodford Reserve

Honor in War 24-1
Requete 5-1
Patrol 7-1

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

Rouvres...Should be primed for a big effort making third start off of long layoff for Bailey/Clement.
Patrol...If Mott turfer reverts to last summer's running style he might sneak away on the front end and be tough to catch.
With Anticipation...2002 Turf Eclipse runner-up makes first start since BC. Might need one or two to reach peak performance. Ran second here last year.
Century City.

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

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