Coast-to-coast

We eeked out a small profit Saturday afternoon. It was a decent handicapping day with four winners in top in nine races (Bemont, $3.50, 3.00; Calder, 3.40; Hollywood, 7.00). In the Suburban our top four came in, in order, for the exacta ($7.20/$2) and tri ($29.00/$2) -- there was no super offered.

We also had a cold exacta in one of the Monmouth events ($8.20/$2). We found our value on the afternoon at Churchill where our boxes colected the $141.80/$2 exacta and $441.40/$2 tri. And we also collected the nice $92.80 exacta in the American Oaks at Hollywood.

Overall a fun afternoon with enough trips to the cashier to make it interesting -- but we still can't retire!

WAGERED: $458.00
COLLECTED: $494.85

War Zone 2-1
Trademark 13-1
Saint Verre 5-1

Wager: $5 WP on Green Fee.
Ran 7th at 6-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 7-11.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $37.75 on the ex box $75.50/$2.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-7-11.

Green Fee...Two races earlier this year were a little dull -- that might help the value. Could wake up with return to Belmont where he wins at a 50% clip.
Finality...Pletcher's NY-bred likes this track even more than the top pick -- this guy is 5-4-1-0 over the oval. Question mark is the layoff but he made a winning debut in '02.
War Zone...Clearly it's a mistake to ignore the Frankel horse. Might run away with this with an alert break.
Trademark.

Mineshaft 3-5
Volponi 2-1
Dollar Bill 9-1

Wager: $5 WP on Mineshaft.
Collected $14.75 on the WP (3.50, 2.40).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Collected $7.20 on the ex box ($7.20/$2).
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $3.60 on the ex box.
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $14.50 on the tri box ($29.00/$2).

Mineshaft...Should return to winning ways here.
Volponi...Expect a big effort in this third start of season.
Dollar Bill...Frankel throws a monkey wrench in the works again?!? Will America's top trainer bring out the best in this one -- which has disappointed so often over the past two seasons? Normally we might toss him altogether off the layoff -- but the 'Frankel factor' is at work here.
Puzzlement.

Stroll 1-2
Purely Classic/entry 3-1
Ali's Pride 77-1
Newfoundland scratched, entrymate ran 2nd

Wager: $5 WP on Stroll.
Collected $12.75 on the WP (3.00, 2.10).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Collected $8.20 on the ex box.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $4.10 on the ex box.
...$1 tri key Stroll over next three.
Ran 1/2-4-6.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-4-6.

Stroll...Was compromised in only stakes try which was moved off-turf last fall. Seems to be moving forward nicely for Mott this season and looks capable off adding the black type. Bailey onboard -- which is becoming a rarity for the once formidable trainer/jock team.
Newfoundland...Pletcher entry looks solid but we'll give a slight no to this one. Was OK last try on turf -- expect improvement today for runner that was turfing for O'Brien in Europe last year.
Dream Deliverer...Seems to have taken to the Jersey shore air.
Deadline.

Balto Star 37-1
The Tin Man 5-1
Lunar Sovereign 7-1

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

Requete...Frankel pair looks formidable. Just have a feeling this one's ready to break out.
Denon...Edged top pick last time and was a close-up second here in '02.
With Anticipation...Won this race last year -- but first two of '03 have been less than spectacular. We'll get a better idea today if he's maybe a little over the hill, or just entering his favorite season.
The Tin Man.

Sir Oscar 3-5
Charming Jim 10-1
My Friend Bruce 3-1

Wager: $5 WP on Sir Oscar.
Collected $15.50 on the WP (3.40, 2.80).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-7.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-3-6-7.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-3-6-7.

Sir Oscar...Hard to go past this one. Stalked and then won off by eight in debut. Tough.
Painter's Sword...We all know these 2YO's can improve nicely second time out. A move forward by this one would put him in the hunt.
My Friend Bruce...Huge debut win -- but it was in a mdn clm. Might find this bunch a little more competitive early.
Wind Glider.

Tap The Admiral 7-1
Freefourinternet 7-1
Package Store 2-1

Wager: $5 WP on Package Store.
Ran 3rd.
...$2 exacta ox top two.
Ran 3-7.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $70.90.
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $220.70

Package Store...Finally gets a chance to string a couple together for the first time in awhile. Any improvement of the nice stakes try in latest will make him tough.
Rock Slide...Edged top pick last time out. Solid so far -- in one try each -- on the track and at the trip.
Tap The Admiral...Seldom out of the hunt.
Freefourinternet.

Dimitrova 9-2
Sand Springs 7-1
Atlantic Ocean 6-1

Wager: $5 WP on Personal Legend.
Ran 5th at 9-1.
...$3 exacta box top two.
Ran 2-5.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $46.40 on the ex box ($92.80/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-4-5.

Personal Legend...It's a solid field of 3YO turfer fillies -- but Beyer-wise Frankel doesn't have to move this one forward too much. Lightly raced and eligible to improve -- especially under this trainer.
Dimitrova...If Euro-import is ready first-off-the-plane, watch out. Just ran a close-up third in Irish 1000 Guineas.
Sand Springs...Put together a spectacular spring going 3-3 at Churchill.
Santa Catarina.

Magic Mission 6-1
Little Treasure 9-1
Belleski 2-1

Wager: $5 WP on Belleski.
Ran 3rd.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 3-9.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-3-7-9.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-3-7-9.

Belleski...Undefeated since moving to the weeds. Has won at the trip -- prepped nicely with a sprint last time.
Polygreen...Banged a couple of wins since moving stateside.
Southern Oasis...Likes the turf and the trip -- only 2-0-1-0 over the track, but one of those was first turf try, the other was a good second last time.
Magic Mission.

Joey Franco 5-2
Publication 8-1
Primerica 8-1
Bluesthestandard DQ's from 3rd to 6th.

Wager: $5 WP on Joey Franco.
Collected $38.50 on the WP (7.00, 4.40).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-5.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-4-5-6.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-4-5-6.

Joey Franco...Comes in off of two stakes wins over the track.
Avanzado...Never like to play the first race back from Dubai -- but it's been a few months and he's working well, and that 117 Beyer is one of the best in the country so far.
Bluesthestandard...Putting together a spectacular season. Certainly wouldn't be a surprise here.
Kela.

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