Coast-to-coast

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RESULTS Saturday, April 10, 2004 Picks and plays for some of the day's major stakes

Had some good calls on the afternoon -- but overall more misses than hits. Tapit was tough to take in the Wood -- especially at 5-1 with his own trainer saying a third-place finish was the best they could hope for. A couple of hard-to-pick longshots came in underneath in the Shakertown at Keeneland. With the same scenario in the Instant Racing at Oaklawn. And the California races were uncommonly unkind to us this week as well -- particularly disappointing was the La Puente at Santa Anita where our top pick Seatlle Borders got a nice rail skimming ride and looked the best at the top of the lane -- with our others behind for gimmicks -- when 25-1 Toasted got in gear late and ran them all down.

Otherwise, four winners in eleven races (Aqueduct, $4.20; Keeneland, $4.80; Oaklawn, $4.20, 4.00). We had the tri cold ($35.20/$2) in the Commonwealth at Keeneland. And our top four boxed for the $949.60/$2 super in the Blue Grass (we only cashed on the exacta and tri there though, supers aren't on our wagering menu). We also had a smattering of other gimmicks -- although not enough to put us over the top...

WAGERED: $475.00
COLLECTED: $302.15

Turf wagers are turf only

Aqueduct: Bay Shore G3 $150K

Forest Danger 1-1
Abbondanza 8-1
Indian War Dance 31-1

Wager: $5 WP on Forest Danger.
Collected $18.25 on the WP ($4.20, 3.10).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-7.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $12.20 on the ex box ($24.40/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-5-7.

Forest Danger...Looks like Pletcher has yet another good 3YO. Seems capable of being successful in stakes debut.
Last Minute Detail...SoCal shipper has a nice win at the distance two back. Should appreciate return to sprint.
Abbondanza...Faltered in Best Turn but that was only his second start. Experience might help today.
American Comedy.

Aqueduct: Wood Memorial G1 $750K

Tapit 5-1
Master David 7-2
Eddington 3-1

Wager: $5 WP on Value Plus.
Ran 6th at 5-2.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 3-6.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 3-4-6-9.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 3-4-6-9.

Value Plus...Big effort in 2004 debut two back. Came back with another in Florida Derby -- and that might have been a little bit of a bounce. If able to move forward off of that he should be tough.
Eddington...Might prefer the two turns. Expect a rebound off of last effort.
Swingforthefences...ice string of improving Beyers.
Consecrate.

Aqueduct: Carter H'cp G1 $350K

Pico Central 4-1
Strong Hope 4-5
Eye of the Tiger 26-1
Badge of Silver scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on Well Fancied.
Ran 8th at 9-2.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-8.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $13.70 on the ex box ($27.40/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-8.

Well Fancied...Comes into this is very good form -- bringing a two-race streak in, both stakes at this trip.
Pico Central...Eye-popping win in similar stake at Santa Anita last time.
Strong Hope...Showed nice potential last year -- and 2004 debut certainly backed that up... But there's a 'bounce' question here.
Badge of Silver.

Keeneland: Commonwealth BC G2 $250K

Lion Tamer 7-5
Private Horde 9-2
Marino Marini 8-5

Wager: $5 W on Lion Tamer.
Collected $12.00 on the W ($4.80).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Collected $15.20 on the ex box ($15.20/$2).
...$1 tri box top three.
Collected $17.60 on the tri box ($35.20/$2).

Lion Tamer...We said it earlier this year and see no reason to change opinion now -- Pletcher could have a budding sprint star in this one.
Private Horde...Seasonal comeback should set him up well for this (despite the timer malfunction).
Marino Marini...Last looks like an aberration.

Keeneland: Shakertown G2 $100K

Soaring Free 3-5
Chosen Chief 34-1
Banned in Boston 29-1

Wager: $5 WP on Abderian.
Ran 7th at 7-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-7.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-7-8-10.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-7-8-10.

Abderian...SoCal shipper comes into this in good form. Can't let them slip too far away though at this short trip. Third in this race last year.
Soaring Free...Ended the season with three G1's. Off since BC Mile but might find some class relief here.
Fiscally Speaking...OK try in this race last year. First race off 2004 was a good try and should set him up well.
Doc D.

Keeneland: Blue Grass G1 $750K

The Cliff's Edge 5-1
Lion Heart 4-5
Limehouse 6-1
Mustanfar completed the $949.60/$2 super

Wager: $5 WP on Lion Heart.
Collected $7.50 on the WP (xxx, 3.00).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 2-4.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $20.40 on the ex box ($40.80/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $80.20 on the tri box ($160.40/$2).

Lion Heart...Simply looks like the controlling speed and last should have him ready for good effort.
Mustanfar...Looks like he's getting the hang of it lately. Near-miss at Tampa gets him the nod to be heard from here.
Limehouse...Certainly hasn't done anything wrong since return.
The Cliff's Edge.

Oaklawn: Northern Spur BC $75K

Two Down Automatic 1-1
Proper Prado 7-1
Level Playingfield 10-1

Wager: $5 WP on Two Down Automatic.
Collected $18.00 on the WP (4.20, 3.00).
...$4 exacta box top two.
Rqan 1-4.
...$1 tri box top three.
Ran 1-4-5.
...$1 tri key Two Down Automatic over next three.
Ran 1/2-4-5.

Two Down Automatic...Competitive in these B-level 3YO stakes and just-miss to Smarty Jones last time earns him the nod.
Tiger Hunt...Team Valor certainly had some high hopes for this one following a decent 2YO season. Gets off to a late start as a sophomore though and might need this one.
Foxtrot Oscar...Always close.
Proper Prado.

Oaklawn: Instant Racing BC $75K

Tee's Pearl 9-5
Pilfer 18-1
Cedar Summer 30-1

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

Josie G...Only off the board effort was a fourth against good ones in G2 at Fair Grounds. Fits with this kind.
Platinum Heights...Can't ignore Pletcher. Two good starts and improving.
Tee's Pearl...Has shown marked improvement since arriving at Oaklawn. Pat Day rides.
Miss Concerto.

Oaklawn: Arkansas Derby G2 $1 mil

Smarty Jones 1-1
Borrego 3-1
Pro Prado 17-1

Wager: $5 WP on Smarty Jones.
Collected $17.50 on the WP (4.00, 3.00).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-5.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $7.60 on the ex box ($15.20/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $62.00 on the tri box ($124.00/$2).

Smarty Jones...Certainly looked capable of continuing on when winning Rebel last time.
Purge...Second to Smarty last time and might show even more in second try around two turns.
Borrego...Looks to have moved forward nicely as a 3YO -- but we're still unsure how to rate that La Derby overall.
Pro Prado.

Santa Anita: La Puente $100K

Toasted 25-1
Erewhom 2-1
Seattle Borders 4-1

Wager: $5 WP on Seattle Borders.
Ran 3rd.
...$4 exacta box top two.
Ran 3-6.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 2-3-4-6.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 2-3-4-6.

Seattle Borders...Frankel trainee heads back to turf, a surface he might prefer.
Four Song Limit...Goes out for hot trainer Mullins and seems to have improved nicely since moving to the lawn.
Erewhom...Also stepped up on the green.
Terroplane.

Bay Meadows: Miss America H'cp $75K

Hippogator 18-1
Marwood 18-1
AB Noodle 9-2

Wager: $5 WP on Can I Call You Dad.
Ran 9th at 9-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 3-9.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 3-4-8-9.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 3-4-8-9.

Can I Call You Dad...Likes the track. Making second start off long layoff and first try was a nice dirt win.
AB Noodle...Might be tough if able to sneak away on the front.
Cozie Advantage...Ships up from SoCal for McAnally.
Hooked On Niners.

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

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