We had three winners on top in thirteen races (Belmont, $3.50, 5.60; Churchill, $2.20). But the strength of our plays Saturday was in the gimmicks. Among our scores were exactas of $192.50/$2, $147.50, and $125.00. And we had tri boxes worth $661.00/$2, $736.00, and $1044.80. Plus there was an assortment of smaller gimmicks in the mix.
A solid day that added up to a solid ROI of 242%.
WAGERED: $497.00
COLLECTED: $1697.80
Board Elligible 14-1
Princess Dixie 5-1
Saintly Action 2-1
Wager: $5 WP on Saintly Action.
Ran 3rd.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 3-4.
...$1 exacta box top four, sub next if scratch.
Collected $96.25 on the ex box ($192.50/$2).
...$1 tri box top four, sub next if scratch.
Collected $330.50 on the tri box ($661.00/$2).
Saintly Action...Paired up a couple of 91-Beyers in last two, if able to move forward today she'll be tough for Mott/Bailey.
Alchemist...Best races have been with Velasquez in the saddle. Been trying the grass this year but is stakes-placed on dirt.
Princess Dixie...Won a state-bred stake in Oct which lets her sneak in under today's condition of not having won an "open" stake in 2003-2004.
Board Eligible.
Fircroft.
Bear Fan 3-5
Smok'n Frolic 6-1
Aspen Gal 10-1
Wager: $5 WP on Bear Fan.
Collected $15.50 on the WP (3.50, 2.70).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Collected $13.80 on the ex box ($13.80/$2).
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $6.90 on the ex box.
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $36.75 on the tri box ($73.50/$2).
Bear Fan... We followed her a she scratched out of a rich restricted stake in SoCal, then scratched again out of a stake on the Derby undercard -- only to find the right spot winning a G2 convincingly right here last month. Tough if able to repeat.
Smok'n Frolic...Sprinting might be her best game -- but will she be sharp enough after having gone distances since last summer?
Kitty Knight...Looks to be in good form right now. Third to top pick last time despite jock dropping whip.
Aspen Gal.
Speightstown 9-5
Cat Genius 7-1
Pohave 5-2
Wager: $5 WP on Speightstown.
Collected $23.25 on the WP (5.60, 3.70).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-3.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $17.00 on the ex box ($34.00/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $37.75 on the tri box ($75.50/$2).
Speightstown...Came back from long layoff to post two big wire-job wins. The one to beat if able to avoid a bounce.
Pohave...Third to Pico Central two back -- and that one convinced us not to ignore the SoCal sprinters.
Canadian Frontier...Likes the track and the trip. Comes out of a G3 win here last month.
Cat Genius.
Intercontinental/entry 3-5
Vanguardia 24-1
Etoile Montante/entry 3-5
Wager: $5 WP on Dedication.
Ran 5th at 6-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-5.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1e-3e-4-5-8.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1e-3e-4-5-8.
Dedication...Clement mare was just pipped in the Jaipur against the boys last Sunday. Quick turnarnound but she's been pretty tough this season.
Frankel entry...Intercontinental preferred. 2-2 since arriving in the States. Won a G3 at Keeneland in latest.
Fast Cookie...Mott filly tried grass for the first time in last -- it was her best yet.
Riskaverse.
Fire Slam 5-2
Teton Forest 4-1
Abbondanza 6-1
Forest Danger scratched -- entrymate ran.
Wager: $5 WP on Forest Danger.
Scratched.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Scratched.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $16.90 on the ex box ($33.80/$2).
...$2 tri key Forest Danger over next three.
Scratched.
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $61.75 on the tri box ($123.50/$2).
Forest Danger...Just off a blazing pace last time and still managed to hold second. Cut backs in distance and gets Velasquez back aboard.
Abbondanza...Second to Forest Danger two back. Closing style shown in latest might suit today.
Fire Slam...Good overall record -- but sprinting might be his game.
Teton Forest.
Meteor Storm 6-1
Millenium Dragon 12-1
Mr O'Brien 9-2
Wager: $5 WP on Stroll.
Ran 6th at 7-5.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-6.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $73.75 on the ex box ($147.50/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $368.00 on the tri box ($736.00/$2).
Stroll...Mott/Bailey turfer has a solid 10-7-1-1 record on grass. Might have needed first start of season. Second try was a convincing win. Right back.
Meteor Storm...Distance specialist seldom misses the board. Solid work for this last Sunday.
Millenium Dragon...Shown improvement in two starts since brief layoff.
Mr O'Brien.
Wager: $15 exacta Smarty Jones over Rock Hard Ten.
Ran 2-5.
...$4 exacta Smarty over Purge.
Ran 2-9.
...$2 tri key Smarty over next three.
Ran 2/4-5-9.
SMARTY JONES... We've been onboard in every stakes start this year -- from the Count Fleet at AQU to the tri of stakes at Oaklawn and right on through this Triple Crown run. The 'new shooters' in here don't look imposing and the others have all already taken it on the chin from Smarty. There are no sure-things in racing -- but, on paper this one is all Smarty Jones.
Rock Hard Ten...With only four starts this one is still learning the game. Second to Smarty in the Preakness and if he continues to progress he can make his presence felt in the lane again today.
Purge...Tried Smarty twice in Arkansas -- to no avail. Peter Pan being hailed as a breakthrough performance, but there's still questions to be answered. Did he really move forward significantly or did he just appreciate the one-turn -- and the competition he left in his wake?
Eddington...Has yet to miss the board in seven tries. Bailey rides.
Rudirudy 10-1
Manofglory 7-1
Blakelock 4-1
Wager: $5 WP on Blakelock.
Ran 3rd.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 3-4.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $62.50 on the ex box ($125.00/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $522.40 on the tri box ($1044.80/$2).
Blakelock...Faltered against a tough bunch last time. This group is easier.
Gill entry...Tricky Storm looks like the in-form speed. Stanislas will have to get in from AE list but could be tough.
Rudirudy...Will be rolling in the lane but comes from so far back it will probably be too late.
Manofglory.
Whoop's Ah Daisy 4-1
Eastern Gale 24-1
Primary Colors 5-2
Wager: $5 WP on Primary Colors.
Ran 3rd.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 3-7.
...$1 exacta box top four, sub next if scratch.
Ran 3-4-7-9.
...$1 tri box top four, sub next if scratch.
Ran 3-4-7-9.
Primary Colors...Been off since April but that's closer to a race than many in here. Trainer OK off that length layoff.
Butterface...Like top pick this one has been racing respectably at Aqueduct. Toss the turf try last time.
Out of the Will...Third start back after a winter break. Likes the track.
Willie's Luv.
Uphill Skier.
Lunarpal 1-10
Consolidator 7-1
Smoke Warning 6-1
Maximus C scratched.
Wager: $10 exacta Lunarpal over Maximus C.
Scratched.
...$4 exacta Lunarpal over Consolidator.
Collected $14.80 on the exacta ($7.40/$2).
Lunarpal...Already a stakes winner.
Maximus C...Nice win in debut -- but was it aided by the slop?
Consolidator...$1.25 mil baby from the Lewises. DW's usually improve in their second start.
Stellar Jayne 2-1
Dynaville 5-1
Ender's Sister 4-5
Galloping Gal ran 4th and completed the $150.00/$2 super.
Wager: $5 WP on Ender's Sister.
Ran 3rd.
...$4 exacta box top two.
Ran 2-3.
...$2 tri key Ender's Sister over next three.
Ran 3/1-2-4.
Ender's Sister...3-3 at the trip. Stretching out off of good placing in G3 last time.
Dynaville...Turf-to-dirt. Second start of season.
Galloping Gal...Big closing move last time was best yet. Fluke or sign of good things to come?
Stellar Jayne.
Coconut Girl 5-1
Ema Bovary 2-5
Stormica 9-1
Wager: $20 exacta Ema Bovary over Stormica.
Ran 2-3.
Ema Bovary...Was tested for class in last couple and passed convincingly. Win streak should continue today.
Stormica.
Lovely Rafaela 16-1
Western Hemisphere 3-1
Sagitta Ra 7-1
Wager: $5 WP on Ticker Tape.
Ran 4th at 1-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 2-4.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 2-3-4-5.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 2-3-4-5.
Ticker Tape...We liked this one three weeks ago when she just got headed. We'll stick today on the stretchout.
Western Hemisphere...Cal-bred tested today but looked good in turf debut.
Sagitta Ra...Can't ignore Frankel.
Amorama.