Races of the Week

Last week in the Alabama Stakes, Teammate couldn't hold off Pine Island. She still managed to win me some money, as I bet her across the board. Teammate paid $11.20 to place and $7.60 to show. Cindy Pierson Dulay has a good summary of the Alabama at Horse-Races.net.

Lava Man was much the best in the Pacific Classic. Here's a link to the Daily Racing Form's chart.

This week, the Form's races of the week are the Travers Stakes and the King's Bishop Stakes, both scheduled for today at Saratoga. The Travers is also Equibase's race of the week.

In the Travers, I can't bet against Bernardini. However, he's the even-money morning-line favorite. I'll pass the race. The Form provides free past performances for the Travers.

My selection in the King's Bishop is Henny Hughes, who was very impressive in the Jersey Shore Breeders Cup Stakes. The Form provides free past performances for the King's Bishop.

More Sad News

First came the news last weekend that 2005 champion sprinter Lost in the Fog has terminal, inoperable cancer. Just a few days later, 2005 horse of the year Saint Liam was euthanized after falling and shattering a tibia. My condolences to the connections of these two champions.

Local Stakes Updates

Last Friday at Thistledown, the front running Catlaunch won the King Glorious Handicap. Equibase provides charts for last Friday's Thistledown card, available free for the next few days.

The Miss Ohio Stakes, a $40,000, 6 furlong event for Ohio-bred Two-year-old fillies, is scheduled for this Friday at Thistledown. Thistledown's press release includes entries for the Miss Ohio. Thistledown provides free past performances for all Miss Ohio nominees. Tah Dah Stakes winner Littlebitabling comes into the Miss Ohio with two bullet works.

At Northfield Park on Saturday night, True North Hanover, driven by Dave Pallone, wired the field to win the Rolling Rock Cleveland Classic in 1:53.1. Northfield Park's Keith Gisser has more information at Keeping Pace. Northfield Park provides charts for Saturday night's card, which also included 7 divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes for two-year-old colts and geldings.

Races of the Week

This week, the Daily Racing Form's races of the week are the Alabama Stakes, to be run today at Saratoga, and the Pacific Classic, to be run tomorrow at Del Mar. The Pacific Classic is also Equibase's race of the week.

My selection in the Alabama Stakes is Teammate. Teammate is the only filly in this field who has run a triple-digit Beyer figure. There's not much early speed in today's field, and I think she might get loose on the lead, as she did in the Davona Dale Stakes back in March. The Daily Racing Form provides free past performances.

In the Pacific Classic, it's hard to go against Lava Man, who's 5 for 5 this year. However, he figures to be a very heavy favorite. I think I'll pass the race. The Form provides free past performances.

Finally, good luck to Tote Board Brad, of Brad Buys a Yearling, whose filly, Movement, makes her debut today in the seventh race at Bay Meadows.

Local Stakes Recaps and Previews

Last Friday, Head to Toe captured his first stakes victory in the Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes, upsetting Ohio Smile, the previously undefeated 7-5 favorite, who finished third. Equibase provides charts for last Friday's Thistledown card, available free for the next couple of days.

At Turf Luck, The Quinella Queen has a good recap of West Virginia Derby day.

The King Glorious Handicap, a starter handicap for Ohio-breds, is the tenth race on tomorrow's Thistledown-River Downs card. Thistledown provides free past performances for all King Glorious nominees. Equibase provides entries.

Saturday night's feature at Northfield Park is the Rolling Rock Cleveland Classic, a $178,000 event for three-year-old pacers. Saturday's Northfield card also features seven Ohio Sires Stakes races for two-year-old colts. At Keeping Pace, Northfield Park's Keith Gisser has more information about some of the Classic entrants. Northfield Park provides entries.

Arlington Recap

I had a profitable weekend, thanks to The Tin Man, the amazing 8-year-old gelding who won the Arlington Million, paying $13.00 to win, $6.00 to place, and $4.60 to show.

The (suburban Chicago) Daily Herald has a good article about The Tin Man's victory:

Before he could even begin his career, The Tin Man had to overcome two bowed tendons.

Suffering numerous injuries thereafter, and a wrenched ankle just two years ago, the fact that The Tin Man is even competitive shows quite a bit of - yes, heart.

And heart won out in Saturday's 24th running of the Arlington Million before 29,979 on a picture-perfect afternoon.

(entire article here, link via Tim Woolley Racing)

My other selections didn't do so well. Honey Ryder finished fourth in the Beverly D. I was wrong about Gorella's ability to get a mile and three sixteenths. Primary finished third in the Secretariat, paying $4.40 to show. Equibase provides charts for Saturday's Arlington card, available free for the next few days.

Races of the Week

Last week, I broke my losing streak with Invasor, who won the Whitney Handicap, paying $5.50 to win, $3.80 to place, and $3.10 to show. My selections on Sunday didn't do so well. Deputy Glitters finished eighth in the Haskell Invitational. Wanna Runner finished sixth in the West Virginia Derby. Star Parade finished third in the Clement Hirsch Handicap, paying $2.80 to show.

The Daily Racing Form's races of the week are the Arlington Million, Beverly D Stakes, and Secretariat Stakes, all to be run today at Arlington Park. The Million is also Equibase's race of the week.

My selection in the Million is The Tin Man. The Tin Man has three wins from four starts since returning from a long layoff. He's two for five at the distance and his recent Beyer figures are competitive with the rest of the field. He figures to be the front runner, and I think he could get loose on the lead. The Daily Racing Form provides free past performances.

In the Beverly D, I'll take Honey Ryder. Honey Ryder has won six of her last seven starts. She can close, and there looks to be a lot of speed in this field. Morning-line favorite Gorella has been training very well lately, but I don't think she can get the distance. The Daily Racing Form provides free past performances.

My selection in the Secretariat is Primary. Primary ships in from Europe with two wins at a mile and a quarter. The Daily Racing Form provides free past performances.

Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes

The Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes for Ohio-bred two-year-olds is the ninth race on tomorrow's Thistledown-River Downs card. Ohio Smile, the undefeated winner of the Hoover Stakes, looks like the heavy favorite. Thistledown provides free past performances for all Cleveland Kindergarten nominees. The Daily Racing Form and Equibase both provide entries.

A Few More Derby Day Pictures

Yucatan winning the Harvey Arneault Memorial Breeders Cup Handicap

Breaking from the gate in the West Virginia Governor's Cup

Veteran turf runner Senor Swinger

Caller One

In 2000 and 2001, Caller One was one of the top sprinters in North America. In 2002, he won the $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen Stakes. This past Sunday, Caller One ran in the West Virginia Legislature Chairman's Cup Stakes on the West Virginia Derby undercard. Here are some pictures I took of Caller One.


In the paddock, with Chad Murphy aboard:



Down the stretch at Mountaineer:



Caller One stumbled badly at the start and finished fourth in the Chairman's Cup.

CallerOne.com has video footage of some of Caller One's victories.

Bright One Wins the West Virginia Derby

Here are some pictures I took of West Virginia Derby winner Bright One.


In the paddock



Bright One leads the field past the stands.



Mark Guidry aboard Bright One after the race

Welcome!

Welcome to The $2 Window! A few months ago I started posting selections for the Daily Racing Form's and Equibase's races of the week over at my other blog. I decide to spin off the weekly horse selections into a new blog devoted to horse racing and gambling.

The sidebars are still under construction, as you can see. I hope to have some links up there shortly. Thanks to Thur Broeders of Thur's Templates for the 3-column blog template.

Off to West Virginia

Today is West Virginia Derby day at Waterford Park Mountaineer Park the Mountaineer Racetrack and Gaming Resort. Today's card features nine stakes races with total purses of $1,550,000. It goes to show what slot machine revenue can do for the quality of racing. Ohioans probably will have the opportunity to vote on the Ohio Learn and Earn amendment, which would provide a similar boost to purses here in Ohio. You can find out more at the Learn and Earn blog.

Flashy Bull is entered in both the Haskell Invitational and the West Virginia Derby. If he goes in the Derby, he's my pick. Flashy Bull is still looking for his first stakes victory, but he's run well in other stakes races at this distance, and the inside post should help, given Mountaineer's tight clubhouse turn. If Flashy Bull doesn't run in the Derby, I'll go with Wanna Runner, who ran badly in the Queen's Plate, but has proven he can win at a mile and an eighth. Brisnet.com (via Bob Baffert) provides free past performances for the West Virginia Derby.

Now, I'm off to West Virginia!

Races of the Week, Part II

Yesterday I promised selections for the Clement Hirsch Handicap and the Haskell Invitational. I also mistakenly identified the Haskell as a handicap race. It always used to be a handicap. When did they change it?

Invasor came through for me yesterday in the Whitney, and in the Hirsch, I'll bet another Argentine import. Star Parade has been winning every other race lately. She likes today's distance of a mile and a sixteenth, and she has tactical speed. The Daily Racing Form provides free past performances.

My selection in the Haskell is Deputy Glitters. Deputy Glitters has tactical speed, and appears to like a two-turn mile and an eighth. Equibase and the Form provide free past performances.

Races of the Week

It looks like I've started a new streak. Last week, both of my selections finished out of the money again. Sunriver finished last in the Jim Dandy Stakes and Carthage was fifth in the Bing Crosby Handicap. I'll try to break my losing streak this weekend.

This week, the Daily Racing Form's races of the week are the Whitney Handicap, to be run today at Saratoga and the Clement Hirsch Handicap, to be run tomorrow at Del Mar. Equibase's race of the week is the Haskell Invitational Handicap, scheduled for tomorrow at Monmouth Park.

My selection in the Whitney is Invasor. I'm still marveling at the impressive move he made to come back and win the Pimlico Special a couple of months ago. The Daily Racing Form provides free past performances.

I'll post my selections for tomorrow's races later today or early tomorrow morning.