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Friday, April 27, 2007

Races of the Week

Last week, I was 0 for 5. Joe Got Even finished fifth in the Lexington Stakes. Solva ran fifth in the Santa Barbara Handicap. Stone Lakes was seventh in the Angenora Stakes. Load the Dice finished last in the Battle of Lake Erie Pace. Of my five selections last week, only Sweetnorthernsaint was in the money, finishing second in the National Jockey Club Handicap and paying $2.10 to place.

Tomorrow, the Daily Racing Form's races of the week are the Derby Trial at Churchill Downs and the Inglewood Handicap at Hollywood Park. Equibase's race of the week is the Bosselman-Gus Fonner Handicap at Fonner Park.

The Derby Trial is a hard race to handicap in advance because Teuflesberg might be scratched from the Trial in hopes of qualifying for next week's Kentucky Derby. I'll bet the morning-line favorite Bold Start, who appears to be the class of this field. He finished second in the Hutcheson Stakes in his only other start at 7 1/2 furlongs. The Form provides free past performances.

In the Inglewood, I'll bet Stormin Away, who has won two in a row. He likes the distance, and the turf course at Hollywood. Stormin Away's past performances don't show an open stakes win, but his recent Beyer figures are competitive with the rest of this field. The Form provides free past performances.

In the Bosselman-Gus Fonner, I'll bet the front-running Yourmoneysnogood, who is coming off a win at Fonner Park. Equibase provides free past performances.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Farewell to a Champion


Three-time Ohio Sires Stakes Champion Crisp Sahbra, pictured above with Driver David Miller, paced the final race of his career Saturday in the second race at Northfield Park. Crisp Sahbra retired with career earnings of $879,937, making him the fourth leading money-winning Ohio-bred of all time. His track record for an aged pacer at Lebanon Raceway, set in 1998, still stands.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Ohio Stakes Recaps

Angenora Stakes

Pyrite Stables' Pay The Man, trained by Miguel Feliciano and ridden by Andrew Ramgeet, captured her first stakes victory in Saturday's Angenora Stakes at Thistledown. Magg's Choice, winner of last month's Royal North Stakes, finished second. Just Michel, who won the Angenora in 2005, finished third. Equibase's chart is available free of charge for the next few days. Here are some pictures:

Pay the Man and Magg's Choice battle down the stretch.

Pay the Man, winner of the Angenora Stakes

Three-year-old Magg's Choice was taking on older fillies and mares for the first time, and conceding weight to them.

Battle of Lake Erie Pace

Maltese Artist, driven by Brett Miller, won Saturday's Battle of Lake Erie Pace. Maltese Artist paced a mile in 1:49 4/5, the fastest mile ever on a commercial half-mile track. Unfortunately, my pictures of Maltese Artist came out blurry, but Northfield Park has a good picture here.

Friday, April 20, 2007

Races of the Week and Ohio Stakes Selections

Last week, Officer Rocket finished seventh in the Arkansas Derby and Head to Toe finished seventh in the Howard B. Noonan Stakes. I had a profitable weekend, however, thanks to Dominican, who won the Blue Grass Stakes, paying $18.00 to win, $5.60 to place, and $3.80 to show.

Tomorrow, the Daily Racing Form's races of the week are the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland and the Santa Barbara Handicap at Santa Anita. Equibase's race of the week is the National Jockey Club Handicap at Hawthorne. I'll also try to pick the winners of two stakes races here in northeast Ohio tomorrow, the Angenora Stakes at Thistledown and the Battle of Lake Erie Pace at Northfield Park.

In the Lexington, I'll bet Joe Got Even. Joe Got Even has run well on the Polytrack at Turfway Park, most recently finishing third to Hard Spun in the Lane's End Stakes. His stretch running style is well suited to Keeneland. The Daily Racing Form provides free past performances.

I'll bet Solva in the Santa Barbara. All three of Solva's wins have been at today's distance of a mile and a quarter. She's coming off of a win in La Zanzara Stakes, her first North American start. The Form provides free past performances.

In the National Jockey Club, I'll bet Sweetnorthernsaint. Sweetnorthernsaint is coming off of a front-running win at Laurel. Last year he won the Illinois Derby impressively in his only other start at Hawthorne. Equibase provides free past performances.

In the Angenora, I'll bet Stone Lakes, who is 2 for 3 at Thistledown and 3 for 6 at 6 furlongs. She's coming off of a layoff, but she has two recent bullet works at Turfway, so she should be ready to run. Thistledown provides free past performances for all Angenora nominees. Equibase provides entries.

In the Battle of Lake Erie, I'll bet Load the Dice. Load the Dice has earned over $110,000 in his last five starts. He defeated Maltese Artist at Pompano Park back in February. In his last start, Load the Dice finished within a length of Gold Dust Beach, despite being wide around both turns. Northfield Park provides free past performances.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Ohio Stakes Recap and Previews

Howard B. Noonan Stakes
Polite Lil Sir, ridden by Christian Pilares, won last Saturday's $50,000 Howard B. Noonan Stakes for Ohio-registered 3-year-olds at Beulah Park. The undefeated Paul Gutheil homebred covered 6 furlongs in 1:10 3/5 over a sloppy track for his first stakes win. Pyrite Personal finished second. Matcher was third. Equibase's chart of the race is available free of charge for the next couple of days.

Angenora Stakes
Thistledown's first stakes race of the year, the $50,000 Angenora Stakes for Ohio-registered fillies and mares, is scheduled for this Saturday. Just Michel, who finished second in this race last year, makes her first start of the year and is coming off of two bullet works at Fairmount Park. The undefeated 3-year old Magg's Choice, winner of last month's Royal North Stakes at Beulah Park, is set to take on older fillies and mares for the first time. Thistledown provides free past performances for all Angenora nominees. Equibase provides entries.

Battle of Lake Erie Pace
The $125,000 Battle of Lake Erie Pace, Northfield Park's premier event for older pacers, is scheduled for Saturday evening. According to Northfield Park's Keith Gisser, the eight-horse field includes three world champions: My Boy David, Maltese Artist, and Gold Dust Beach. Mr. Gisser has more information about the Battle of Lake Erie at Keeping Pace. Northfield Park provides free past performances.

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Races of the Week and Ohio Stakes Selections

Last week, Christmas Kid won the Ashland Stakes, paying $21.00 to win, $5.80 to place, and $4.20 to show. Sam P. finished third in the Santa Anita Derby, paying $3.20 to show. Mending Fences won the John B. Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Handicap, paying $8.20 to win, $5.20 to place, and $7.00 to show.

Today, the Daily Racing Form's races of the week are the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park and the Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland, which is also Equibase's race of the week.

In the Arkansas Derby, I'll bet Officer Rocket, who encountered some trouble in his last start in the Rebel Stakes. The Form provides free past performances.

In the Bluegrass Stakes, I'll bet Dominican. Both of Dominican's wins have come on Polytrack. His Beyer figures are a bit below those of Great Hunter and Street Sense, but he might be able to take a step forward today, and if he does, he'll pay a nice price. The Form provides free past performances.

In today's Howard B. Noonan Stakes, a 6-furlong event for Ohio-registered 3-year-olds at Beulah Park, I'll bet Head To Toe. Head To Toe ran badly in the Rushaway Stakes last month, but now is back among Ohio-breds. There is a lot of speed in today's race, and Head To Toe can come from off the pace.Beulah Park provides free past performances for Noonan nominees. Equibase provides entries.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Opening Day

Thistledown opens for live racing today. The 136-day meet runs through November 26. The first post time is scheduled for 1:05 pm. Equibase provides entries. Bob Roberts' selections are available at the Thistledown Thoroughbred blog.

Friday, April 06, 2007

Races of the Week

Last week, Jambalaya won the Pan American Handicap, paying $5.40 to win, $3.60 to place, and $2.60 to show. Notional finished second to Scat Daddy in the Florida Derby, paying $4.20 to place and $3.00 to show. The Blazing Meadows farm entry of Magg's Choice and Cruise Liner finished first and second in the Royal North Stakes, paying $4.00 to win, $4.20 to place, and $3.00 to show.

Tomorrow, the Daily Racing Form's races of the week are the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland and the Santa Anita Derby. Equibase's race of the week is the John B. Connally Breeders' Cup Turf Handicap at Sam Houston Race Park.

In the Ashland, I'll bet Christmas Kid. Christmas Kid has won stakes races on both turf and dirt, so the Polytrack shouldn't be a problem for her. She likes to race near the front end, which is helpful because of the short stretch. The Form provides free past performances.

My selection in the Santa Anita Derby is Sam P. Sam P. ran well in his only start at Santa Anita, and can come from off the pace. He's never been a mile and an eighth before, but his Tomlinson rating indicates that he should like it. Sam P. is part of an uncoupled Todd Pletcher entry. The Form provides free past performances.

In the Connally, I think I'll take a flyer on Mending Fences, who might be able to steal this one on the front end. Equibase provides free past performances.