Friday, June 27, 2008

The 69th Hollywood Gold Cup

Tiago seems to be a likely winner in this race, now that the best horse on the West Coast, Heatseeker, scratched out. Tiago has a win and a second in his last two graded efforts, the Oaklawn Handicap and the Californian Stakes over this Hollywood oval. Tiago has a win and second in two lifetime starts at Hollywood Park. I really like the chances of Big Booster to be a possible longshot to like here. He is 15-1 on the DRF morning line and has won his last two AND ran 3rd in this race last year behind Lava Man and A.P. Xcellent. Student Council won the Pimlico Special last time out after not liking the turf at my home track, Sam Houston Race Park, in the Grade 3 Connally Turf. Shaun Bridgmohan rode him at Pimlico and gets the call again here. To wrap the top four, I will go with another price pick in Mast Track, who adds blinkers and goes turf-to-dirt. By the way, he is also trained by Bobby Frankel. Even with Heatseeker out, this is a very interesting race, so here's wishing the best of luck to you all.

Hollywood Gold Cup Top 4 Selections- Tiago, Big Booster, Student Council, Mast Track

Saturday, June 07, 2008

The 140th Belmont Stakes

Well, Casino Drive has been scratched out of the Belmont Stakes and many feel that this has taken the most logical threat to the Triple Crown-trying Big Brown. Forget that, Big Brown was not going to get beat even if he spotted Casino Drive a sixteenth of a mile. We are going to be witnesses to history today as Big Brown will become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978 and Affirmed. Who can be close to him? Possibly, Denis Of Cork, who ran 3rd in the Kentucky Derby and might like having an extra quarter-mile to get to the leader. Icabad Crane ran 3rd in the Preakness at Pimlico and might improve enough to be a part of the mix here. Finally, I expect Tale Of Ekati to be part of the pace battle here and hold on for a piece of the Superfecta in the Belmont Stakes today. Here's wishing the best of luck to you all.

Belmont Stakes Selections: Big Brown, Denis Of Cork, Icabad Crane, Tale Of Ekati