While we await the Belmont Stakes in two weeks time for I'll Have Another's attempt to etch his name amongst the greats to capture the Triple Crown, we have races of importance in other divisions.
The focus is at Belmont Park where an all stakes pick-4 featuring three Grade 1 contests demands out attention. I will break down the races in the sequence and give you my pick 4 wagering guide as well.
|
Belmont Park - May 28, 2012
Race 7 - 4:06 PM Exacta, Trifecta, Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (7-9) $500K Guaranteed Pick 4 (.50) Races (7-10), Daily Double Wagers
Purse $200,000. For Fillies Three Years Old. No nomination fee. $2,000 to pass the entry box. A supplemental nomination fee of $2,000 in addition to the entry fee may be made at any time prior to the closing of entries. All starters to receive a $1,500 rebate. The purse will be divided 60% to the winner, 20% to second, 10% to third, 5% to fourth, 3% to fifth and 2% divided equally among remaining finishers. 123 Lbs. TURF: Non-winners of a Graded Sweepstake twice on the turf allowed 2 Lbs.; such a race 4 Lbs.; a Sweepstake on the turf in 2012 or two races at a mile or over on the turf, 6 Lbs. DIRT: Non-winners of a Sweepstake at a mile or over on the dirt allowed 2 Lbs.; two races at a mile or over on the dirt, 4 Lbs.; $36,000; or a race at a mile or over on tthe dirt, 6 Lbs. (Maiden, claiming and restricted races not considered in allowances). A trophy will be presented to the winning owner. The New York Racing Association reserves the right to tranfser this race to the Main Track. In the event that this race is taken off the turf, dirt allowances will apply and it may be subject to downgrading upon review by the Graded Stakes Committee. Closed Saturday, May 12, 2012 with 38 Nominations. One And One Sixteenth Miles. (Inner turf)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Owners: 1 - Darley Stable; 2 - Juddmonte Farms, Inc.; 3 - Forgason, Caroline, A.; 4 - Greeley, Richard; 5 - Ciccarone, Steven, W.; 6 - Summit Thoroughbreds; 7 - Punk, Jr., William J. and DiLeo, Philip; 8 - Hinkle Farms
Breeders: 1 - Darley; 2 - Juddmonte Farms Inc.; 3 - Cina Forgason; 4 - Berkshire Stud; 5 - Juvenal Diaz; 6 - Town & Country Farms, Corp.; 7 - Spendthrift Farm, LLC; 8 - Hinkle Farms
Equipment Changes: 2 - Modulate - Blinkers On
---
The All-Stakes pick-4 kicks off with this rendition of the Sands Poin. The theme throughout this pick-4 sequence starts here; there is a short priced favorite, Somali Lemonade, who is even money on the morning line. She heads in off a runner-up finish in the Appalachian Stakes at Keeneland; on that day she was making her first start of the year and you have to think she should be fitter for this contest. Firehouse Red is an interesting price player as she was competitve against solid allowance horses at the Fair Grounds. This race is not an impossible task outside of Somali Lemonade's presence. Regalo Mia ran third behind Somali Lemonade in the Appalachian at Keeneland and to her benefit she will receive four pounds weight from Somali Lemonade in this spot. This gal is a sensible alternative to the top choice if youre trying to beat her. My Selections 1-Somali Lemonade-think she is just too good for this group 2-Firehouse Red-cant help but think she will be right there 3-Regala Mia-another to consider if you try to beat the chalk |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Belmont Park - May 28, 2012
Race 8 - 4:40 PM Exacta, Trifecta, Pick 3 Races (8-10), Daily Double Wagers
Purse $400,000. A Handicap For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward. No nomination fee. $4,000 to pass the entry box. A supplemental nomination payment of $8,000 may be made at any point prior to the publication of weights. All supplemental nominees will be required to pay the entry fee. All starters including supplemental nominees to receive a $2,000 rebate. The purse will be divided 60% to the winner, 20% to second, 10% to third, 5% to fourth, 3% to fifth and 2% divided equally among remaining finishers. Trophies will be presented to the winning owner, trainer and jockey. Closed Saturday, May 12, 2012 with 22 Nominations. One And One Sixteenth Miles.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Owners: 1 - Klaravich Stables, Inc. and Lawrence, William H.; 2 - E. Paul Robsham Stables LLC; 3 - Zoellner, Robert, H.; 4 - Godolphin Racing LLC; 5 - Patterson, William S. and Graydon
Breeders: 1 - Mineola Farm II, LLC, Jim Geisler &David R. Houchin; 2 - Mrs. E. Paul Robsham; 3 - Robert H. Zoellner; 4 - Stonerside Stable; 5 - Padua Stables
This renewal of the Ogden Phipps drew only 5 horses but boy what a group that is assembled for this race.
---
Awesome Maria is the early 4-5 favorite and why shouldnt she be? This horse has been a dominant figure in the distaff division thus far in 2012. However, this field should provide a barometer of how far this gal has come. Let us not forget Awesome Maria was on her way to a great campaign in 2011 before injury sidelined her for the rest of the year. Included in those triumphs was a win in this very race last year. Awesome Maria won the Sabin and Rampart Handicaps in dominant fashion and looks for the repeat here. Its Tricky is a very good filly who has the credentials to win this race and her 2012 campaign has been pretty good to this juncture with wins in the Top Flight and Distaff Handicaps at Aqueduct. This gal is proven over this strip as she rolled in last year's Acorn Stakes so really the only question is how she stacks up against Awesome Maria. Juanita comes of an upset win over Plum Pretty on Kentucky Oaks day and is 12-1 here. I will take nothing away from that effort but quite honestly Plum Pretty is grossly overrated and Juanita benefitted from that on Oaks day. Prior to that upset win, Juanita did run second to last year's Horse of the Year Havre De Grace in the New Orleans Ladies at the Fair Grounds. For those that want to take a shot, need I remind you that Oaks day was the day to cash in not here. My Selections 1-Awesome Maria-powerful sort is the one to beat in here 2-Its Tricky-dont underestimate but just dont think is as good as top pick 3-Juanita-adds some value to any exotics hunters |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Belmont Park - May 28, 2012
Race 9 - 5:14 PM Exacta, Trifecta, Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (9-11), Daily Double Wagers
Purse $300,000. For Fillies Three Years Old. No nomination fee. $3,000 to pass the entry box. A supplemental nomination fee of $6,000 in addition to the entry fee may be made at any time prior the close of entries. All starters including supplemental nominess to receive a $1,500 rebate. The purse to be divided 60% to the winner, 20% to second, 10% to third, 5% to fourth, 3% to fifth and 2% divided equally among remaining finishers. 121 Lbs. Trophies will be presented to the winning owner, trainer and jockey. Closed Saturday, May 12, 2012 with 33 Nominations. One Mile.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Owners: 1 - Baffert, Natalie, J.; 2 - R. A. Hill Stable and Weaver, George; 3 - Cauley, Anita; 4 - Live Oak Plantation; 5 - Peachtree Stable; 6 - Spence, James, C.
Breeders: 1 - Cherry Valley Farm, LLC.; 2 - Alpha Delta Stables, LLC; 3 - Anita A Ebert-Cauley; 4 - Live Oak Stud; 5 - Elisabeth Alexander; 6 - James C. Spence
---
Another compact field greets the starter for the first leg of the Triple Tiara for fillies. You wonder if anyone here could try to emulate I'll Have Another on the colts' side. Contested is the 7-5 favorite here and she stretches out off a powerful victory in the Eight Belles Stakes on Kentucky Oaks day. The question is, will she be as effective routing? That being said remember Belmont is a mile and a half oval; these route races are more or less elongated sprints. I doubt that the added distance will be an issue. On Fire Baby, who ran a flat race in finishing 5th in the Kentucky Oaks, looks to rebound off of that subpar effort. I was not too enarmored with her prior to the Oaks and I don't really see much to suggest a change in perception. Zo Impressive has been freshened since her last out in which she finished a troubled second in the Gulfstream Park Oaks. This gal was unbeaten going into that contest and probably should have remained that way if not for the above mentioned trouble. The wildcard filly for me is Aubby K who crushed an optional claimer group by 10 lengths and this is not an unreasonable step up here. The eye test for this gal suggests that she could very well be the one to beat here. My Selections 1-Aubby K-love her chances with this crew as she might be this good 2-Zo Impressive-think she gives a good account of herself in this one 3-Contested-the one to beat in most eyes, just not sure of her true talent |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Belmont Park - May 28, 2012
Race 10 - 5:47 PM Exacta, Trifecta, Super (.10), Daily Double Wagers
Purse $750,000. A Handicap For Three Year Olds And Upward.One Mile.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Owners: 1 - Live Oak Plantation; 2 - Lauffer, Michael and Cubbedge, W.D.; 3 - McNeill Stables and Cheyenne Stables LLC; 4 - Drawing Away Stable and Jacobson, David; 5 - Repole Stable; 6 - LaPenta, Robert, V. and Brei, Fred, J.
Breeders: 1 - Twin Creeks Farm, Larry Byer & RanchoSan Miguel; 2 - Mike Lauffer & Bill Cubbedge; 3 - Don C. McNeill; 4 - Ted Taylor; 5 - Richard Rowan; 6 - Jacks or Better Farm Inc
---
Another short-yet-talented field dots the main event on this Memorial Day card. This race will go a good way to determine who has the right to be called the top older male in this division. Caleb's Posse is the 8-5 favorite and has had a pair of tough beats to open his 2012 campaign with a nose loss to Jackson Bend in the Carter in his most recent loss. The 2011 BC Mile Champion is making that all-important third start of the form cycle and is very much a player. But in this short field his running style might be compromised as he comes from far back. Shackleford comes off a solid win in the Churchill Downs Handicap on Kentucky Derby day but he will have a new rider as John Velasquez takes the mount for the injured Jesus Castanon. The win in his last was Shackleford's first since winning the 2011 Preakness. This guy is as gritty as they come and has the right type of style to be in the mix here. Jackson Bend has been very good as of late with four wins in his last seven outings including the nose win over Caleb's Posse in the Carter. Stlll, he has not made much of an impact at Belmont in his career to this point. With that said he has a real chance on his best. To Honor And Serve has a huge chance as he shows flashes of brilliance. His win in the Westchester Handicap against a weaker field at Aqueduct on the surface doesnt say much but it was the manner in which he did it that blew me away. Of the big four here, this guy has the most upside. My Selections 1-To Honor And Serve-think this guy is set for a huge effort in here 2-Caleb's Posse-will be rolling from the back and would be no surprise 3-Shackleford-tactically he should fall into a great trip but comes up short Wagering Strategies $-1.00-Pick-4-(3,8/2/4,6/1,2,3,6)-$16.00 That's it for my look at this great slate of races at Belmont Park and my wager is designed to give me some more bullets for Belmont day in 2two weeks time. Hopefully you guys have a great holiday and remember while you are with family and barbecuing take time to thank the men and women of our Armed Forces who sacrifice themselves to allow us to enjoy the freedoms we do. Until next time my readers may your winners be plentiful and your wallets be fat. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
