Horse Betting|Saratoga Picks|Del Mar Picks

Delaware Park will be running the $55,000 Stanton Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the turf today. The pace is hard to decipher in this race. There is no telling who will have the early lead. Knight In Armour is the most likely candidate from the rail. At odds of 10-1, I don’t think he will hold up very long. My choice this race will be the undefeated colt Deal Making. Trainer Graham Motion is an expert at preparing horses for the turf. The colt is a son of Empire Maker and a Danzig mare, so there is no lack of breeding here. He should be able to lay close enough to the speed and jockey Ramon Dominguez should have him a position to win the race. You have to like this one at odds of 6-1.

In the $200,000 Grade 3 Dominion Day, True Metropolitan will be tough as the 7/5 favorite. I’ll look elsewhere as last years Plate Trial winner, Jiggs Coz is eligible to improve second race off the layoff. At odds of 4-1, I expect him to sit right off of True Metropolitan and make a move near the stretch. The late running Sterwins will also be tough at odds of 9/5. Sterwins defeated Go Between two back and is a very nice horse, but I don’t see the pace setting up for him here. Good luck, and check back to GradedStakes.Com for selections later this week.

Iowa Oaks (Grade 3)

#1- Timely Reflection (15-1)- This filly is a nice sprinter, but I think she will have problems staying on late in this spot. This race is just too far for her at 1 1/16.

#2 Hartigan (8-1)- Coming off two nice wins in minor stakes at Pimlico. The move up to a Grade 3 makes sense. She was the heavy favorite in both of those races, so the competition was probably very light. Hartigan was a nice second to Armonk so that shows me she has the class to run here. I suggest you use her third.

#3 Storm Mesa (4-1)- Eddie Martin, Jr. has piloted this filly to 3 consecutive victories and all were in powerful fashion. She should have no problem with the distance and seems to be improving. Her Equibase figure was monstrous at 114 last out in her Cinema Stakes win. I love the price on this filly at 4-1. Key this filly on top, she will be ultra tough.

#4 Maren’s Meadow (5-1)- She bounced last time out, but that can probably be attributed to the sloppy track. Prior to that race she won the Grade 3 Borbounette Stakes at Turfway Park. I can’t tell if she won that race because she was improving or because of the synthetic surface. I advise you to use her third.

#5 Day of Victory (8-1)- Ran a nice second last out after swinging four wide in a minor stakes at Prairie Meadows. The winner of that event is also in this race. She is definitely classy enough for this bunch. Use her third.

#6 Alina (7/2)- This filly was a bargain basement purchase at $6,000. Since then she has gone on to finish second to Eight Belles and earn $167,650. After two tries in tougher company this seems like a nice spot for her. I would use her second and third.

#7 Tight Precision (12-1)- I suggest you throw this one out, she doesn’t have the class to run with these.

#8 Miss Missile (12-1)- Was much the best last time out in a minor stakes at a no name track. She’s got nice speed but I don’t think she will be able to hang on, or be anywhere close for that matter.

#9 Sky Mom (6-1)- Was second by a long way to my top choice last time out. She ran a 102 Equibase figure at this distance 3 races back. I would use her third.

#10 Rasierra (9/2)- Wired the field last out after a disappointing 8th in the Kentucky Oaks. She has fired a bullet 3 furlong move since that race and looks ready to roll. The added distance should work to her benefit. Use this filly second and third.

1st- Storm Mesa (4-1)
2nd-Rasierra (9/2)
3rd- Alina (7/2)

Plays:

$20 Exacta Storm Mesa/ Rasierra, Alina (3/6,10)

$1 Trifecta Storm Mesa/ Rasierra, Alina/ Rasierra, Alina, Hartigan, Sky Mom, Maren’s Meadow, Day of Victory (3/6,10/2,4,5,6,10)

$1 Superfecta Storm Mesa/ Rasierra, Alina/ Rasierra, Alina, Hartigan, Sky Mom, Maren’s Meadow, Day of Victory/Rasierra, Alina, Hartigan, Sky Mom, Maren’s Meadow, Day of Victory (3/6,10/2,4,5,6,10/2,4,5,6,10)

All Along Stakes

#1 Palmilla- Rosemary Homeister Jr will be in the irons for this one. She is a stalker/closer type runner who just doesn’t seem to have enough left in the tank at the end of the race. She is going to have a hard time in this race. The entry patterns of the owner have her on the outside looking in.

#1A Royal Pleasure- The entry captured an allowance event at Keeneland last out in October of 2007. Her last work was a bullet 5 furlong move in 59 2/5 B. With the layoff to deal with, there is no telling how she will run. I would watch this race, and catch her next time out.

#2 Lady Digby- The white hot Jeremy Rose will be riding this one. He has had this filly for her past two races and in those two races she won a minor stakes and finished second in a grade 3. I don’t like her chances for the win, but at 6-1 I would include her underneath in my exotics.

#3 Indescribable- Ran a monster race last time out to capture a grade 3 event at Arlington Park. The quicker the pace, the better for this filly. She is not without a chance here, I would include her second, and third on my exotic wagers.

#4 Eclisse- A smart man once told me this; never discount lone speed. This filly at 20-1 looks like she could be just that. She has been running against top class fillies such as Mauralakana, and the rollback in distance should help her ration that speed better. Deadly at 20-1; use in all three spots in your exotics.

#5 Dancing Band- This filly has serious class questions to answer. She will also need some fractions to run at, so I will not be using her.

#6 J’Ray- The connections are probably happy to know that Mauralakana is not in this race, as J’Ray has lost to her three consecutive times. I think this distance suits J’Ray better than her previous two attempts at 1 3/8. Coa is going to have to tend to the early pace, and make sure he stays within striking distance. I’m not sure how she will run, but I would use her second and third, and if your feeling feisty I’d throw her in on top.

#7 High Moment- Throw this one out.

#8 Valbenny- The connections on this horse are the exact same as for Barbaro; just thought I’d point that out. She will have a hard time due to the lack of pace. However, she is too classy to not use. I’d use her second and third.

#9 Rutherienne- Christophe Clemente, the king of the turf is the trainer for this filly. Garrett Gomez, arguably the best in the land as far as jockeys go, will be in the irons. She is my choice for the win based on the classy fillies she has been running against, along with her game win in the Jenny Wiley two races back. She showed that she can chase slow fractions and still close strong. Look for her in the winners circle.

1st- Rutherienne (5/2)
2nd- Eclisse (20-1)
3rd- Lady Digby (6-1)

Plays:

$2 Exacta 4,9/2,3,4,6,8,9
$1 Trifecta 4,9/4,6,8,9/2,3,4,6,8,9
$1 Superfecta 4,9/4,8,9/2,3,4,6,8,9/2,3,4,6,8,9

Colonial Turf Cup- Saturday, June 21, 2008

#1 El Sultry Sun- Nice win over Prussian last out in the Lamplighter Stakes at Monmouth. The son of Eltish hasn’t done much wrong yet, but this will be a serious class test. I would use him underneath in exotic wagers, but I wouldn’t count on him to win this.

#2 Court Vision- Bill Mott’s horse is exiting a poor performance in the Kentucky Derby. He just hasn’t been the same horse as a 3 year old. With his first try on the turf, I think he is a play against. I would use him third only, if not at all.

#3 Your Round- This one is likely outclassed. I wouldn’t use him at all.

#4 Sporting Art- Regular jockey JJ Castellano is back in the irons for this race. He claimed victory two back in the Calder Race Course Derby. I like his closing style, and his wins have been fast. He will be very competitive for the win here; the main rival.

#5 Baltimore Rob- He will seek to improve in his second start since the layoff. He looked very good as a 2 year old, and you can hardly count his latest run in the mud. He may or may not be there at the end, but at 30-1 I would definitely include him in my exotic wagers.

#6 Nistle’s Crunch- This stalking son of Van Nistelrooy was trounced in the Florida Derby. He came back to win a nice non winners of 2 in a year allowance event. Since that race he was third in a Grade 3 in which he lacked room late on the rail. I don’t like him for the win, but I encourage you to use him second and third.

#7 Kentucky Bear- When asked what he thought of Big Brown defeating everything he had faced coming up to the Preakness, trainer Reade Baker replied “He hasn’t faced Kentucky Bear yet!”. Unfortunately, Big Brown left this colt in his wake. He could return to form in this spot. I believe he will be able to run on the turf, based on his third place finish in the Bluegrass which was run over the Poly Track. I would use him first, second, and third in exotic wagers.

#8 Boss Lafitte- Tom Amoss’s colt was victorious last out in an ungraded stakes at Lone Star Park. Since he is a son of Dynaformer, he shouldn’t have a problem with the distance. I believe he is an overlay at 15-1. Use him second and third.

#9 Sailor’s Cap- I believe this colt will receive too much play at 7/2. I’m not wild about this colt’s chances, but I would use him third.

#10 Adriano- This colt was recently moved to Bill Mott’s barn. He is the 3-1 morning line favorite, and rightfully so. He should clean up in this spot. His form on the turf has been excellent, and I think he will relish the return to his preferred surface. I like him for the win.

1st- Adriano (3-1)
2nd- Sporting Event (5-1)
3rd- Kentucky Bear (8-1)

Plays:

$1 Trifecta Adriano/ Sporting Art, Baltimore Rob, Kentucky Bear/ Sporting Art, Baltimore Rob, Boss Lafitte, Nistle’s Crunch

$10 Exacta Adriano/ Sporting Event