Friday Selections
July 3, 2008
July 4th never fails to provide us with great stakes races. This year will be no different. In the Grade 2 Firecracker Handicap at Churchill Downs Einstein looks very tough at even money. I don’t believe he will lose this one and I advise you to stay away from this race. If you can’t resist, I encourage you to throw in Thorn Song and Faith’s Magic who are 3-1 and 15-1, respectively. Thorn Song will enjoy shortening up to a mile, and Faith’s Magic is improving.
1st-Einstein (1-1)
2nd-Thorn Song (3-1)
3rd- Faith’s Magic (15-1)
$1 Trifecta 3/2,4/1,2,4,7
In the Grade 2 Tom Fool Handicap Mike Luzzi and Tasteyville should be hauling ass out of the gate. He looks nice in this spot at odds of 3-1. I also like Rick Dutrow’s Not For Money. Prado will pilot this 4 year old colt who beat Bribon last out. Bribon would come back to win easily. Kiaran McLaughlin’s Lucky Island will be the favorite. He has been slotted at 2-1 after winning the Grade 3 Bold Ruler Handicap last out. I’m not very wild about this race on the whole.
1st- Not For Money (3-1)
2nd- Tasteyville (5-2)
3rd- Lucky Island (2-1)
$1 Trifecta 1,5/1,2,5/1,2,5,6
The Grade 3 Jersey Shore Handicap J Be K will try to airmail the field. His main competition will be Fujita. I’m not sure if Fujita can run him down. J Be K has been placed at odds of 6/5 and I can’t like this race because he seems too tough to take down. Silver Edition figures to be chasing late.
1st- J Be K (6-5)
2nd- Fujita (4-1)
3rd- Silver Edition (3-1)
Plays:
$10 Exacta (5/4)
The Grade 2 First Flight Handicap will be the major female race for tomorrow. I’m going to side with the second choice, Rite Moment. Gary Contessa’s filly has raced very well under the guidance of Rajiv Maragh. She had claimed victory twice in Grade 2 company before running into Cowgirls Don’t Cry. She is the pick at 5-2. Wild Gams also looks tough in this spot at 5-1. She ran a 102 Equibase figure in her victory last out. Baroness Thatcher should be picking up the pieces late and finish 3rd.
1st- Rite Moment (5-2)
2nd-Wild Gams (5-1)
3rd- Baroness Thatcher (5-1)
Plays:
$1 Trifecta: 2/1,3,6/1,3,6
If you checked in on Tuesday, you will know that I gave two picks to win and both got home for me. Jiggs Coz was victorious in the Dominion Day and paid $8.80 to win. Not bad considering how small the field was. My other selection was Deal Making. Dominguez was able to guide him home for the win and a $6 return. While I am not overly confident in these Friday races, I do feel good about Raw Silk in the American Oaks. Click here to read my article covering that race. Thanks for reading, and check back tomorrow for the picks in Saturdays races!
Grade 1 American Oaks
July 3, 2008
#1 Pure Clan- I really liked this filly in the Kentucky Oaks, where she finished third. She came from that race to win her first start on the turf easily. She should be close, but I’m concerned that she might not have enough pace. This classy filly must be used in all three spots.
#2 Magical Fantasy- Gallagher’s British filly hasn’t quite been up to the task in the US yet. She had a very nice 5 furlong move on June 26, and it looks like all systems go. I won’t be including her on my tickets.
#3 Satan’s Circus-This Gone West filly has raced in France for her entire career. She has had a large amount of success, but against lesser class. I’ll leave her out and watch this time.
#4 Raw Silk- Thomas Albertrani’s filly became a Grade 2 winner last out by winning the Sand’s Point at Belmont Park. That race was a very nice step forward. I really like her front running style, and I believe it will be to her benefit. She could be up there all alone; the pick.
#5 Clearly Foxy- The always dangerous Garrett Gomez will pick up the mount on this filly. She won an optional claimer last out, but doesn’t appear good enough to run with these. I’m looking elsewhere.
#6 Bel Air Sizzle- Rafael Bejarano just missed with this filly last out in the Grade 2 Honeymoon. More ground will definitely be to her liking. I’ll use her second and third.
#7 Annie Skates- Another Great Britian shipper. I don’t see her getting a piece in this spot. She just doesn’t look classy enough.
#8 Missit- Finally, a British filly who can compete in this race. Missit became a grade 2 winner in her first US start. She won that race by a nose, and came back to run 4th in the Honeymoon. That bounce was easily predicted. I look for her to get back to business here. Use her second and third.
#9 Caribbean Sunset- This filly is a Grade 3 winner overseas, and ran 4th by a ½ length in the Grade 1 Irish Guineas. She came back from that race to finish 3rd in a Grade 1 at Ascot. She will be very tough in this spot. Use her second and third.
#10 Backseat Rhythm- Castellano chose this filly over my pick to win the race. Bad decision JJ. She looks OK, but I would only use her third, or not at all.
#11 Zaskar- Yet another overseas shipper. She has had a fair amount of success so far in her career, but doesn’t have the class to run in this race.
#12 My Baby Baby- McPeek’s filly ran a monster 101 BSF last out. She has also fired a bullet 5 furlong work since then. The post draw is going to be hard on her, but I would use her second and third.
1st- Raw Silk
2nd- Pure Clan
3rd- Caribbean Sunset
Plays:
$1 Trifecta: Raw Silk, Pure Clan/ Raw Silk, Pure Clan, Caribbean Sunset, My Baby Baby, Missit, Bel Air Sizzle/ Raw Silk, Pure Clan, Caribbean Sunset, My Baby Baby, Missit, Bel Air Sizzle (1,4/1,4,6,8,9,12/1,4,6,8,9,12)
Dime Superfecta: Raw Silk, Pure Clan/ Raw Silk, Pure Clan, Caribbean Sunset, My Baby Baby, Missit, Bel Air Sizzle/ Raw Silk, Pure Clan, Caribbean Sunset, My Baby Baby, Missit, Bel Air Sizzle/ Raw Silk, Pure Clan, Caribbean Sunset, My Baby Baby, Missit, Bel Air Sizzle
