This looks like a nice sequence for Thursday. I’ve put together a small ticket. It’s currently 3 AM while I’m writing this and I dont have the energy to give my thoughts on every race, but the 30k claimer looks wide open. Good luck, and play this one at your own peril.

RACE 4: 1-3-4

RACE 5: 2

RACE 6: 5-7

RACE 7: 4-5-10

RACE 8: 1 (BEST BET)

RACE 9: 4-5

This week brings us plenty of good horse racing. I’m looking forward to the SunShine Millions series most of all, but I also want to see the races up in New York. The Paumonok Handicap looks to be a nice one. I remember watching Lord Snowdon win the race last year, with Ramon Dominguez in the irons. Like always, this one will be for three-year-olds and upwards at six furlongs on the inner track.

Ravalo is the likely favorite. He is entering the race after a romp in the Christmas Stakes at Mountaineer Park. He took that event by six lengths. He has two wins from three starts on the inner track, including a third place finish in the Grade 3 Toboggan Handicap. Mike Luzzi does well with this son of Mutakddim, registering three wins from four starts. Ravalo stands a hell of a chance in this one.

I will make True Quality my top selection. The son of Elusive Quality has an excellent sprinting pedigree. He is one of the only horses to ever beat Fabulous Strike to the lead, so his speed is lethal. His front running ability is enhanced by jockey CC Lopez who excels on front running types. True Quality owns a second place finish last out in the Grade 3 Gravesend Handicap, and he also ran third in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens Stakes. Look for him to give the field all they want on the front end.

Grand Champion has found another gear lately. He defeated Grade 2 winner Songster two races back, and most recently finished 4th in the Grade 3 Fall High Weight Handicap. He has been racing in New York for a good part of his career, so it comes as a surprise that this will be his first start over the inner track. Grand Champion switches to the barn of Micheal Hushion, and will have the services of jockey Richard Migliore. Keep an eye out for him.

Who do you think will win the Paumonok Handicap? Leave a comment and let me know how you feel. If you liked this post, please considering signing up for the RSS feed. You can do so by entering your email address in the silver box near the top right corner of this screen. Good luck, and thanks for reading!

It’s been extremely cold this week in Cincinnati, Ohio. I’ve had to brave through temperatures below 0 more times than I can count. There is nothing worse than when your dog stares you in the face, hoping to go outside to play. I wish I felt that way about this cold weather. Personally, I’d rather be in sunny California, and at Santa Anita. I can’t think of anything I’d like to do more right now then sit on the rail and soak up the sun! I’m quite envious of you Californian’s and your excellent weather!

If I was actually on site at Santa Anita on Sunday, I would definitely take a look at the Grade 2 El Encino Stakes. Zenyatta took the 1 1/16 miles event last year en route to her perfect campaign. She shattered the speed record for the stakes event, stopping the clock in a lightning fast 1:40 3/5.

David Flores will be seeking his third consecutive win in this race, aboard longshot, Czechers. The daughter of Indian Charlie won a minor stakes event at Turf Paradise in her last start. Her chances are slim, but she does have a bit of speed.  It wouldn’t be the first time she pulled an upset, as she won an optional claimer at Del Mar this past summer at odds of 23-1. Good luck Flores, but it doesn’t look like you will be able to get the hat trick.

Lethal Heat was my top pick in the Monrovia Handicap. She was sent off at odds of 4-1 and wound up third after a rough trip. The daughter of Unusual Heat will be moving back to the synthetic after two tries on the turf. Lethal Heat will also be adding another two furlongs in distance compared to her last try. Cathy Sutherland should do bang up job in the irons. She offers value at odds of 9/2.

Both of Country Star‘s Grade 1 wins came over this distance. She has had a bit of trouble since generating tons of buzz as a two-year-old, but looks like she could end up being a nice older horse. The daughter of Empire Maker hasn’t raced in five months. Her last trip to the track resulted in a victory at Saratoga against optional claiming company. Robert Frankel will have her cranked and ready to go, but I don’t know if I can bet her first time back.

Life Is Sweet has been on the shelf for seven months, but her only trip over a synthetic surface resulted in a fourth by five lengths finish in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes. She is a daughter of Storm Cat, and always seems to find trouble in her races. This will be her first start for trainer John Sheriffs. Life Is Sweet was previously trained by Bill Mott.  I expect jockey Garrett Gomez to help her avoid trouble in this race. She is one of several in this race with a shot.

This race isn’t the easiest, but I will take Lethal Heat. She had a rough trip last out, and still finished third. She will be switching to her preferred surface, and will probably relish the extra distance. Think you know better than I do? Thats probably true, but leave a comment and let me know who to bet! Also, please consider signing up for the RSS feed by entering your email address in the silver box that says “eNews and Updates” in right corner of this page. Thanks for reading!

An excellent field of 8 has gathered for the $100,000 Grade 3 First Lady Handicap. This event will be contested at 6 furlongs on the dirt for fillies and mares four-years-old and up. Gulfstream Park, one of the most beautiful tracks around, will host the event. Sugar Swirl won this race fairly easy last year. Picking the winner will be hard,  but I’ll give it my best shot!

Todd Pletcher and John Velazquez will hook up to bring us Game Face, the 2-1 ML favorite. Her most recent outing was a win in an optional claimer. Prior to that she was 22 lengths behind Zaftig in the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes. Game Face won the Grade 2 Old Hat Stakes at this track. This distance is just 1/2 furlong longer than that race, so she shouldn’t have problems on that front. She could win, but I will look elsewhere because of the 2-1 price.

The speedy Any Limit for H Allen Jerkens will be my top selection. She was victorious twice this summer in Grade 2 races. Any Limit beat the formidable Wild Gams, and Zada Belle in those races. She is a “need the lead” type so that is a drawback. Her sire, Limit Out, stands for $2,500. She is a nice success story, earning over $500k thus far in her career. I’m not wild about her jockey, Cornelio Velasquez, but I expect Any Limit to run big.

J Z Warrior for Bill Mott and “Jersey Joe” Bravo is also interesting. The daughter of Harlan’s Holiday romped home two races back, in the Light Hearted Stakes at Monmouth Park. She followed that race up with another minor stakes win. J Z Warrior’s last two races are arguably her best, and she should get first run on Any Limit. You have to consider this girl.

Who do you like? Leave a comment and let me know. If you like this blog, please consider signing up for the RSS feed by entering your email address in the “eNews and Updates” box in the right corner of this page.

It’s a common belief that the progeny of Group I winner Giant’s Causeway get better as they age. Bluegrass Stakes runner-up, Cowboy Cal, does not appear to be an exception to this rule. His most recent outing was a second place finish in the Hollywood Derby, where he missed the red hot Court Vision by 3/4 length. He is one of the best horses in the barn of his trainer, Todd Pletcher. Cowboy Cal is quite adept on turf, and synthetic surfaces. If he can get the job done in the San Pasqual (gr. II) he will be a stakes winner at the ages of 2,3, and 4. I love his chances, but he won’t waltz easily into the winner’s circle.

Goodwood Stakes winner, and Breeders Cup Dirt Mile favorite, Well Armed, is back for for another attempt at the San Pasqual after finishing second to Zappa in 2008. His most recent performance was a Breeders Cup flop, where he finished ninth by ten lengths. The distance may have been a tad too short for the son of Tiznow, and the pace a bit too hot. Trainer Eion Hary says that Well Armed has been happy during his work outs, and that was how things progressed leading up to his wins last year. He is the likely favorite.

Magnum would be quite a shocker, but he is an interesting entry nonetheless. I can remember watching him run when I first started to gain interest in horse racing. He has played second fiddle to Lava Man for the better part of his career. His best race was a 2nd place finish to Lava Man in the Santa Anita Handicap all the way back in 2006. I’d love to see him win, or even hit the board, for sentimental reason. I doubt that will happen, but I hope the eight-year-old gelding finds a great home when his career is finally finished.

Slew’s Tizzy won’t be without support at the betting windows. Along with his full brother, Slew’s Tiznow, this son of Tiznow broke a track record at Hollywood in last start. Both jockey Joel Rosario, and trainer Doug O’Neill have been hot lately. I can remember when this guy was a three-year-old and he won the Lexington Stakes. He never quite lived up to the hype, and finished up track in the Belmont Stakes next time out. He could rectify that with a stellar 2009 campaign, and his last race was a perfect stepping stone.

Like I said in the first paragraph of this post, I’m going to support Cowboy Cal. He looks to be on the improve, and has never ran a bad race minus the Kentucky Derby, and his first start. Other horses to look out for are Ball Four, and Past The Point. Who do you like in the San Pasqual? Leave a comment and let me know!

I always love betting these minor stakes in New York. The racing in the Empire State is the best you will find in the AM, and Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga are my go to tracks during the day. Most people who know me, know that I prefer to wager on west coast tracks like Hollywood and Santa Anita. They are my favorites without a doubt, but since I live on the east coast I’m without them until around 3:30 PM. That’s where good ol’ New York comes in!

The Busanda is a $65k minor stakes for three-year-old fillies. The race is named after Busanda, who won the Alabama Stakes, and beat the boys in the Suburban Handicap. She also produced a son of Tom Fool named Buckpasser who was the 1966 Horse of the Year. Buckpasser was owned by Ogden Phipps, and a NY racing official once said this of him: “Generally, every horse has about a hundred faults of conformation. I would defy anybody to pick a flaw in Buckpasser“. Busanda was also a back to back winner of the now defunct Saratoga Cup.

Flashing is a clear standout on paper. She is a daughter of A.P. Indy, and Group 3 winner April Pride. Her lone start was a maiden victory where she rallied from behind and six wide to win by a 1 1/4 lengths. The second place finisher was a next out winner. Trainer Thomas Albertrani and Ramon Dominguez are a perfect 3 for 3 in the last two weeks. Dominguez has also been hot on his lonesome, winning four of his last ten, and finishing in the money seven times. I expect a huge effort from this filly.

Chocolate Pop for trainer Gary Contessa is also worth considering. She is a daughter of the Grade 1 winner, Cuvee. She bumped the break in her last race, and her trips haven’t been the best. I think if she gets a clean run she could be right there with the best of this bunch. Contessa wins a lot of these small stakes, so be wary of this girl.

Winner: Flashing

Place: Chocolate Pop

Show: Fitz Just Right

Plays:

$1 Exacta (4,6/1,4,5,6,7)

$1 Trifecta (6/1,4,5,7/1,4,5,7)

$2 Daily Double (6/1,5,8,10)

The Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes doesn’t look like much this year.  The winner will likely progress to the Louisana Derby, and with a little luck, the Kentucky Derby. Last years winner was Z Fortune, who would subsequently run second in the Arkansas Derby. Hard Spun, still undefeated at time, won the Lecomte Stakes with ease in 2007. He then went on to win the Grade 2 Lanes End, and run second in the Kentucky Derby. It doesn’t look like any of these horses have a chance to do anything of serious consequence in the future. On the flip side, they are young and ANYTHING can happen in this sport.

Indygo Mountain is my top selection. I love his sire, A.P. Indy, and he has Storm Cat on the dam’s side. A.P. Indy’s stud fee is $300k, and this guy was purchased for twice that at auction. He has a win and a second place finish from two starts. Indygo Mountain ended up second in his first race, a maiden special weight at Keeneland. His win was a smashing performance at Churchill Downs, where he stopped the clock in 1:35 2/5 for one mile. Jamie Theriot has been hot at Fair Grounds and should give trainer Brett Calhoun a good ride. Indygo Mountain is the only horse I could see going to be a force in the three-year-old division. If I’m wrong, it surely wouldn’t be the first time.

Patena is one of two stakes winners in the field. He won the $150k Display Stakes at Woodbine by a head for trainer Josie Carrol. The son of Seeking The Gold has good tactical speed. This will be his first try on traditional dirt, and his first trip away from Woodbine, so we will find out what he is made of. Robby Albarado will pick up the mount.

Steve Asmussen won this race last year with Z Fortune, and has sent Uno Mas for the title defense. Uno Mas has a stalking/midpack running style which should work to his benefit. He is a son of Macho Uno, and his most recent race was a win in a first level allowance at Fair Grounds. Asmussen’s regular rider, Shaun Bridgmahon, will be the pilot.

Due to time and budget restrictions I wont be able to wager on this race personally. If I were going to be placing a bet it would probably be win/place on Indygo Mountain. I think 5/2 would be a fair price, but I have no idea what the morning line odds maker will decide. Who do you think will win? Leave a comment and let me know!