Hot Handicapping weekend topped by Caracortado ($11) in the Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis Stakes

Those who purchased my selections this weekend were rewarded when I correctly picked the winner in 5 of 7 races. I’m hoping to continue handicapping hotly this weekend and I am looking forward to all of the stakes action! Let’s examine the races where I was successful.

Robert B. Lewis Stakes: Caracortado ($11)- I had a REALLY good feeling about this gelding. He had never failed in four tries and had already proved he could go two turns whereas the favorite had not done so. Paul Atkinson gave him a great ride and he won fairly easily. Trainer Michael Machowsky is pointing him to the San Felipe Stakes where he could meet up with Lookin at Lucky in a matchup akin to David and Goliath.

San Vicente Stakes: Sidney’s Candy ($6.60)- I believed this colt would trounce all comers in this race and he did so. He lived up to the form he showed over the summer at Del Mar. He won this race quite easily and has to be the early favorite for the Santa Anita Derby. He looked scary good and I’m really looking forward to seeing more of him.

Santa Maria Handicap: St Trinians ($4.60)- I believed that Life Is Sweet freaked when she won the Breeders Cup Ladies Classic due to the fast pace set by Careless Jewel. While she ran second, I was right to believe she couldn’t handle my top selection St Trinians who improved her record in the US to a perfect four for four. Mike Mitchell wants her next start to come in the Santa Anita Handicap. I may support her there also depending on the field!

Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship: Munnings ($4)- It seems that all this son of Speighstown really needed was a fast track. Trainer Todd Pletcher wants to target a Grade 1 race for his next start. If the track is fast he will have a heck of a chance to win.

Las Virgenes Stakes: Blind Luck ($2.40)- Who didn’t have this filly? She is incredibly fast although she narrowly got up after a perfectly timed ride by Rafeal Bejarano. I advised bettors to sit this race out because she looked overwhelmingly good, but wasn’t worth a bet at such a short price. Like many of the other previously listed horses, I can’t wait to see more of her!

This weekends lineup includes:

Fountain of Youth Stakes

Risen Star Stakes

Hutcheson Stakes

El Camino Real Derby

Mineshaft Handicap

San Carlos Handicap

San Luis Obispo Handicap

I’m going to try and best last week. It won’t be easy but I think I can do it. For information on how to get my picks click here or use the form below!

Gradedstakes.com Picks

Selections (One Month) $20.00 Selections (One Week) $5.95

Blind Luck dazzles in Hollywood Starlet

Blind Luck provided a jaw dropping performance as she drew off by seven lengths under Rafael Bejarano in the Hollywood Starlet Stakes this weekend. The two-year-old daughter of Pollard’s Vision more than made amends for falling short in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies last out. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and jockey Rafael Bejerano both expected a good run from the filly, but even they were surprised at how well she ran. She is expected to make her next start in the Grade 1 Las Virgenes Stakes in February.

I hadn’t heard of Blind Luck’s sire, so I decided to do a little investigating. Pollard’s Vision is relatively new on the sire scene. He stands in Midway, KY for Wintergreen Stallion Station. Currently an 8-year-old, he is a son of Carson City. He won first out at Saratoga by a whopping 12 1/2 lengths. His best win came in the Grade 2 Illinois Derby. He also won three Grade 3′s during his career and finished second in the Grade 1 Pimlico Special. Blind Luck is far and away the best thing he has produced so far.

My top selection, Amen Hallelujah, finished third. She prompted the pace under jockey Alex Solis, but came up short when it was time to make a move. She didn’t run too bad considering that this was her first race since the Alcibiades. I definitely think she will be a good bet next time out. Miss Heather Lee rallied along the rail to get second at 19-1 for Bob Baffert. She seems to be improving. Baffert does very well with this type of runner.

Beautician went off the favorite and finished last for trainer Ken McPeek and jockey Garrett Gomez. I’m not sure what went wrong with her, but I expect her to come back strong next out. I would think that the blinkers are going to come off. A bit of rest will probably do the trick.

I’m eagarly looking forward to next weeks races. Any early thoughts on the WL McKnight Handicap? Leave a comment and be heard!

Beautician and Blind Luck set to do battle in Hollywood Starlet

This year’s Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies was one of the best races of the year. Julien Leparoux masterfully guided She Be Wild up the rail and narrowly bested Beautician and Blind Luck for the top honors. She Be Wild is taking a much deserved rest, but Beautician and Blind Luck are back at it in the Hollywood Starlet. The fillies were separated by a mere head last out. Amen Hallelujah, Bickersons, and Rose Catherine will also vie for the win in this race.

The Hollywood Starlet has been a very strong race in years past. It is a Grade I event for two-year-old fillies over the main track at Hollywood Park over the distance of 8.5 furlongs. Laragh won the race last year after finishing third as the favorite in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in her last start. Two years ago it was Country Star who won the race. The victory came in stakes record breaking fashion, and it was her second Grade I in just three starts. Corey Nakatani holds the record for wins by a jockey at four. D Wayne Lukas has the most wins by a trainer at five, including four in a row.

Amen Hallelujah looks like a solid play here and she will be my top selection. The daughter of Montbrook has progressed strongly since racing for a tag of $40,000 in July. She broke her maiden going six furlongs at Arlington, and followed that win up with an easy score in optional claiming company. Her last race was a third place finish in the Alcibiades at Keeneland. She was only two lengths behind the winner. The filly that ran second in that race, She Be Wild, came back to win the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies. She enters the race fresh and offers good value at the morning line price of 4-1.

Trainer Ken McPeek has decided to add blinkers for Beautician after she ran second in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies last out. I’m a fan of the saying “if its not broke then don’t fix it”. I don’t really get why he is throwing them on. McPeek is no fool and I’m sure he has a good reason; I just don’t know what it is. She seemed to respond to the extra distance in her last two races. She spent most of the summer playing second fiddle to Hot Dixie Chick, but Beautician has a very good chance to break through with a win here. Don’t be surprised to see her run strong.

The favored Blind Luck couldn’t get it done last out, but looks strong here. The Hollendorfer trainee will have Rafeal Bejarano in the irons for the first time. She is working strongly and should get a strong pace to chase. If things are fast early then the closer could deliver a swift knockout punch to the field. Bejarano has been riding well this week and he does well on closers. She is a must use on top of all exotic wagers.

Rose Catherine actually regressed in terms of Beyer Speed Figures last out even though she was second in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. She earned a 91 figure in her maiden breaking win two back, but only got an 83 for her last effort. The speed ball is a daughter of Speightown. She will be making her first start over a synthetic track. Turf horses usually handle synthetic so I don’t expect that to effect her. However, the distance could be a slight problem. She needs to set unpressed and easy fractions to have a chance to win. Javier Castellano will be in the irons for Todd Pletcher.

Who do you like in the Hollywood Starlet?!

Mi Sueno headlines Darley Debutante

Things are looking good for the folks at Southern Equine Stables. House trainer Eric Guillot has saddled four winners from 11 starters at the Del Mar meet. He won the Grade 3 Sorrento Stakes with Mi Sueno a few weeks ago. That was the filly’s first win and she took the race by a whopping six lengths.

The daughter of Pulpit is working well and should only get better from here. With a little luck she could become the first Breeders Cup winner for Southern Equine.  I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Nick Hines of TVG and Southern Equine. I wish him and the rest of that operation the best of luck in this event. They are certainly holding a strong hand with this filly.

Blind Luck looks tough for Rafeal Bejarano and Jerry Hollendorfer. She broke her maiden and was claimed first out at Calder Race Course. The daughter of Pollard’s Vision earned a huge BRIS figure of 101 for that race. She completed the 4.5 furlongs in :53 1/5.

After breaking her maiden she won a $40k starter allowance at Del Mar. She enters the race with a nice six furlong move. Rafeal Bejarano is just getting back in the saddle after a bad injury so this would be a nice way to rebuild the confidence. He is one of my favorite riders and I wish him luck.

I have  a hard time seeing Necessary Evil winning this one after Mi Sueno crushed her last out. Necessary Evil beat the boys in the Grade 2 Hollywood Juvenile Championship two back and beat Mi Sueno in her debut, but it appears Mi Sueno has surpassed her and then some. You might want to include the daughter of Harlan’s Holiday underneath on exacta, trifecta, and superfecta tickets, but I wouldn’t use her on top at odds of 7/2

I think they are going to have a hard time beating Mi Sueno here at 9/5. Who is your pick?