May 21, 2012

Free Weekend Selections

Alabama Stakes

Blind Luck (8-5) This filly just seems to know where the wire is. She has won three races by a nose and is clearly the one to beat here despite being second choice on the morning line. Look for her to come flying late under jockey Joel Rosario who will be piloting her for the second time.

Arlington Million

General Quarters (8-1) Trainer Tom McCarthy made clear early in the year that this race was the goal for his colt. He has done well on the turf. He won the Woodford Reserve earlier this year against some nice horses, and if he runs his best race he can down the favored Gio Ponti.

Del Mar Oaks

Crisp (6-1) What’s not to like about this filly? She is a Grade 1 winner this year and will have the services of red hot jockey Rafael Bejarano. The daughter of El Corredor will be going 9 furlongs for the first time in career. She has proved she can beat the favored Evening Jewel, and she ran a bang up race after clipping heels last out. I give her a huge shot and could see her going off at a price larger than 6-1.

Secretariat Stakes

Wigmore Hall (5-1) Like it or not, the Europeans have better turf horses than we do and this gelding will prove that. He beat 18 older horses two races ago despite a horrendous trip. The Michael Bell trainee has won at the distance twice from four starts. Paddy O’ Prado is an amazing animal, but I think this gelding will give him everything he wants and perhaps more. That’s not to say Paddy can’t or wont win, but I like my chances on this one at a good price.

Beverley D Stakes

Hot Cha Cha (6-1) Her price won’t be as ripe with the defection of Rainbow View, but she still warrants a big look. The Grade 1 winning filly ran strong last out to be third behind Tuscan Evening. She is clearly the best filly in the race and if she runs her race she will win. I love the bullet 1:00 B work entering this race. She needs a moderate to fast pace and as long as the pace setters don’t go slow I think she wins this event.

Lake Placid Stakes

It’s Tea Time (10-1) I’ve loved this filly ever since she ran second in the Grade 1 Ashland Stakes at Keeneland. It’s hard to imagine her being 10-1 despite the fact that won an allowance last out. She has all the talent in the world and if she can get a pace to chase she will be tough to hold off in the lane.

Who do you like? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below!

Broken Dreams ($10.40) wins at Saratoga as my free pick!

Regular visitors of this website know that I participate extensively at BettorsWorld. I am selling my picks for Saratoga there, as well as here. My free pick was posted there today. That pick was Broken Dreams in the 9th race. The filly was shipping in after a strong performance at Churchill Downs. I had a great feeling she would run big, and she backed my words up with a strong win at odds of 4-1. A $2 win wager returned a healthy $10.40! Here is what I had to say about her:

Free Saratoga Pick – 7/28 – Race 9 #7 Broken Dreams (6-1) Let’s hope this filly’s name doesn’t describe our thoughts after the race. Seriously though, she has proved in two starts that she is a runner. The daughter of Broken Vow races for Tom Proctor and will be ridden by Garrett Gomez. She broke her maiden first out by a whopping 14 lengths. She returned from that effort to be second in an allowance race at CD. Look for her to run big stalking the early pace.

Saratoga hasn’t been easy thus far, but I’m doing well. Dealing with off tracks has been the worst part of the meet. I’m looking forward to Saturday’s Diana and Jim Dandy Stakes. Both features some of the best horses in their respective divisions. If you’re not on board yet then I highly encourage you to join me soon! I have every hope that I will hit both the Diana and Jim Dandy on Saturday. I also have high hopes for the late Pick 4.

Don’t get left out!

Saratoga/Del Mar Picks

Free Video Selection: Yawanna Twist in the Grade 3 Illinois Derby

The GradedStakes.Com Free Selection of the Week is Yawanna Twist in the Grade 3 Illinois Derby at 4-1. We feel strongly about his chances. Watch our video to find out more. Click here if you would like to purchase selections for all of the best races this weekend!

Free Pick for 1/25/09; Fair Grounds 6th race

Past performances for this race can be found at www.drf.com/ under the Race of the Day section. The race is for three-year-old fillies at the distance of 5.5 furlongs on the turf. It is an OC50/N1X event. This is an interesting race, and I must admit that turf sprints are hardly my forte. However, I’ll make my top pick Winning Tale at odds of 5-1. She has run into some really good horses including Delta Princess winner Quiet Temper, Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies winner She Be Wild, and Santa Ynez winner Amen Hallelujah. She will be getting a significant relief in class today. Jockey Eddie Martin Jr was aboard when she finished 2nd in the $100k La Senorita and will have the mount in this race also.

Winning Tale has a strong pedigree being a daughter of Tale of the Cat. Trainer Bret Calhoun connected at 19% with jockey Eddie Martin last year. She ran poorly last out when trying a dirt route for the first time, but I’m willing to put a line through that race. Turf is clearly her preferred surface. I expect her to get a nice trip behind the pacesetters and pounce turning for home.

Quiet Class deserves a look at 8-1 from the Ralph Nicks barn. Fransico Torres will regain the mount. He guided the filly to a first out victory at Keeneland at six furlongs over the Poly Track. She ran poorly last out when trying a turf route, but I expect a better effort here cutting back in distance. I’d hook her with my top selection Winning Tale in the exacta.

Good luck and lets hope Winning Tale can get it done!

Free Saratoga Picks 9/5/09

The Woodward Stakes is finally here! Rachel Alexandra will make history with a win at Saratoga over older males today. There is also a nice field for the Forego Stakes. Below are some select plays I like. Good luck, and enjoy watching Rachel Alexandra do what she does best; run really fast!

Race 1) #2 Kaper Lake 3-1
Trifecta: 2,9/2,6,7,9/2,6,7,9
Should get a perfect pace setup under jockey Ramon Dominguez.

Race 3) #7 Gold D’oro 5/2
Trifecta: 1,7/ALL/1,7
I love the Bill Mott/Kent Desormeaux combination. Desormeaux does particularly well on the turf, and this girl has been knocking on the door.

Race 4) #4 Our Golden Dream 7/2
Looks tough based on her race two back.

Race 5) #5 King Kitten 3-1
Kitten’s Joy progeny have been doing extremely well over the turf.

Race 9) #1 Pyro 4-1
Pick 4: 1,2,11/3/1,6,9,10/1,4,9

Dime Superfecta: 1,2,11/1,2,3,6,11/1,2,3,6,10,11
Ran well in his first race of the year after breaking poorly. He will like the distance.

Race 10) #3 Rachel Alexandra 1-2
Superfecta: 3/1,6,7/1,6,7/1,2,6,7
Obviously not the greatest bet at 1-2, but this girl can run. Make a point to watch this race because history will be made if she wins.