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Gulfstream Park Sweet Chant Stakes

January 22nd, 2012

The feature race on Sunday at Gulfstream Park is the 19th running of the $100,000 Sweet Chant Stakes. The one mile turf race for three-year-old fillies drew a field of eight after scratches with Dayatthespa the morning line favorite.

Dayatthespa has not run since finishing ninth in the Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Churchill Downs in early November. Prior to her disappointing race there she was second in the Grade 3 Natalma at Woodbine in mid-September. Her only win came in her debut, coincidentally at Saratoga, in a turf sprint race so the mile distance is still a question mark.

Frolic’s Revenge looks the biggest danger to the favorite off her win in the $60,000 Ginger Brew Stakes over the course in late December. That was the first start on the turf for the Vindication-filly and she made the most of it. That day she sat just off the pace, which is where she is likely to be in the Sweet Chant.

Other fillies to come out of the Ginger Brew are Ready Signal, Wholelottashakin, Sisterhood and Ann of the Dance. Of the four Ann of the Dance and Wholelottashakin rate on top. They were closing strong at the end and may get a better pace even though this race is a sixteenth of a mile shorter.

Slew’s Exchange is an interesting filly on the stretch out for trainer Edward Plesa. Note that top rider John Velazaquez takes the call and Slew’s Exchange may very well out run her 10-1 morning line odds.

Scheduled as race ten on the card the Sweet Chant goes to post at 4:45 ET. The race is part of the 10-cent Pick-6 Jackpot, which starts in race 6, post time 2:53 ET, and has a carryover of just over $11,000.

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Fair Grounds Pan Zareta Stakes

January 20th, 2012

The Saturday card at Fair Grounds in New Orleans is full of stakes races and one of the best betting races on the card is the $75,000 Pan Zareta. The turf sprint drew a full field of thirteen and contention runs deep.

Four of the fillies and mares in the race are between 4-1 and 6-1 on the morning line led by the 4-1 favorite Wild About Marie. Wild About Marie loves the turf course at Fair Grounds as evident by her perfect four-for-four record, two of which were in stake races. The five-year-old mare did run in the Pan Zareta last year, but it was run at six furlongs over the main track. Next on the morning line are Rapport, Mullins Beach and Starlite Starbrite. Of the three Mullis Beach is the one to back. Rapport and Starlite Starbrite are both front-runners that may cancel each other out while Mullins Beach will be doing his best running late.

Rapport and Starlite Starbrite are not the only front-runners in the race, which should result in a mad dash at the start to get early position. Wild About Marie will have the perfect pace set up and won’t be too far off the pace. Born Indy U S A, on the other hand, has no early speed and will be out run early. The A.P. Indy-mare will be coming with a flourish late and could hit the board at a square price.

The Pan Zareta kicks off the late pick-4 on Saturday at Fair Grounds, which includes the Grade 3 LeComte Stakes for three-year-old. Post time is 5:25 ET.

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Santa Anita Pick-6 Carryover

January 18th, 2012

The January 19 card at Santa Anita got a little more interesting after a couple of long shots came in on Monday creating a carryover in the Pick-6 of over $107,000. The sequence starts in race three, a claiming sprint race, with a scheduled post time of 5:02 ET.

A field of six goes six furlongs in the pick-6 opener and I Sense Your Luck will be tough on the slight drop in class. In for $20,000 last time I Sense Your Luck finished second with a good run and was over two lengths clear of the third place horse. Maryjean drops from a start allowance race and will get a good stalking trip from the outside.

Race four is a start allowance race going two turns on the main track and drew a field of six. If Ultimate Decision reproduces his last start then it won’t be much of a race. The four-year-old Rock Hard Ten gelding won by over eleven lengths in his last race as the even-money favorite. El Tango Ray is the threat from off-the-pace if Clearance Clarence puts pressure on the top pick.

The fifth race goes to the turf for Cal-bred or sired maiden special weight runners. No one really stands out in the field so use as many as possible. Vonn Nez, Clean Break, The Grans and Lovely Sophia rate on top.

The back half of the pick-6 is another claiming sprint race, this time for fillies and mares four-years-old and upward. Russian River is looking to make amends after two straight losses as the post-time favorite. Three of her four career wins are on the turf and the other on the synthetic so the dirt is still a question mark.

With Filly Power and Dubai Macau Girl in the field the pace of the race is expected to be a good one. The best closers in the race are Victory With Class and Line One. Victory With Class is making her first start in So Cal after running in Canada and Arizona while Line One has not run since June 2011. Subpoena the Dress goes first-off-the claim for a trainer that does not start many, but retains Rafael Bejarano in the irons.

Back on the turf for race seven and Sunburn looks like the mare to beat. She comes off a short layoff, but should be able to run them down late. Meltarib beat the top pick in early December and can make amends with a better trip.

The finale is a maiden claiming race for four-year-olds and upward going six furlongs and drew a competitive field of ten. Marker Down, Father Pabst, Baron Von Red, Relentless Heat, Sky Fox and Apply drop from maiden special weight races and look to be best. Marker Down and Relentless Heat come off of long layoffs so give preference to the other three.

Bull Ring has not run since early December at Hollywood Park, but was second by a nose in his debut and is a Bob Baffert-trainee. It’s a tough way to end the day, but it could be a profitable one.

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Santa Anita Sunday Stakes

January 14th, 2012

Two stakes races on the Sunday card at Santa Anita with the Grade 2 Santa Ynez and $75,000 Paseana Handicap. Up first is the Santa Ynez.

The Grade 2 for three-year-old fillies is carded as race 4 on the day because it is expected to have a short priced favorite. Reneesgotzip was overlooked in her debut at odds of nearly 9-1, but she ran like she was 1-9. Shooting straight to the lead under jockey Corey Nakatani the Peter Miller-trained filly increased her lead and won by just over two lengths. The filly she beat, Eden’s Moon, came back to crush in her second start making Reneesgotzip the obvious choice. Eden’s Moon is a Bob Baffert-trainee and Bob sends out Candrea to upset the favorite on Sunday. Candrea returns to what she should be doing, sprinting on dirt. A fast pace favors Made to Love Her for trainer James Kasparoff and Rowdy Gal for trainer John Sadler.

Four races later is the Paseana Handicap for older fillies and mares going two turns on the main track. The 10th running drew a field of seven led by morning line favorite Vision in Gold. Vision in Gold exits a third place finish in the Grade 1 Santa Margarita in March of last year. She may be the favorite, but she is winless in two starts off the layoff and did not win her debut. Ellafitz and Briecat have a race under their belts and are the second and third choice on the morning line. Preference goes to Ellafitz who will try to wire the field has she has done in her four lifetime wins. She was a dominant winner of the Grade 2 Bayakoa Handicap in her last and this would be a sweet Bayakoa-Paseana double. Both of the all-time great fillies in the history of racing were trained by Ron McAnally. Should one of the top three not fire then look at Kayce Ace to upset. She has not run since July, but two of her three career wins have come under jockey Rafael Bejarano, who is named to ride on Sunday.

First post on Sunday is 3:30 ET with the Santa Ynez off at 5:03 and the Paseana at 7:07.

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Santa Anita Friday Pick-6 Carryover

January 13th, 2012

santaanita Santa Anita Friday Pick 6 CarryoverA couple of short-priced favorites were upset on Thursday at Santa Anita, which created a carryover in the Pick-6 for the Friday card.  The sequence starts with race three, a claiming race for four-year-olds and one mile.

Orbach is the morning line favorite with Wild Revenge the second choice.  Orbach is dropping from a turf race and his last win came at a mile at Santa Anita in October.  Star Dance MD finished third to Orbach in that race, but could be controlling speed today.  The fourth race is a sprint for maiden claimers and drew a field of twelve.  Just Meteor takes the biggest drop in the claim from maiden special weights and wins with ease if on his game.  Jack Reacher and Warren’s Tiger are others to consider.  Race six is on the turf course and is a good maiden special weight race.  She Spirit di Su is the morning line favorite for trainer Simon Callaghan, but his horses tend to need a start to show their best.  One of his other imports Slim Shadey did nothing in his first U.S. start, but won at 13-1 in impressive fashion yesterday in his second start.  It’s probably best to go deep here using Lovestealer, Antrim’s Legend, Special Charm, La Malaguena and My Sweet Candy.  Sabouli and Real Sharp are 15-1 on the morning line, but good upset with improvement. 

The back half of the Pick-6 starts with a claiming race around two-turns on the main track.  Elusive Schemes goes first off the claim for trainer Mark Glatt and comes in with a bullet five furlong drill last Friday.  He will have to catch Seven Torrents and Joyful Success then have a better late kick than Top Feeling.  Back on the turf for race seven, this time on the downhill turf course.  Whisper Louise drops from the Grade 2 Robert J Frankel on New Year’s Day and is the filly to beat in the allowance race.  Talktoomuch is the morning line favorite, but her trainer Mike Mitchell is having a tough start to the meet.  Normally a 32% trainer he is only hitting at 9% this year.  Long Lake Krista is the choice to take them wire-to-wire dropping out of a restricted stakes at one mile.  The finale is a maiden claimer going six furlongs on the main track and is a wide open affair.  Candy Sweetheart is dropping from maiden special, but drew the rail and her best start was on the Polytrack at Del Mar.  If he does not win then look to Aldadino, Cheers to Boogie, Fine and Rare, and Remember Mike to upset.

Just Meteor appears to be everyone’s single and with the other races it looks like this Pick-6 could pay very well.  Post time for race three and the start of the wager is 5:02 ET.

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