Handicapping Stats:
359: 126 – 85 – 69 Top Choice Win: 35% Top Choice ITM: 78%
Race 1: 5-1-4
#5 Vegas Guy might have second-itis with 4 places in 7 starts. But gelding has great early speed, has a race over the surface, and finds a field he can graduate against. Wade/Diodoro combo doesn’t hurt either.
Race 2: 1-6-4
#1 Pretty Sweet ran huge 2-back with a 66 Beyer, but caught up in a wicked pace duel last time (:44 1/2). This time, Wade can either send or just sit off of other speed foe (#6). Like 4yo filly’s chances here to bounce back from previous effort.
Race 3: 2-5-3
#2 Princess Livia was coming off a long layoff last time, still finished a good 2nd despite being between horses, uncomfortably, early on. Either one of her Tampa efforts wins this pretty easily.
Race 4: 6-1-5 Beginning of Late P5, 10% takeout
First turf race of the day, going with a MN. Vikings fan’s top choice, #6 Minnesota Miracle (might we hear a special call from Paul Allen, announcer?). Will track just off of major speed inside of him, Minnesota Lucky, and hopefully go by in the stretch. Has to avoid a speed duel with that one and time it right….there’s closers ready to come over the top if these two hook up early.
Race 5: 7-5-2
Love the outside post here for #7 Outerbanks for trainer Berndt. First off the claim too, hope this gelding shows speed early from this spot, tracks, and goes by. Can’t be too far back on this surface going 5f.
Race 6: 6-4-9
Interesting MN-bred maidens, going with a price play with #6 Out Run’m (6-1). Trainer is 0/6 at the meet, but thinking here is the turn back from 1 mile to 6 1/2 will do him a lot of good. Speed figs are really not that far off top choices. Needs to be aggressive early and get some racing luck.
Race 7: 3-2-6
I would love if #3 Timeinthetavern stays at that 9-2 ML in see in the PP’s, because I believe this filly has a big shot. Will show early speed, and on paper, should be long gone…at least for quite a while. Needs to have a bit more stamina and be rated kindly.
Race 8: 2-5-1
Hard to trust anyone here, so I would go deep. #2 Bobby Boots‘ last race does not exactly exude confidence, lost by 15 3/4. But previous races have this gelding in the mix. Did stumble (literally) out of the gate….a clean break here and right trip can get the job done, drops in price by half from 12.5k to 7.5k.
