Nothing to flashy about this one Goes 1 Mile of the Dirt, includes some big pedigree’s for big barns that will make for a good betting race if you can narrow down your selection.
1 Ludington nice horse that fits at the level, best going 7F and does not finish races. Hard one to back here
2 (A) Milliken gets the most interesting horse in the race title as Panther Island did in yesterday feature. This half sibling to Bondurant, Four Graces and McCracken is about as unlucky as they come. After winning in a lights out debut for a barn that just flat out does NOT win first out, he ran into Olympiad in his second start and got beat by 1/2L. Then gets hung wide at Churchill still finishing well just bested that day. Comes back for his 3yo season and out of the gate a horse veers in and flat out stops in front him used early finished well. And its gets better…. At Keeneland he is coming up the rail and going to be in a photo for the win and 16th pole he either hit rail or stumbled badly and lost all chance at a win. Goes to Churchill and either hit the gate or just hopped at start came out last and chased a fast pace where the front runners never came back. He gets another then comes back at Keeneland to be wide most of the race and finished well, There was no real trouble in that race and will forgive him for that one. Maybe at some point you just say a horse like this just finds an excuse to run poorly but eye test does not lie.
3 (A) Strong Quality is going to take money and likely be the post time favorite. Irad takes mount for Casse, adds blinkers, and has never finished off the board in 7 starts. Nothing to dislike here other than has been racing on or pressing the lead and there is plenty of pace / need the lead types here.
4 Troubleshooter will be a toss although randomly he will show up and run a decent race when he has pace to run into, which he has today.
5 (A) Petulante will be the second choice possibly contend for favoritism, Has speed but had to be hustled from the gate in all 3 previous starts and now gets Saez on who knows how to get one to break. Must use, as colt has done nothing wrong. He just could not get to Great King in his last but galloped out on by him through the turn.
6 The Skipper Too has drew the rail in his last 2 starts and today gets a better post, I will leave off my tickets but would be an underneath possibility.
7 (A) Desert Ruler had a bad trip in last breaking inside and just got buried behind horses. Jock had to take back and just sit thru the turn with no where to go. He responded well when given the chance angling out midtrack late and finished well making up ground entire stretch, was just too far back here. Since was claimed by this barn he has 2 wins, 1 – 2nd and a bad trip.
8 Causin Mayhem may very well beat me here but I have no issue tossing this horse. His lone win was a gate to wire going 1 Mile at Belmont in the Mud that was washed off the Turf and has not been on the dirt since. Its safe to say Todd Pletcher knows better than I do of what surface this horse needs to be on and Saez gets on the 5. That is enough for me to toss.
9 Montouk Point runs well just not my type so to say, same pace runs around the track. Facing winners for the first time, the lone positive is workout report has him working very well.
10 Iconic Adventure has not been seen since nearly a year ago when he broke his maiden going 1 1/8 and his previous races he was well beaten finishing in slow time. He would have to show up and be a different animal today.
11 Code Runner is another would have to be a different horse making his first start in a new barn.
Top Selection – 2 Milliken Alternate – 7 Desert Ruler Keeping it simple here with a straight WIN bet on Milliken but not a heavy press play type for me, with the 3 and 5 in here will be looking to get 6-1 or more for a small wager. If you wanted to get into verticals keying him in a Trifecta would not be a bad way to play this race either. 2 / 3,5,7 / 3,5,6.7 and flipping for a saver 3,5,7 / 2 / 3,5,6,7
