You can reach me on “X” @hkravets and/or email at hkravetshorse@gmail.com….. Post time is 3:40pm EST. Good luck, and CRUSH YOUR BETS!
Race 1: 1 – 2 – 3
Same class level, same result? #1 Where’d the Day Go (8-5) won nicely last time vs. these same types, and figures to kick off the card with another trip to the Winner’s Circle if he runs back to his last. Inside tactical speed is deadly going two turns at Hawthorne.
Race 2: 1 – 5 – 4
Early Pick 4 Ticket: 1,2,4,5,7 / 2,5,6,7 / 1,5,6 / 3 ($30)
You know horses in a field are struggling to find their form when I pick a horse on top that has lost his only three starts by a combined 42 lengths. But #1 Resolution (10-1) is dropping down in class, has a work over the track, and has every right to improve in this spot. How much better does he really have to run to win…and we get a price too.
Race 3: 5 – 2 – 7
First race on turf today is for conditioned claimers, and #5 Papa Yo (9-2) might just take to the lawn. He’s bred for turf on the dam side and has been racing effectively at Turfway on their Tapeta surface…plus that circuit was full of tough competition this past winter / spring. He won very nicely two-back, and last time had no chance after breaking poorly from the gate. Gets Centeno too!
Race 4: 1 – 5 – 6
This is one of my Plays of the Day! The trip on #1 Path to Success (6-1) has to be watched to be understood. The chart’s short comment says, “2-wide, lacked rally.” What it doesn’t say is Path to Success was between horses and unsettled /rank for much of the race. Not sure what the plan was last time, but I expect a much improved effort with a good rail draw and races to fall back on from a Beyer perspective.
Race 5: 3 – 5 – 6
Late Pick 4 Ticket: 3,5,6,7 / 1,2,4 / 3,4,6,7,9 / 2,6 ($60)
#3 Miss Mikos (9-5) might kick off this Pick 4 in style. The daughter of Enticed trained by Robertson ran VERY well chasing hot pace for open maiden $30k claimers last time at The Fairgrounds, receiving a very solid 70 Beyer for the level. There are others that are lightly-raced and could improve as well, but if “Mikos” runs back to her last effort, she could be very tough. I’ll spread to start the Late P4 for the simple fact that there are more questions than answers in this field, and horses can greatly improve in their 2nd career start.
Race 6: 1 – 2 – 4
A horse that’s 2-for-28 (with 10 2nd’s) and a closer going 5f are not exactly my cup of tea. That being said, #1 Simple Logic (7-2) is just that….a horse that is very consistent on the grass, has pace to run into, will save ground, and has numbers that fit vs. others. The gelding is clearly NOT a win machine, but I’m hoping Felix and Block have the right stuff to get the job done. He’ll need to find room in the stretch at the most crucial times.
Race 7: 4 – 6 – 7
#4 Alvin (7-2) did not get off to the best of starts last time and was bumped, compromising his chances from the get-go. His previous races out of town would most likely be good enough today…maybe he needed a race over the track and time to get acclimated to Chicago. Not much to beat if he runs his “A to B” effort.
Race 8: 6 – 2 – 11
Final race of the day is a doozy…tough handicapping race and a great chance to make some money with a big field of maidens on the turf. I’ll land on a price for Trainer Roussel and #6 Interlude (8-1). He raced well as a 2yo with two seconds in three starts. Centeno rides and already has a win for Roussell at the meet. The colt is training forwardly and steadily, and the son of Mendelsohn figures to take a forward move in his 3yo debut…he’ll need to as his speed figs are slightly lower than a few in here.
