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! (Keep in mind, all selections in scheduled grass races assume race stays on turf).
Race 1: 5 – 2 – 1
The babies kick off today’s very good Sunday card, going 4 ½ furlongs. To the surprise of no one, Larry Rivelli is locked and loaded with his 2yo’s and unleashes precociously-bred #5 Shezafunkydrummer (9-5). The daughter of Maclean’s Music has been working lights out, and if she breaks, will be very tough here. Feels like a stakes runner…we’ll see.
Race 2: 4 – 6 – 5
Early Pick 4 Ticket: 4,6 / ALL / 5 / 2,3,6 ($30….note, “all” button in R3 assumes race STAYS ON TURF)
I like #4 Resolution (8-1) in this maiden sprint. She finished 3rd to a few others in here last time, but there’s more speed to set up her close and the top horses have early speed and bang heads vs. each other, plus they’re hard to trust. Resolution could come over the top late at a price, and she’s improving by the Beyers, receiving a career high of 48 last time.
Race 3: 8 – 7 – 4
If this race stays on turf, I like firster #8 Red Rizzler (15-1) for Rosin. I touted him last time, but the race was switched to dirt. He has turf breeding on the dam side and will appreciate the lawn if he gets that today. There’s not a panic drop down to maiden claiming, so connections must feel like he’s got some potential. He’ll have to hope #7 Ravin’s Town gets pressed early, but in these turf sprints, there’s usually a good amount of pace up front. It’s wide-open unless you feel the Rivelli will simply wire ‘em, which is always possible.
Race 4: 5 – 3 – 2
Similar to the previous race where many will pick Rivelli’s horse, I’ll do the same here with the return of #5 Kennesaw (9-5). While the long layoff is obviously a concern, he is TONS the class and faster than all of these by far if he can run even 80%+ his potential. He’s been working fast for his 2024 debut and should have the lead early. If he’s ready to go, he’s a very likely winner today.
Race 5: 6 – 2 – 3
Late Pick 4 Ticket: 1,2,3,5,6,8 / 1 / 2,8,10 / 5,8 ($18)
This is a very nice field of allowance runners going 6 ½ furlongs. The pace appears to be lively early, but there are also some question marks. I’m choosing one of those “fuzzies” in #6 Sawyer Fox (5-1), who has not run since Sept. of last year. The 4yo Hit It a Bomb gelding is trained by Catalano and showed some massive potential last year, breaking his maiden (albeit state-bred) by 9 lengths. He’s been working lightning fast and hopefully will stalk the early speed to his inside. The presence of jockey Cohen gives me more confidence as well. Very interested to see what the gelding will do today.
Race 6: 1 – 2 – 4
#1 Command Point (9-5) crushed a bunch of these last time, and I see no reason to go against her today either. She’s very tough at this level and Cohen will be able to save ground throughout the race, and tip out in the lane. Unless she regresses 2nd time off the layoff and throws in a clunker, she’s a likely winner.
Race 7: 8 – 2 – 10
In general, I prefer younger horses vs. older ones, especially if they’re over 7yo. Therefore, I’ll go to #8 Unified Weekend (4-1), who has much more upside than others and is first off the claim for Trainer Dizeo. Leading rider Mojica takes the reins, and this colt has nice tactical speed which will allow him to save some ground into the first turn from the 8-hole. He lost last time, but it was a contested pace the whole way. Maybe Mojica will sit off a bit and be more effective.
Race 8: 8 – 5 – 1
Let’s end the card with a winner and come home with #8 McMoney (4-1) in this $25k claimer. Even though he’s lost to Category Ten in his last two, whom he faces again today, this race is scheduled for turf, and surface on which McMoney appears to be faster than dirt. I’m not in love with the quickish turnaround in two weeks, but Felix stays on and if he can save some ground on one of the turns, he’ll have a big shot in the lane with the right trip.
