Full Disclosure
By Tony Bada Bing
What I have done today is simply give you my brief thoughts on races 1-10 at the Big A today. Agree, disagree, whatever. I’ve highlighted my top choice in bold and that’s it. Hope it helps. Tomorrow maybe I’ll come back and tell you all the exactas you could have had playing just my mildly positive comments…. And don't forget about next week's first ever $25,000 Big Game on Derby Wars!
Race 1
1 – consistently underneath, long time at level, wet?
2 –not good enough
3 – winner on turf, not on dirt, second time blinkers
4 – turf horse
5 – responded to stretch out in last; aggressive rider will send
6 – will there be something to run at?
7 – 0-for-60 trainer
8 – question the distance
9 – for perennial low percentage barn, could he?
10 – five-year-old maiden breaker makes second start
11 – lone win was long time ago
Race 2
1 – knocking on the door, good post
2 – ugh
3 – ugh II
4 – ugh III
5 – 0-for-20
6 – what we don’t know, can beat us
7 – ugh IV
8 – ugh V
9 – second time gong for the lead?
10 – first timer has worked well
11 – probably have seen his best
Race 3
1 – belongs here, has beaten much less
2 – 1-for-5 in Sunshine State, comes north
3 – well-bred colt comes off maiden win
4 – just missed in January, should improve
5 – fields in the field
6 – Grade I placing was almost 4 years ago, good enough here
7 – tough call in open company
8 – hmmmmm
9 – fast runner enters open company as chalk – play against
Race 4
1 – Anthony Duturow/Dominguez lots of success equals low price
2 – veteran of stakes action with some decent showings
3 – veteran shows up from time-to-time when he get lone leads
4 – big step up in class will provide big odds for backers, likes the rain
1A – tries this level for eighth time
5 – NY-bred gelding with some speed; will run until he can’t
1X – doesn’t win often, Travers placing stands out; I actually liked him that Aug day
6 – another who likes the front ensures a speed dual of some sort
7 – steps up due to ballooning allowance purses
Race 5
1 – sets the pace and probably not much else
2 – finished well behind Awesome Feather
1A – field could be reduced to four, if she scratches
3 – not enough
4 – two-time grade one winner returns, 40 cents on a dollar?
5 - know her early, unfortunately also know her late fades
Race 6
2 – second start for Philly invader
3 – has finished behind winner in all five starts; in the money each time
4 – not fast enough
5 – a win today and in Wood Memorial gets him to Churchill; no, not really
6 – slow start for trainer, but starting to put winners u more frequently
1 – first start for well-bred Darley colt, but big price
7 – fared better vs. lesser
8 – looks to follow up fast slop placing with another
9 – better start, better finish – maybe
10 – can he get in front of nine others before turn?
11 – wants a wet track and likely gets it
1A & 1X – possible three Darley entries for 12-1
Race 7
1 – sure, why not?
2 – 1 for last 19
3 – lost in fog in last, but likes it wet
4 – drop back in class makes sense
5 – new trainer/jock team may spell success
6 – finds the right class, but it seems to be full
8 – blinkers on for 0-for-10 trainer, play at own risk
9 – there have been flashes of mediocrity
10 – didn’t he win the Breeders Cup Juvenile? No.
11 – damn raise in purses makes me sift through large fields, no thanks
12 – yuck
13 – threat if he gets in
14 – see above
15 – not so much
Race 8
1 – far back in first try
2 – what do you do with a frequent non-winner; don’t play at 3-1
3 – No
4 – Maybe
5 – he gets in the mix for a piece, especially with big wet number
6 – see number 2
7 – Elvis on his back, sure
8 – Cohen rides which is good enough for many to play at a price
9 – 7-2, really? Don’t see her as a stand out
10 – works on synethic surface means exactly what?
11 – would surprise
12 – No
13 – No
14 – enough
Race 9
1 – not best distance
2 – will try to take them all the way around
3 – wet track gives him a chance at double-digit odds
4 – something special, low odds to find out
5 – wet track a minus
6 – BC champ gets tough, small field for return
Race 10
1 – weak tries in graded stakes company
2 – getting lots of buzz for maiden winner
3 – turf to dirt, whatever
4 – listed stakes win over track
5 – two-time winner slowly improving, like him
6 – Pletcher’s B-team gets the call
7 – No
8 – Two-time winner gets try for three-peat
9 – always fear R. Dutrow moving up
10 – maiden-breaker in deep
11 – finished just behind Risen Star Stakes winner last fall
12 – champ has many questions to answer; too much class?
13 – only needs another $200,000 to make KY Derby
Recaps….
Mr. Dinkin took home the Friday big game by hitting seven of eleven races on the card. Jerod ended strong hitting five out of the last seven. His biggest hit on the card came in the 7th at AQU (first race of the contest) which paid $28.60 for the win-place format. McCarron took home the prize of $500 for his first place finish.
Sheldon “FakeMaven” Usprech bested a field of 123 handicappers to take home the $1,500 grand prize. FakeMaven scored on six out of the possible twelve on the card including four out of the first six. Mr. Usprech’s biggest hit came in the 10th at SA on Here To Win which paid $33.40.
Tracey Hill took home the FOY Contest by tallying up $124.10 over twelve races. Tracey was on fire to say the least as she hit ten out of the twelve contest races. Her biggest hit came on the shoulders of Sky Blazer in the 9th at GP which paid $38.60. Tracey took home the first place prize of $500.
Recaps complied and written by Josh Chicorelli