Our picks for Saturday's $100,000 TVG Super 8 contest
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Here's who HRN's Reinier Macatangay likes to win the TVG Super 8 races: Monmouth Race 7
#4 Niche (8/5) – Race looks straightforward, as the Jorge Navarro runner holds the best speed figures and faces a weaker field than his recent races. In a contest where value does not matter, there is no shame in swallowing a heavy favorite.
Santa Anita Race 2
#6 Isee It in Hiseyes (5/2) – On TimeformUS, this 3-year-old colt is projected to take command of the lead through a slow pace. Facing older horses in this spot will count as a negative, but at this point he is likely maturing and getting faster. If he breaks well and there is no closer bias, the race is over.
Gulfstream Park Race 8
#9 I’m a Catman (5-1) – Whenever a horse with otherwise good form loses by 56 lengths and goes on a layoff, it is safe to say an injury occurred. After over a year on the shelf, this gelding returned running with a good fourth at Tampa Bay Downs. Granted, the trainer statistics are subpar, but this horse is spotted well.
Santa Anita Race 3
#6 Phantom Proton (3-1) – Trainer Neil Drysdale is on a roll, as TimeformUS labels him in the “hot” category. Also, the horse ran the best race of her career on April 20, earning a 115 TimeformUS Speed Figure. She noticeably showed improved speed. If she repeats the effort, it will be good enough to win in this spot.
Santa Anita Race 4
#5 Rockin Ready (3-1) – She showed a nice closing kick in all three of her starts, with the last one coming at a route distance. If this filly can move forward slightly off that second-place finish, she will win. Note how Joe Talamo gave up the mount on Jazaalah, the filly just to her inside, in order to ride this horse.
Gulfstream Park Race 10
#7 Buy Tway May (8-1) – Bottom level claiming races are difficult to handicap, but this filly did break her maiden nicely by three lengths at Tampa Bay. Two starts ago, she never received a fair pace after the half went in 48.30 for a six-furlong race. Trainer Monte Thomas spotted her well for a second win.
Santa Anita Race 6
#8 Syntax (4-1) – A few people might feel discouraged by the lack of recent wins. But ever since coming west into the Philp D’Amato barn, this 6-year-old horse has shown a good late kick for six straight races. The last two races came at one mile, which is probably too short for him. In races at nine furlongs or longer since Feb. 5, he has never lost by more than a length, and this race is at 10 furlongs.
Gulfstream Race 12
#8 Solve (5/2) – One tip for low-level claiming races is that horses who get claimed constantly are in good health. Why would connections go for a potentially lame horse at the claim box? In this case, Solve has been claimed twice in a row, and in three times out of his last four starts. The speed figures fit with this field.