Our picks for Saturday's $100,000 TVG Super 8 contest

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Here's who HRN handicapper Reinier Macatangay likes to win the TVG Super 8 races:

Gulfstream Race 6 – #6 Most Privileged (3-1)

This filly, who unfortunately for the connections originally cost $100,000, was successful in a six-furlong maiden claimer two starts ago. After an unsuccessful attempt at one mile, she should enjoy the cutback and dropdown from the $25,000 claiming level to $6,500. The Nicks/Jaramillo combination hits 25 percent of the time.

Monmouth Race 6 – #3 Lucky Jaime (2-1)

According to TimeformUS, trainer John Servis is hot. He wins 30 percent overall and 41 percent at Monmouth Park. Those are some telling statistics. The Servis/Jimenez combination hits at a 40 percent clip, too. Oh, and this 3-year-old gelding Jimenez rides should improve in his second lifetime start. Often horses move up in this angle because the first start is used as a learning experience.

Monmouth Race 7 – #2 Zealous Scholar (5-1)

This filly seems a touch more reliable than the favorites. Note the 104 and 107 TimeformUS Speed Figures in her last two starts. A repeat of the latter might win this race. While Lady Bergan is the actual high speed figure holder with a 122 and 112 in her last three starts, she is inconsistent and throws clunkers. Zealous Scholar also shows a nice four-furlong workout on June 9, when she turned in the sixth-best time out of 68 other horses. This is the pick, by a thin margin.

Gulfstream Race 8 – #7 Homeboy (8-1)

Two-year-old maiden races filled with first timers are always a slight guess, even with some pedigree handicapping tricks. But take a look at Homeboy, who comes from a nice sprinting family underneath. African Rose and Mewannarose are both half siblings to Homeboy and competed primarily as sprinters in their careers. This race is only five furlongs, so those horses with sprinter blood should fare well. Trainer Stanley Gold is hot, and the Gold/Sanchez combination hits at 37 percent. 

Santa Anita Race 4 – #7 Tiz Toffee (5/2)

Picking a maiden in a starter allowance seems a bit odd, but it is hard to look past Tiz Toffee. The TimeformUS Pace Projector gives her the lead through a slow pace. Plus, she earned a 100 while losing her last maiden start, a number that is oddly good enough to win in this spot. Trainer Phil D’Amato knows what he is doing. If this filly can be sent to the lead from the gate, the others will not threaten her.

Santa Anita Race 5 – #9 Any Questions (7/2)

This is a half sibling to fan-favorite Runhappy. What sticks out about his past performances are the past two starts. He won by two lengths and a little more than three lengths, which are significant margins in turf racing. Flavien Prat hops aboard, and it is hard to go against this jockey in California turf races. His closing style will help, too, as the Pace Projector believes they will go quick up front.

Monmouth Race 11 – #2 Head Hunter (4-1)

Pace Projector puts this horse on the lead. Even though the pace will not be slow, at least he will be in a good position. TimeformUS rates trainer Jose Delgado a 100, and horses out of his barn returning in 20-34 days hit at an astonishing 48 percent out of 25. How is that statistic possible? This is a cheap claiming race with many bad horses, so pick one with trustworthy connections and move on.

Gulfstream Race 12 – #9 Gran Algeria (9/2)

The lack of workouts for this first-time starter is OK. Think about it this way. The fewer workouts there are, the more confident the connections probably feel. When the horse works and works without any starts, then that is a worse sign (for example, Zenyatta's son, Cozmic One, before he debuted). In this case, trainer Victor Barboza hits at 20 percent out of 337 starters, so he knows what he is doing. The Barboza/Jaramillo combination also wins at a healthy 33 percent clip. All signs look good here.