No Sleep for Gary Contessa outdueled the Ass Man's Capeside Lady in the Iowa Distaf Breeders Cup. Great stretch duel. Contessa just interviewed and he seems pretty confident about Mayan King in the Cornhusker. Well, it will be at my expense.

Cornhusker - Good Reward - Alumni Hall - Gouldings Green - Master Command.

Coach Jimi Lee with the 3peat. Dominated the field in the Iowa Sprint.

Steve, Nice call on the Iowa Sprint. That old sucker is still plenty fast.

Whoever set the morning line odds for the Cornhusker doesn't have a clue. It seems like all 13 horses are not even close to there ML odds. EX- #12 Mayan King 15-1 ML - currently 2-1 - Maybe Contessa put down all the winnings from No Sleep on him. #11 Alumni Hall - ML 7-2 - currently 13 -1.

Hard to believe that Mayan King is going off favored here.

Interesting race with a big field and it could get scrambled in the first turn.

I'll take both Real Dandy and Three Hr Nap to win at 6-1+ and go with a 1249 ex and tri box, hoping to benefit from the rodeo on the outside.

WOW. 45 and change and nobody comes to challenge him? Siphon City looked like Ghostzapper tonight. Congrats to Dan Hurtak a very good trainer.

Nice run. Good day for Calder based horses, trainers, jocks...

Miesque's Approval... Wolfson... Castro. Now this guy.

Lots of backstretch bumping.

SUNDAY: H'Wood's Big Day
 

The holiday weekend got into a rolling swing Saturday, as several nice plays resulted in a quality afternoon. Focusing on Pine Island and eliminating Teammate and Joint Effort from the Mother Goose resulted in a fine trifecta ($262) that got the day off on the right foot.

In the Gr. I event, Bushfire stamped herself as something truly special with yet another impressive top shelf win for Eddie Kenneally. The Shug-Phipps filly was equally charming in just her third career start, and immediately figures in the Distaff picture as does any good bearer of the black silks and cherry cap...

Invasor (our 3rd choice) was every bit as good in the Suburban as he was in the Pimlico Special, and we felt foolish for thinking that the K-Mc trainee might "bounce". Fernando Jara added a handicap classic to go with his Belmont win aboard the 3.5 year old Candy Stripes bay, and Ramon Dominguez, who chose to ride Sweet Talker in California, may have a hard time getting the mount back.

At Monmouth, minutes before McLaughlin saddled Invasor, his brother Neil sent Henny Hughes (top choice) on a public workout in the Gr. III Jersey Shore. The son of Hennessy has now never been worse than 2nd in 7 career outings, with 6 of them stakes (7/4-3-0), and his 1:08+ performance here sends a shot across the bow of the entire Sprint Division. As McLaughlin told us Friday on "At the Races and Beyond", Henny Hughes will now point for Saratoga's Amsterdam and Gr. I King's Bishop with an eye towards November's Breeders' Cup at Churchill.

Elsewhere, Pommes Frites (top choice) was an easy winner for Bill Mott and Jose Santos in the Dr. Penny at PHA; Funny Cide found the winner's circle in the Gr. III Dominion Day at Woodbine, his first stakes score since the '04 JCGC, and pushed his career earnings towards $3.5MM; Marty Wolfson propelled Charlotte Weber's Miesque's Approval (top choice) to another quality stakes victory in the Firecracker at Churchill as the seven year old horse makes his way to a stud career; and at Arlington, Ronny Werner's maiden winner Kingship (7-1, 4th choice) survived a photo with Gary Tanaka's Proudinsky (2nd choice) in the Arlington Classic.

Hollywood's enormous weekend started well with a thrilling stretch duel between Jerry Hollendorfer's Somethingaboutlaura and Doug O'Neill's Maryfield, with the former prevailing in the snapshot. 15-1 Allswellthatnswell was third giving us the $41 straight trifecta. The Cash Call was all Japanese invader Dance in the Mood (2nd choice), as Sweet Talker (top choice) could just not get to the runaway in the rich event. The afternoon ended on a high, as Graph Racing's Pinata (top choice) scored from off the pace in the Landaluce at 7-1. After the scratch of Coco Belle, we pointed you to the exacta with Holly Torque Tango second.

The long day of racing wrapped up in Des Moines with a 5th 'on top' winner in Coach Jimi Lee gaining his third straight Iowa Sprint for ATRAB Preview guest Jimmy Divito. The $80 tri was there for you with Bishop Court Hill (3rd choice) and Brooker (2nd choice) following the gelding home. It would have been nice to end the night with one more big score in the Cornhusker, but of all the speed signed on, winner Siphon City was not the one we expected to run huge. Danny Hurtak's 23-1 shot ignited tote fireworks, with Three Hour Nap (2nd choice, $238 exacta), Gouldings Green (5th choice, $1,815 tri) and Good Reward (top choice, $6,050 super) following.

All in all, a pretty good Saturday in 12 races:

6 "on top" winners ($8.40, $5.20, $16.40, $2.80, $2.80, $3.20)
Mother Goose EX/TRI Boxes ($73.50, $262.50)
Firecracker EX Key ($9.40)
AP Classic EX Box ($102.00)
A Gleam EX/TRI Straight ($11.60, $43.80)
Cash Call EX Box ($32.80)
Landaluce EX Key ($54.20)
Iowa Sprint EX/TRI Keys ($18.40, $80.00)

We'll go for the gusto again today with all kinds of giveaways offered at Hollywood and a carryover adding to the guaranteed EX, TRI, P3's and P4's on the card, as well as the Poker and Astoria at BEL and Stars and Stripes at AP...

Hope you did well Saturday!

SELECTIONS: Sunday, July 2


BELMONT PARK:

8th: The 100th Astoria (L), $100,000, 2yo fillies, 5.5f

1. #1 Octave 2-1: $250k Pletcher baby came off pace in debut at 4.5
2. #7 Cool the Economy 6-1: Violette maiden chestnut rallied of poor break
A. #3 One Tough Belle 8-1: 2nd Pletch player only one here to do trip
B. #5 She's Roughin It 3-1: Asmussen Forest Camp owns experience edge


9th: The 22nd Poker H'cap (Gr. II), $100,000, 3+, 1m-T

1. #2 Remarkable News 5-2: 5 of 7 lifetime; broke maiden this trip, course
2. #1 Woodlander 12-1: Grabbing price on horse for course with hustling Coa
A. #6 Around the Cape 3-1: Mott-Live Oak player another with win this lawn
B. #4 T.D. Vance 6-1: Add Motion-Adam bay that gave us huge '05 HOF win


ARLINGTON PARK:

8th: 75th Stars and Stripes BC Turf H'cap (Gr. III), $200,000, 3+, 12f-T

1. #4 ASCERTAIN 9-2: Rare 'Best Bet' type from us.. Looks well spotted
2. #6 Silver Whistle 5-2: Everywhere grass course you look, there's Bill Mott
A. #1 Dontbotherknocking 12-1: Closer owns back class; Circling to good one
B. #1 Dreadnaught 3-1: Can't be counted on for more than minor share


HOLLYWOOD PARK:

3rd: ($200k P3) 65th Vanity H'cap (Gr. I), $300,000, F&M-3+, 9f

1. #7 Hollywood Story 4-1: I can't help myself with this mare; Adore her
2. #5 Star Parade 2-1: Vienna's tough bitch due for another good try
A. #4 Proposed 3-1: Encino/Milady winner emerging as top Cali cruiser
B. #3 Freakin Streakin 10-1: Canani poised for big day; "We're streakin'"


5th: 67th American Inv'l H'cap (Gr. II), 3+, 9f-T

1. #2 The Tin Man 2-1: What can you say about 8yo trouper? One mo' time..
2. #6 Fourty Niners Son 5-2: Drysdale runner came off shelf strong prepping
A. #7 Hendrix 5-1: Sky-kisser has been short in previous graded tries
B. #3 Willow O Wisp 3-1: Cerin's multiple black type earner must fend Tin Man


6th: ($1mm P6/carry) Alw/N1x, 3yo, 8.5f

A fabulous 3yo ALW featuring some serious horseflesh moving forward.. Tough way to start the P6..

1. #1 Really Indian 3-1: Highly regarded Drysdale colt saves all the ground
2. #3 Fighting City Hall 9-2: Mullins Cal-bred 6/3-2-0-1
A. #10 Park Him on Broadway 5-1: NY-bred draws poorly but figures close
B. #8 Tatsuji 5-1: Shirreffs great these layoffs; Moss colt had Derby buzz

Longshot exotics value: #2 Spunky Harry 15-1


7th: OC/N2X, 3+, 7.5f

1. #9 County 7-2: Drysdale stalker cuts back; Needs to go
2. #5 Secret Ridge 12-1: Price an overlay on slick Lobo; Note improved post
A. #11 Bonus Pack 5-1: $600k earner has kept good company; Court suits
B. #2 Swiss Address 6-1: Harrington red good in da hood; 5/3-1-0 here


8th: ($250k EX/TRI; $400k P4) 5th American Oaks (Gr. I), $750,000, 3yo fillies, 10f-T

1. #6 Foxysox 6-1: Gaines under-appreciated; Red can stalk and pounce
2. #5 Attima 2-1: Canani pointed for this, but plenty of speed signed on
A. #2 Sol Mi Fa 8-1: Like the tactics and move to PVal; Value player for it all
B. #7 Wait a While 5-2: Quality 'Oaks' filly broke maiden lawn; Faces company


9th: ($250k EX/TRI) 55th Triple Bend Inv'l H'cap (Gr. I), $300,000, 2+, 7f

1. #3 Publication 4-1: 7yo Petitionville gelding last Gr. win? 9/01.. Why not?
2. #6 Siren Lure 3-1: High percentage Sherman and Solis work magic
A. #7 Unfurl the Flag 6-1: Defending champ working lights out; 2nd off break
B. #4 Tricky Trevor 7-2: Tired of Hollendorfer front-runner beating me


10th: 9th Flawlessly (L), $100,000, 3yo fillies, 1m-T

1. #5 Soothsay 6-1: Nice tote on Cassidy bay that chased Sol Mi Fa last
2. #2 Silly Little Mama 5-1: McFarlane changed surface, tactics in stake win
A. #7 Tiz a Gem 6-1: Cal-bred was stakes-placed as maiden; OK in lawn bow
B. #4 Hill of Grace 8-1: Hunch play as Gallagher goes to Espo; 5 of 9 together


11th: Cal-bred MSW, 3+, 6.5f

1. #1 Marquis Form 7-2: Low % conditioner adds blinks; Colt's been close
2. #7 Sixcess 6-1: Ellis adds gogles to package; Corey his "A" jock too
A. #9 Yenisey River 15-1: Note runs in No Cal open events; Adds Norberto
B. #11 Tizmet 8-1: Debuted in stake; Exits pair of key races

Longshot exotic value: #8 Berate 12-1: Working well for debut


< $150 P6 Play: (Brutally tough sextet..)

6: 1-3
7: 5-9
8: 2-6
9: 3-4-7
10: 5
11: 1-8-9

2x2x2x3x1x3 = 72 x $2 = $144


Enjoy ANOTHER great day of racing..
Good luck..
Steve

steve ..great job..on the stakes...

Rare Best Bet
 

Steve:

I assume that your reference to AP stakes race on Sunday and your top selection as a rare best bet is a selection that you feel particularly strong about on top. As you state, i have not previously seen this type of labeling before.

Horse just won an allowance race at CD in a good time at a distance and appears will relish the 1 1/2 mile distance on the turf at AP.

Best of luck,

Paul

Kasept,it is HOT again today in "da hood."

Kasept,used your top play at Arl in the Stars n Stripes to win.Then used it 2nd to everybody (except the 2 chalks.) I JUST NEVER GET PAID WHEN BETTING THIS JOCK.Needs to grow a set and compete much better.

Sorry Scuds.. But don't feel too bad.. I used Major Rythem in with Ascertain in the Exacta wheel. Still shaking my head...

i'd like to see arravale do well in this race today(american oaks). never beaten on grass, and by a fave of mine, Arch. of course wants don't always translate into wins, but i'll be pulling for this gal.

Yea,we both missed out on a nice Major Rythm/Ascertain exacta. I thought Hernandez was good enough to get atleast a 2nd,but the guy just ...well the announcer there at that track has said it many times "has nothing extra," and that is as nice as I can be about it.

I guess all the huge bettors at Arlington, who sit in Mr. D's (Gold Club Room) played the 2 horse in that race over all....My friend said chairs and programs were airbound.....

BELMONT: $210k Carry (4th-9th)
 

A brutal afternoon Sunday as everything that went right Saturday was undone... Quick glance at the Belmont P6 Carryover ($210,000) as we're off to Saratoga with partner Barry to work on preparations for this year's Carolina Barbecue and Live Oak Cafe operations...

Enjoy the day..


SELECTIONS -- Belmont Park, 7/3/06, (P6, Races 4-9)


4: Alw/N1X, F&M-3+, 1m-T

1. #1 (poe) Untuttable Gal 12-1
2. #10 Ohbeegeewhyen 8-1 2ND
A. #7 Meribel 8-1
B. #2 Southern Protocol 7-2 WON

EX BX: $211


5: MSW-NYB, F&M-3+, 6f

1. #2 Light Classic 9-5 WON
2. #5 Carrs and Stripes 4-1
A. #8 Devilishly Fast 6-1
B. #4 Follow Me Fellas 15-1


6: Mdn Clm, F&M-3+, 1m-T

1. #3 Cape Molly Ann 15-1
2. #6 Princess Langfuhr 9-2
A. #4 Coesus 7-2 WON
B. #9 Griffin Cat 8-1


7: Alw/N1X-NYB, 3+, 1m

1. #5 Determinator 5-2 WON
2. #7 Sly Diamond Jim 3-1 2ND
A. #8 Good Going Darl 5-1 3RD
B. #6 Smoke Diamond 8-1 4TH

Your basic, everyday cold Super: $408
Tri: $80


8: 1st Castle Royale (L), $65k, 3yo fillies, 8.5f-T

1. #7 Zaynab 7-2
2. #6 Miss Shop 6-1 WON
A. #8 Ebony Rose 5-1
B. #9 Kin to the Wind 15-1


9: Alw/N1X-NYB, F&M-3+, 9f-IT

1. #5 Kat's Golden Ways 5-2
2. #1 Lookin' Swell 20-1
A. #3 Theresa's Decision 20-1
B. #7 Peg's Prayer 2-1
C. #10 Shining Wood 12-1

AArrrggghh!! Beaten out of P6 by Smitty!
Conso: $125


P6 Play:

4: 1-2-7-10
5: 2
6: 3-4-6
7: 5-8
8: 6-7
9: 1-5

4x1x3x2x2x2 = 96 x $2 = $192


Good luck..
Steve

I hate to say it but its probably my bad luck. yesterday was third time i used your picks(unsuccessfully all day of course)

Looks like Steve is alive on his ticket with the 1 and the 5.
Lans and I are alive with the 7 only. If we don't win I hope that Steve does!

Good luck steve heres hoping the 5 comes in so i can hit the pick 4.

oracle i have the 5-7 in my pick 4 for 4 dollars so im rooting for both of you

I thought that Smith gave the 7 an absolutely brutal ride in her last race. She still flew home to be 2nd. Switches to Johnny V and I think she gets the job done here.

Hey oracle, for some reason the pick 6 will pays wont come up what does it pay for the 5-7

good luck here. honk for Donk.

I can't get them up either. They had tote glitch after the 8th race with a delay in posting the prices. They won't show the pik-6 or pik-4 prices which is quite strange and lousy. Its nice to know how much you are screaming for.

1. 37.9k
5. 7.7k
7. 4.3k

37,000 for the 1
7,000 for the 4
4,000 for the 7

GOod luck guys i hope 2 of us win.

Thanx Steve!
 

just a quick shout out for a great day of handicaping- singled the 5 in the last to trim my ticket- wired by smitty?????????? go figure:(

maybe have some fireworks for you at Belmont tomorrow - Marquet Desire in the 2nd!

late

Yikes.. Sorry David.. Where were you Saturday? Or today.. It's funny because my buddy Martin seems to always play along with my tabs on off days... You kind of have to just plunge and commit and play 'em regularly I guess. Or wait till you see that I have an off day and then get on board. I seem to come back very well after an off day.

Was busy at Saratoga all day and just saw today's BEL results... A great day, but beat in the nightcap for the $12,000 P6 on a $192 ticket (Conso was $128)... The 4th race exacta ($210) and 7th race STRAIGHT superfecta ($400.. plus the $80 tri) I hope compensates for anyone who was buried Sunday by the rough outing. Plus, the 4-5-6 ($87) and 5-6-7 ($45) Pick 3's there too using the P6 plays...

I'll keep trying to send you home with a wad of cake!

Haven't seen the race as I was at SRC all day, but I guess all of us go home muttering..

Thx to you and Mike for the well-wishes...

Chuck..

My pleasure.. Thx. I'm glad you did well. There were some nice numbers off the 4th and 7th especially... I'll hop on Marquet tomorrow!

Kasept, nice handicapping the pick 6 at Belmont. Hope you played the ticket.

Steve, Easy lead+ easy fractions= no one is going to catch you . Just one of those races where the other speed horses never got there and while the 5 was moving, no way it got there in time. Not sure what happened to the 7. Saved ground on the first turn by cutting over and just never came back.

good picks steve byk
 

hey steve, good picks today. but i guarantee if i play them you will never win. i wish the stars would aline and we could all win. are you going to do picks for del mar this year?? am headed there in a few weeks.

Thx OBB..
 

OBB,

You've got it half right.. If I play them, YOU won't win!

I'll do a little Del Mar, but mostly I'll be doing Saratoga.. On Monday's ATRAB's I'll look at whatever appeals for the Toga off day (Tuesday). I've never had success historically 'where the surf meets the turf', and there will be guys here banging Del Mar on a daily basis... I'll demure to their expertese, and you should too...

BEL: 7/7/06 P6 Carryover
 

While we would love to have continued the holiday break until next week or at least the Saturday Stakes, having the extra two days to look at the Friday Belmont Carryover card proved irresistable.

The four day July 4th cap-fest ended on a high note with alternating performances between Friday night at Prairie Meadows and Monday at Belmont. Friday and Sunday were lousy, Saturday and Monday were great... Hope you picked the "right" days to play along with us!

This afternoon's Belmont P6 comes up quite tough with four turf events, two being state bred maiden specials... We're not entirely sure the P6 is "worth" playing, even with the $81,000 pool coming, as the individual races look very attractive as stand alone wagering opportunities, but we'll provide a bargain play anyhow...


SELECTIONS -- BEL, 7/7 (R4-9)

4: NYB-MSW, F&M-3+, 1m-T

1. #1 Wicked Love 6-1: Gets GoGo; Paired last and should move forward
2. #6 Sweet Corredor 4-1: Showed marked improvement 1st sod, off break
A. #5 Zip Stream 12-1: Much better on lawn; Has posted poor last 4
B. #10 Clear Heels 20-1: Grabbing tote on another much better turfing

NOTE: #4 Fairytale Story (2-1) is obvious here and needs to be used in your multis, but may be vulnerable off the layoff...


5: Clm, 4+, 9f-IT

1. #1 Victory Circle 6-1: May not like warming Serpe above, but do here
2. #6 Mikethemoondog 9-2: Cross out off turf try and Tagg trainee fits
A. #2e Contessa entry 9-2: Hard to ignore Gallopin' Gary with Corny, Eibar
B. #9 Jockey's Dream 4-1: Frankel takes off blinks, puts on Gomez

NOTE: #8 Peace Emblem is a use if he goes.. Scratch candidate for Saturday try..

LONGSHOT WATCH: #5 Stage Classic (30-1) is part of rebuilding Pederson's string, and though long in the tooth, has back figs that make him competitive for tote boost underneath if Jen has him dialed in. Capable conditioner likely out to prove herself anew, and finds Jara for this opp...


6: NYB-OC/N2X, F&M-3+, 6.5f

1. #4 Little Miss Zip 2-1: Best on paper and likely in flesh for Puglisi, Klesaris
2. #6 What's Your Point 9-2: Highly-skilled Pecararo tabs Johnny V (50% J-T)
A. #1 Girl in Uniform 3-1: Purdy-bred came back nice in slop romp for Rice
B. #8 Cassette Case 6-1: Consistent check earner for Lake rarely off board


7: Clm, F&M-3+, 6f-IT

1. #6 Town Charmer 6-1: Lost Pablo last time; Most likely to "run her race"
2. #9 Loves to Peak 6-1: Contessa 17% with new trainees; gets Morales
A. #3 Brooke Haley 10-1: Tony D. goes to Johnny V., a rare request
B. #1 Diana Rose 10-1: My man Sciacca having good meet; Exotics booster

NOTE: #4 Classic Expression (5-2) adds another element to what makes this a hard P6. Like Fairytale Story, comes back at a low tab and while capable and a multi race-must use, appears beatable.


8: The Ziggy's Boy (L), $65,000, 3yo's, 6f

1. #4 Fabulous Strike 5-2: Philly Flash accounted well in Gr. I Woody
2. #6 Urban Guy 6-1: Tried in Gr. III Jacobs; Tough in this type of stake
3. #5 Luxembourg 3-1: Game third to Bernardini in Gr. III Withers

NOTE: #1 Saint Daimon (7-2) wheels back in 6 days, classic Allen Jerkens move, after viewing Henny Hughes' tail from 10 in the Gr. III Jersey Shore.


9: NYB-MSW, 3+, 8.5f-T

1. #5 Saturday's Cat 6-1: Romans been trying to get Purdy-bred onto lawn
2. #1 Gold Key 3-1: Note Sacco blew out debut placer in mud; Shows intent
A. #4 Not on My Turf 7-2: Potential fave 2nd in lone turf try; Hill to Gomez
B. #9 One Goodnight 8-1: Hertler-Jara solid together; Red has sought sod

LONGSHOT ALERT: #7 Anxious Contender (30-1): Good 'ol Mike Shevy can spring upsets, and repeat of this Flying Zee-bred's September '05 mud-to-turf effort could put him in the super at a likely huge number.

NOTE: Should #12 Conrad's Crossing draw in, Hauswald gelding becomes an immediate player for all the money.


Bargain P6 Play:

4: 1-4-5-6
5: 1-6
6: 1-4-6
7: 6
8: 4-6
9: 5

4x2x3x1x2x1 = 48 x $2 = $96


$5 Grand Slam:

5: 1
6: 4
7: 6
8: 1-4-5-6

1x1x1x4 = 4 x $5 = $20


$1 P4:

6: 1-4-6
7: 3-4-6-9
8: 4
9: 1-4-5-9

3x4x1x4 = $48


Good luck!
Steve

Why the individual can be greater than the whole..
 

A $540 Super and $180 Tri to start the afternoon.. As suggested, the individual races in this sequence may be more lucrative than trying for the big score... To quote Joe Jackson, "so there goes your proof.." Key here obviously was including the 22-1 exotics booster Zip Stream (5)..

wow your long shot just busted out the pick 6 congrats

And more proof that this was a good day to focus on the races and not the P6, though it will not surprise me a lick if there are many still alive after this 39-1 score by Jara. If I noticed this horse, the deep ticket slicksters certainly did..