8/11: Arlington (Million Day) Byk Style
 

The Kentucky Derby of Illinois is upon us, a day that many local horse players get excited about, especially this one. The last four Million Day have been profitable, especially the Powerscourt Part II year. The rundown, BYK STYLE.

1st: Claiming 35k, 3+, 6.5f, (DD,P3)

1. #2 Conner's Brittany (5/2)
2. #6 Ripe Tomato (7/2)
A. #3 Nonesuch Kiss (9/2)

2nd: Claiming 18k, 3+, 8f (P3,P4)

1. #2 Okie Dozer (4/1)
2. #1 Clerpark (2/1)
A. #3 Wulfert Road (6/1)
B. #5 Smoked Em(7/2)

3rd: MSW, 2yr, 6f (P3)

1. #1 Take the Money (8/1)
2. #6 Gamesmanship (5/1)
A. #9 Palmerstown (7/2)
B. #8 Flatter Time (10/1)

4th: Ill Alw, 3+, 8.5 (T)

My guess it that this race will be taken off the turf to perserve the course for the more important races later (Racing Secretary should get an earful for running 4 turf races BEFORE the Million) Capping for either/or, no difference in Poly/Turf anyways :)

1. #9 Neosho Red (15/1)
2. #11 Wayoff (5/1) (Huge jock switch)
A. #3 The Alcova Kid (15/1)
B. #6 Holy Thursday (2/1)

5th: The Sea O'Erin, 3+, abt 8f (T)

Local favorite Fort Prado sure to get unloaded on, for good reason. Proctor horse Therecomesatiger will be another popular choice but not real interested

1. #1 Fort Prado (7/2)
2. #7 Galantas (4/1)
A. #3 Rapid Proof (10/1)
B. #4 Load a Chronic (12/1)

Early Pick Four
2: 1,2
3: 1,4,6,8,9
4: 1,2,3,9,11
5: 1

$50

6th: The Forward Pass, 3yr, 7f

Highly contentous race and can't fault for touting many of these

1. #3 Pirate Saint (5/1) Sure to get above this 5/1 with the plethora of options, great poly form
2. #5 Morada Key (4/1)
A. #1 Who Let the Cat In (8/1)
B. #10 Front Court (8/1)

7th: Secretatiat Stakes, 3 yr, 10f (T)

1. #3 Fleeting Shadow (15/1)
2. #2 Admiralofthefleet (3/1)
A. #4 Lattice (6/1)
B. #1 Going Ballistic (8/1)

8th: Beverly D, 3+, 9.5f (T)

Another great edition of the Bev D with plenty of story lines

1. #6 Honey Ryder (5/2)
2. #3 Irridescence (4/1)
A. #7 Royal Highness (8/1)
B. #4 Lady of Venice (9/2)

9th: The Million, 3+, 10f (T)

While light in entries, a VERY evenly matched group and another race where you can't fault touting any of the contenders

1. #1 Jambalaya (10/1)
2. #5 The Tin Man (3/1)
A. #6 Pressing (20/1)
B. #8 Danak (5/1)

250k Guaranteed Festival Pick Three
7: 2,3
8: 3,6
9: 1,3,5,8

7: 2
8: 3,6
9: 1,3,5,6,8

7: 2
8: 6
9: 1,3,5,6,8

10th: MSW, F/M, 3+, 6f

1. #10 Honey Humor (10/1)
2. #9 My Gallop (5/1)
A. #5 Elegant Warrior (10/1)
B. #1 Strikes of Thunder (7/2)

11th: The Nicole's Dream, F/M, 3+, abt 5.5f (T)

Another hard race to cap, very possible I will be using all

1. #7 Dixie's Jubilee (6/1)
2. #8 Tax Refund (6/1)
A. #4 Bluesbdancing (5/1)
B. #2 Pretty Jenny (9/2)

12th: MSW, 2yr, 6f

1. #2 Short North (10/1)
2. #7 Soar Slew Soar (5/2)
A. #4 Lava on the Run (4/1)
B. #3 Chief What (3/1)

200k Guaranteed Late Pick Four
9: 1,5
10: 1,9,10
11: 2,4,7,8,9
12: 2,7

$60

Scav,
Which sequence is the pk 3 & pk 4

grassy ass

Pick 3's in all races except the last two
Guaranteed 250k pool for races 7-9
Pick Fours in races 2 and 9

nice formatting scav. is that what you meant by Byk style?
for true Byk style you have to add color though.

Yes, I made my picks based on his format

THE "1-2/A-B" SELECTION FORMAT

Additionally, for those that missed it the last time, here is an explanation of the thinking behind my "1-2/A-B" format:

1. Best horse, at best price, with an opportunity to win (often a value play, sometimes a 'too good' ML fave)
2. Most likely winner at any price (frequently the 'most obvious' horse)
A. Horse that has chance to win but is more likely an exotics player
B. Exotics filler for tri/supers (often a short-priced 'must use' that I'm trying to beat)

Stoked about The Alcova Kid.

Won't really dig into the card until a bit later today, but that one just exploded last time -- was very impressed by the one once he got clear in the stretch.

I think the key race early in the day for hitting any pick-3s and/or pick-4s in the third race. It is an especially tough 2yo MSW to figure out. I basically agree with Scav that the first and second race will be pretty chalky.
I would go 2-5, and 1-2 in those two races respectively.
In that third race, I might take a second look at the 10, American Hustler. He is by Hussonet, who was a top sire of 2yos in South America for years. He is also out of a Boston Harbor mare, and we all know that one was one of the better 2yos of the 1990s.
On top of the pedigree, Asmussen is always tough with firsters and with 2yos in general, and while American Hustler's workouts are not exactly spectacular, he has been improving and his effort on Wednesday was solid. If he goes off at around his ML odds of 8/1, he might be a smart play.
I also like the 1,2, and 6 horses here a bit, so going deep in this one might be the only way to go.

I going with

Race 5 $50 Win #6 Spotsgone
Race 6 $50 Win #7 Man Above
Race 7 $50 Win #9 Pleasant Strike
Race 8 $50 Win #4 Lady of Venice
Race 9 $50 Win #5 The Tin Man

Race 6 $2 Pick 6 $256
6)3/5/6/7
7)1/4/5/9
8)4
9)1/5
10)3/10
11)5/8

watch the 8 in race 5. Guidry gets back aboard and I think is a viable price horse... especially since Fort Prado will be bet to nothing.

I'm no expert
 

Arl Million;I may be way off base but I'm singling the 8 Danak.The reason is weight.No other horse in this field has EVER won a race carrying 126lbs @ any distance but the 8 has won carrying131,128(going 9 panels easily),127,129,135, and when he did carry 126 he lost to a much better group.I welcome feedback on my theory.I've only been at this a short time but it's what jumped out at me.

Danak is a decent choice, but I wouldn't be singling him based strictly on weight. The Tin Man, Doctor Dino and Jambalaya consistently carry close to that weight. The horse that everyone should NOT be playing is After Market. Short rest getting 6lbs on a surface he will not like. I would be surprised to see him go off as the favored, probably 3rd choice. Dino or Danak will take money tomorrow.

I'm heading to Arlington Park first thing in the morning for an entire day of great racing. TV on ABC 4:00pm - 6:00pm eastern.

Arlington Park

R1
#6 Ripe Tomato
#5 Penny Dream
#2Conner's Brittany

R2
#3 Wulfert Road
#1 Clerpark
#5 Smoked Em
#4 El Batallon

R3
#8 Flatter Time
#1 Take the Money
#2 Boss Lafitte

R4
#6 Holy Thursday
#3 The Alcova Kid
#1 Jump 'ien
#9 Neosho Red

R5- Sea O Erin Mile 150K
#7 Galantas
#2 Therecomesatiger
#5 Tiganello (Ger)
#1 Fort Prado

R6- Forward Pass 45K
#2 Lovango
#5 Morada Key
#8 Galloping Home
#9 Happy Humor

R7- Secretariat G1
#2 ADMIRALOFTHEFLEET
#8 Shamdinan (Fr)
#9 Pleasant Strike
#1 Going Ballistic

R8- Beverly D G1
#3 Irridescence (SAf)
#6 Honey Ryder
#7 Royal Highness (Ger)
#4 Lady of Venice (Fr)

R9- Arlington Million G1
#3 Doctor Dino
#8 Danak
#1 Jambalaya
#4 After Market

R10
#5 Elegant Warrior
#2 Hark
#3 Silver Breeze
#6 Missy Wildcat

R11
#9 Ready to Talk
#3 Hot Storm
#1 Yachats
#4 Bluesdancing

R12
#4 Lava On the Run
#7 Soar Slew Soar
#8 Cinco Mayo

Ellis Park - PK4

R8
#5 Pass the Luck
#3 Annie's Runaway

R9
#4 Dictina's Boy

R10
#5 Junior College
#3 Spellbinder
#1 Red Raymond
#7 Istan

R11
#2 Rarify
#10 O'Henry's Peak

PK4 - 3 5 with 4 with 1 3 5 7 with 2 10 = $16 for $1

Good Racing Luck

aftermarket is a bill mott hartburn horse just like miesq..he is solid and will give great performance.......do not toss

I was looking hard and long at this race (3rd) tonight as well hoping to connect a score on the P3 for wagering money later.

The 2 Boss Lafitte has a very nice string of bullet works on the AP track at 5F a series of which are sub 60 sconds which on poly are more than decent.

The dreaded Breeze figs have the 4 Recapturetheglory as a Group 1 star with The 2 BL and AH as solid Group 2 or moderate class advantaged.

At 15-1 with Van Deren clicking on 40% this meet albeit small numbers (4 of 10) the work out pattern decent and the second race angle I'll take a shot with Recapturethegold over Boss Lafitte/American Hustler and try and take advantage of those that have either run or worked Arlington and will generate a price. Small reverse exacta's 4/2,10 and hope to generate enough scratch to play more seriously later in the day.

4TH 1/16 Turf

My guess it that this race will be taken off the turf to perserve the course for the more important races later (Racing Secretary should get an earful for running 4 turf races BEFORE the Million) Capping for either/or, no difference in Poly/Turf anyways

1. #9 Neosho Red (15/1)
2. #11 Wayoff (5/1) (Huge jock switch)
A. #3 The Alcova Kid (15/1)
B. #6 Holy Thursday (2/1)

If your right that it will be taken off then everything chnges as there are a number of horses here that seem almost like MTO's

Having said that why are you tossing the #1 Jump'ien with Douglas staying on after moving too quickly last race and running out of gas because of that move. If on turf the #'s are solid with almost 3 pair up's on the sheets and closing numbers are very similiar to 3,6. I agree Robbie is a trade up on the 11 but the 1 is a very competitive horse here.

Do you know something about the 9 that isn't obvious as first time grass, have never seen anything about sire Dave and Busters other than it's a great sports bar up here in Rockville (chain?) The numbers are very close to the
1's except this ones never been on green. Dam do anything special on grass?

TG wise, out of a small sampling, D&B's horses have jumped up almost 8pts. That alone is enough for me to include and play him straight. And if it goes to the Poly, his numbers are as competitive as anyone else in the field.

I am tossing the 1 because he is a hanger at short odds. I have seen the horse run multiple times and I don't care if this horse was as fast as Secretariat, he is getting zero of my money. He doesn't have the will to win in my opinion

All you need to do with Recapturetheglory is look at the opening odds on him. If he is 3 or 4/1 first click, the horse is live as live is, but if he is dead, he is a no play. She doesn't push her babies and usually sees what they have first out. Recapture broke a length slow and then got bumped around pretty bad, I expect him to hit the board tomorrow

As much as I respect you as a handicapper, not listening on this one my friend. I do not have a strong opinion on the race, but I do have a strong opinion on that horse. He has been beating up on Rob Roy, Obrigado, Red Fort, Willow O Wisp, and Out of Control, and Lava Man off a Dubai layoff. I am not too impressed. I'll let him prove me wrong at 5/2 or 3/1. It might be Euro day tomorrow on the lawn, except for Honey Ryder

Here's my take on Million Day:

Race 1:
#6 Ripe Tomato
#2Conner's Brittany
#3 Nonsuch Kiss

Race 2:
#7 Four Boy Sham
#1 Clerpark
#2 Okie Dozer

Race 3:
#10 American Hustler
#4 Recapture the Glory
#2 Boss Lafitte

Race 4:
#9 Neosho Red
#1 Jump'ien
#8 Brazen Zip

Race 5:
#1 Fort Prado
#5 Tiganello
#4 Load a Chronic
#7 Galantas

Race 6:
#2 Lovango
#1 Who Let the Cat In
#5 Morada Key
#8 Galloping Home

Race 7:
#2 Admiralofthefleet
#9 Pleasant Strike
#4 Lattice

Race 8:
#6 Honey Ryder
#3 Irridescense
#2 Lahudood
#4 Lady of Venice
#7 Royal Highness

Race 9:
#7 Stream Cat
#1 Jambalaya
#2 Sunriver
#8 Danak

Race 10:
#3 Silver Breeze
#1 Strikes of Thunder
#5 Elegant Warrior
#10 Honey's Humor

Race 11:
#8 Tax Refund
#3 Hot Storm
#5 Salt Syn
#2 Pretty Jenny

Race 12:
#4 Lava on the Run
#5 Riccochet Andy
#3 Chief What
#1 Toughluck
#9 Y Chance It

I think he's a bit overated as well, his most celebrated victory over Lava Man he was carrying 8-10lbs less than Lava Man in the Whittingham.