12/27: Aqueduct ($37k C/O); Santa Anita (4th-9th)
 

Endured a comprehensively poor Saturday, miss-stepping repeatedly at every venue, and capped by selection of last 4 finishers in the 13 horse Malibu. As Mel Allen might say, "How about that?" Hope I didn't completely drain your Christmas coffers, and we'll try to get it back today on a $37,222 carryover card at rain-slogged Aqueduct and at Santa Anita where Lava Man makes his highly anticipated return in the San Gabriel.

Notable among the stakes results Saturday were CLOUDY'S KNIGHT topping a wonderful 9yo season in the G2 McKnight, THE USUAL Q.T. toying with the G3 Beaufort field, and M ONE RIFLE reprizing Bob Black Jack's 2008 wire job win in the G1 Malibu. Jonathon Sheppard's Cloudy's Knight ends 2009 a head bob loss in the BC Marathon away from an undefeated campaign after more than 52 weeks on the shelf.

The two soph stakes winners on Arcadia's opening day slate are both Cal-breds, continuing a bit of a trend started at Santa Anita Breeders' Cup Weekend when Cal Flag and Dancing in Silk won events. Jim Cassidy's Unusual Heat gelding has thoroughly come to hand in the second half of the year, and ends 2009 on a 6 race win streak including yesterday's G3 and the G1 Hollywood Derby. Victor Espinoza utterly played with Beaufort field as The Usual Q. T. just kept to his task and jogged away from the field when asked, and figures to enter 2010 as this year's version of Gio Ponti. M One Rifle returns trainer and co-breeder Bruce Headley to the Grade 1 sprint spotlight, and belied the expectation that taking a bulky field post to wire would be impossible.


AQUEDUCT


POST-SCRATCHES


4th: NYB-MSW, 2yo-F, 6f (P6, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #2 Risky Rachel 2-1 WON
Best Value: #1 Silver Tax 12-1 7th
Next Best: #5 Downtown Hottie 12-1 2nd
Super Add: #4 Strategic Missle 20-1 5th


5th: NYB-MDN CLM, F&M-3+, 6f (G/S, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #12 Kaffiend 5-2 WON
Best Value: #7 Griffen Avenue 6-1 6th
Next Best: #6 Picnic Rock 7-2 3rd
Super Add: #8 Pronto Pronto 6-1 5th


6th: NYB-MDN CLM, 2yo, 6f (P4, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #1 Long Island Louie 2-1 4th
Best Value: #6 Capridge 15-1 WON
Next Best: #5 Ave. of the Pines 5-1 10th
Super Add: #11 Wana Play 9-2 9th


7th: CLM, 3+, 8.5f (P3, DD)

Brutally tough $25k CLM..

Most Likely: #3 B. B. Best 9-2 7th
Next Best: #9 Commodore Way 3-1 9th
Best Value: #6 Untoppable 5-1 8th
Exotics Use: #4 O'Kid 6-1 3rd


8th: NYB-Alex M. Robb, 3+, 8.5f (DD, Super)

Most Likely: #1 WISHFUL TOMCAT 2-5 WON
Best Value: #2 See More Spirit 12-1
Next Best: #5 Naughty New Yorker 10-1 2nd
Super Add: #6 Pegasian 15-1 3rd


9th: CLM, 3+, 8.5f (Super)

Best Value: #8 Boldly Successful 6-1
Most Likely: #9 Smooth Wind 7-2 2nd
Next Best: #7 Midwatch 3-1 WON
Super Add: #4 Bullara 6-1


@$250 P6 Carryover Play:

4: 1-2
5: 7-12
6: 1-6
7: 3-4-6-9
8: 1
9: 4-7-8-9

2x2x2x4x1x4 = 128 x $2 = $256

$2 Pick 6 (2,6,8/12,13,14/6/2/1/5,7,11,12,14) $81.00 (5 OF 6) x 4 = $324.00


<$75 P4 Play:

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

4x4x1x4 = $64



SANTA ANITA


POST-SCRATCHES


4th: 30th Cal Breeders' Champion, 2yo-F, 8.5f (P6, P3, DD, Super)

SCR #7 La Nez..

Best Value: #2 Evening Jewel 4-1 WON
Next Best: #4 Camille C 3-1 5th
Exotics Use: #3 Warren's Jitterbug 8-1 2nd


5th: CLM/N1Y, 3+, 1m-T (P3, DD, Super)

Best Value: #1 Sir Bell 10-1 7th
Most Likely: #11 Zappa 7-2 2nd
Next Best: #12 Mind the Minister 4-1 4th
Super Add: #8 The Big Wig 15-1 5th


6th: MSW, 2yo, 6f (P4, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #9 Irrefutable 5-2 WON
Best Value: #5 Uncle Greg 20-1 7th
Next Best: #6 Payment Approved 7-2 5th
Super Add: #4 Solar Rocket 4-1 4th


7th: 63rd San Gabriel (G2), 3+, 9f-T (P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #3 Proudinsky 5-2 WON
Next Best: #7 Loup Breton 9-5 2nd
Best Value: #2 Cherokee Artist 8-1 5th
Super Add: #4 Lava Man 7-2 7th


8th: ALW/N2X, 3+, 6.5f (DD, Super)

Best Value: #4 Ventana 4-1 WON
Most Likely: #5 Bestdressed 9-5 2nd
Next Best: #7 Wiredfortwotwenty 5-2 5th


9th: MSW, 2yo, 1m-T (Super High 5)

Most Likely: #7 Ace of Aces 9-5 WON
Next Best: #9 Hockley 9-2 2nd
Best Value: #4 Royal Import 6-1 3rd
Exotics Use: #3 Body Builder 8-1 4th
High 5 Play: #11 Albany Road 8-1


<$75 P4 Play:

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

3x4x3x2 = $72

$1 Pick 4 (9-3-4-5/7) 4 Correct Paid $121.90


Good luck!
Steve

AQU SCR/CHG'S


Track: MUDDY

4TH

6 Perserverance Early
8 Heck Early


5TH

1A Being Queen Early
2B Kim Karakorum Early
13 Soo's Purse Early
14 Margaro Early


6TH

3 The Ground Shook Early
10 Broadway Philly Early
12 Mystic Era Early


7TH

10 Mr. Unstoppable Early


9TH

1A Saratoga Lulaby Early
5 Ungi Blanc Early
11 Oedipus O'Neal Early
14 Smart Thinker Early

I'll go against Lava Man completely. Thus, I'll do superfecta keys of Proudinsky and Loup Breton over each along with Acclamation and Cherokee Artist in the 2nd,3rd and 4th spots

aqu

r2 - #5 sure as gold

r4 #5 downtown hottie

good luck all

never leave out a rock of g horse on the turf..

Midwatch won't be 3-1 in the 9th at Aqueduct, but is he not a lock anyways at probably 2-1?

SA SCR'S


Race 4 #7 La Nez

Race 5 #9 Global Heat

Race 8 #1 Monolingual

Race 9 #5 Sgt. Hitchens

nice call on Capridge Steve!

Good Luck Steve, hope you played that pick six.

Thx.. Was a nice overlay.

Thx for rooting along Tom.

Steve, great bounce back today with the NATURAL PK4 at SA. All top selections. Congrats

"Now there's something I dare anyone to do"

great job today at SA, remember they run there tommorrow

Thx Gus.. As JJ used to say, I'm inclined to come back like a scalded dog after a bad day. LOL...

Thx Dave! It was a good day obviously on both coasts.. The SA card today ain't much to look at. I thought FG had a better late sequence today. Headed to Philly Park shortly though, so I think I'll pass on any action until later in the week. (I'm supposed to be 'off' as Tina reminded me all weekend. Of course, there really is no 'off' in this racket).

Good luck in Philly! We'll be cheering Kickin' and Screamin'

Chuck