8/9/08 In The spotlight with Dr. SwineSmeller
Arlington Park, Races 8,9 and 10. Post 3;00 p.m. Central Daylight Time.
Back in 1871, long before Al Capone was ablaze in the city of Chicago, a conflaguration known as the Great Chicago Fire started in a small horse shed, and subsequently smoked most of the city.
Today, on the outskirts of Chicago at Arlington Park, the fire department had better set up near the starting gate and prepare for another major fire as the contestants in the first of three hot and sparky Grade 1 turf events prepare to set the Arlington grass ablazing.
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The 8th race is the $400,000 Grade I Secretariat Stakes for three year olds, going 1 1/4 miles on the soon to be burnt Arlington turf. A posse of Del Mar cowboys ride into town to claim their share of the heavy Chicago loot including top shooter, Kid Gomez. Gomez gets the reins up on 6/5 favourite,
Tizdejavu, who is indeed a de jevu of his fiery dad, Tiznow, a multiple Grade I winner of 6.4 million. Tizdejavu has already raked in $419,000 in seven lifetime starts, winning four, and he's lurking like a pyromaniac with a pocket full of matches in this spot. Trainer Gregory Fox has a modest stable, but he is known to keep some burners in his shed.
I'll play the hot dog,
Tizdejavu, for $20 WIN.....Also, I'll play a $4 straight exacta with
#6 Dejavu on top of #7 Your Round. Go Baby Go!!
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The 9th race is the $750,000 Grade I Beverly D Stakes for fillies and mares that are three years old and up. Five year old
Precious Kitten looks to be armed with a blowtorch, and her Del Mar cowboy Rafael Berjerano was seen coming riding into Illinois with a bag full of flint rocks.
Precious Kitten is owned by the always formidable and ready to fire it up, Lael stables, and she comes in fresh off a Grade I victory. In order to light up the top of the tote board today, Precious Kitten must douse a flame thrower in Dreaming of Anna, the 2006 2 year old filly Eclipse Award Champion and winner of the 2006 Breeders' Cup Juvenile for fillies. This will be no small task, but a look at Precious Kitten is convincing as she is an undeniable awesomely muscular girl. Pic here>
http://www.pedigreequery.com/precious+kitten
USA top 4 trainer Robert Frankel rides atop his ranks here, and he has had his mug shot taken with Precious Kitten 8 times in 21 starts, while finishing 2nd another 8 times, and banking a sweet 1.6 million in the process. Favoured at 9/5 on the morning line, Precious Kitten will light her blowtorch from the advantageous 3 gate, in what should indeed be a grass burner of a horse race.
I'll be hollering "Here kitty kitty" as Precious Kitten turns for home today at Arlington. I'll play
Precious Kitten for $20 WIN. Go Baby Go!!
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The 10th race is the Grade I Arlington Million, Illinois' showcase event. The race is for three year olds and up, and will go for 1 1/4 miles on what is left of the freshly scorched Arlinton turf. Four year old rising British star,
Mount Nelson, comes to Arlington by way of the Curragh. The Curragh, Ireland's world renowned top class racetrack, is well known for the thoroughbred champions that have launched their careers there and then forged onward to light up other top events around the world.
Jockey J P Murtagh and trainer Aiden O'Brien combine to make one of the most formidable turf teams known to the civilized world. This team is a threat to set the grass on fire everytime out, and the case is no different today at Arlington. Mount Nelson has posted 8 lifetime starts, going 3-1-1 for $409,000, and comes in as a flame on the rise. Mount Nelson's direct paternal bloodline is that of some of Northern Dancer's best racers, to Danzig, to Danehill, and to his champion Irish sire Rock of Gibralter.
Mount Nelson is listed at 5/2 on the morning line, and he will be challenged by 2/1 favourite, #1 Archipenko, winner of four races and $904,000 in 13 lifetime starts. Mount Nelson has drawn the #7 post in this a field of eight, which should leave him fairly clear of early trouble and in good position to pick a two wide spot going into the first turn. The capable Stream Cat will fire out from the #2 post next to Archipenko, which translates into danger on the rail, as Stream Cat is likely going to go out and press Archipenko early, making the last 1/4 mile of running a tough hot row to hoe for the both of them, therefore, hopefully setting up Mount Nelson for a scortching deep stretch run.
I'll play the British born fire breather,
Mount Nelson, for $20 WIN in the Arlington Million... And, I'll play a
$2 Exacta box coupling #7 Mount Nelson with #2 Stream Cat. Go Baby Go!!
Dr. SwineSmeller