[Dr.SwineSmeller]

8/15/08 In The Spotlight with Dr. SwineSmeller
Saratoga Race 8, post 4:56 Eastern time. And, Del Mar Race 8, post 7:02 Pacific Time.

The featured 8th race at Saratoga today is the $150,000 Lake Placid Stakes matching a group of classy hot legged three year old fillies, going 1 1/8 miles on the grass. At first glance the field looks evenly matched in class, but the distance lover Backseat Rhythm is actually wearing both of Cinderella's glass slippers, and she was just seen heading toward the prince's ball.

Backseat Rhythm began racing as a two year old and has made 10 lifetime starts, finishing 2-1-3 in what at first appears to be an average record. The not so average though is the $367,000 in pumpkins she has picked along the way, this with only one win outside her maiden victory. Backseat Rhythm finished third in last years Breeders' Cup Juvenile for fillies, and she also grabbed a second place finish in the Grade I Frizette. No other filly in this field has faced close to that level of competition.

Jockey J J Castellano will take the reins for trainer Patrick Reynolds. Castellano's 2008 statistics suit this race well. While Castellano's name can't be found on the USA top 25 jocks list in wins, he comes in at number 10 in purse money earned. That statistic translates to Castellano stepping it up when the big money is on the line. It also says that a contingent of top shelf owners and trainers have a ton of confidence in Castellano, and when they ring his phone, they have their racers well prepared.

Backseat Rhythm is listed at 6/1 in the sunrise odds, and will break from the #6 gate with a 4 pound weight allowance under the two soft favourites. I Lost My Choo gets the sunrise nod at 3/1, while Raw Silk, a beautiful chestnut $440,000 purchase comes in at 7/2. Given an even break, this group of classy ladies just might find themselves trying to wipe Backseat Rhythm's freshly mowed grass out of their eyes when she straightens for home and charges for the wire.

I'm tuning up for a little Backseat Rhythm today at Saratoga. I'll play Backseat Rhythm for $20 WIN....I'll also play a $4 exacta box coupling #6 Backseat Rhythm with #8 Raw Silk. Go Baby Go!!
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In race 8 at Del Mar, a field of 10 two year old fillies will race 6 furlongs for a purse of $42,000. Senior veteran jockey Mike Smith gets a single mount on the card for the second consecutive day at Del Mar, and again he has drawn the far outside gate. Doggie Bear is trained by the always dangerous Doug O'Neill. The attraction to Doggie Bear comes in the form of the 15/1 sunrise odds. Doggie Bear makes her racing debut in a field of evenly matched two year olds in a race that appears to be anybody's game to win, and rarely should one let Mike Smith get off at 15/1 without a play, especially when in with a group of inexperienced two year olds claimers.

The far outside #10 gate should be an advantage at this one turn distance, as Doggie Bear is all but guaranteed a trouble free break and a clear run down the backstretch. Bowie At Saratoga gets the 5/2 favouritism, but this is Del Mar Park in California, not New York, Bowie At Srartoga may be wiping the Del Mar corral dust out of his eyes and looking for I-40 East out of LA, right along with In The Poconos, after this one. #2 Pick To Click figures to hit the tote, as Bob Baffert teams up with Jerky Gomez.

I'll play Doggie Bear horse for $12 WIN.... I'll also play a $2 exacta box coupling #10 Doggie Bear and #2 Pick To Click....Go Baby Go!!

Dr. SwineSmeller