OAK TREE AT HOLLYWOOD

POST-SCRATCHES

Fun sequence for $54k C/O, plus a $27k carry in the Super Hi-5!

3rd: S/ALW, 2yo-F, 7f (P6, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #7 Darling Ciana 5-2 WON ($3.40)
Next Best: #5 SCR
Exotics Use: #1 Table for One 9-2 4th

4th: OC/N2X, 3+, 6f-T (P5, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #2 A Lil Dumaani 3-1 2nd
Best Value: #9 Maui Mark 12-1 9th
Next Best: #8 Amazombie 5-2 WON ($4.80)
Super Add: #3 Booted 8-1 8th

5th: OC/N1X, 3+, 8.5f (P4, P3, DD, Super)

Best Value: #7 Indian Firewater 4-1 2nd
Next Best: #8 Saint Paul 7-2 4th
Exotics Use: #2 Nextdoorneighbor 3-1 3rd
Super Add: #3 SCR

6th: MSW, 2yo-F, 6.5f (P3, DD, Super)

Terrific MDN event with some 2nd/3rd timers that can improve and a couple firsters that may have to be respected; Spot will challenge P6 budgets..

Most Likely: #2 Candid Ride 7-2 9th
Best Value: #8 River’s Mambo 8-1 4th
Next Best: #5 Zazu 4-1 WON ($6.20)
Super Add: #10 Miss Radiance 8-1 8th

7th: CAL-ALW/N1X, 3+, 8.5f-T (DD, Super)

Most Likely: #5 Tiz Argent 3-1 WON ($5.20)
Next Best: #6 Lodi Red 7-2 3rd
Best Value: #7 Warren’s Tony R. 20-1 10th
Super Add: #10 Accelerant 8-1 9th

8th: MDN CLM, 2yo-F, 6f (Super, Super Hi-5)

Most Likely: #4 Darling Disarray 5-2 5th
Best Value: #10 Miss Buxley 6-1 WON ($17.20)
Next Best: #13 She’sawontontomato 9-2 4th
Exotics Use: #2 Confectionist 8-1 7th
Hi-5 Play: #9 Pacific Coast Girl 8-1 9th

<$150 P6 Play:

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

1x4x3x2x3x1 = 72 x $2 = $144

<$75 P4 Play:

5: 2-7-8
6: 2-5-8-10
7: 5-6-7-10
8: 4-10-13

3x4x4x3 = 144 x .50 = $72

by Steve Byk
first published on December 18, 2007

If having the understanding afforded three-quarters of a century around racing means anything, shouldn’t we be listening to John Nerud? The soon to be 95 year old legend sounded off on “At the Races” with me December 17 on the NYRA situation, the Breeders’ Cup and synthetic surfaces, and on every topic, Nerud remains authoritative, prescient and correct. 

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by Steve Byk
first published on December 9, 2007

It would be nice to write that Friday’s $1,000,000 Gr. III Delta Jackpot was a thrilling late season juvenile event that delivered a three horse blanket finish leaving fans excited about the upcoming sophomore season. The race appeared coming in to have a real opportunity to enjoy ramifications on the 2008 Derby Trail, and the dead heat between Bill Mott’s Z Humor and Mark Casse’s Turf War, with Gary Thomas’ Golden Yank pinballed between them, certainly should have people eager for the next round of soon-to-be-sophomore challenges. 

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by Steve Byk
first published on November 7, 2007

CUP CRITICISMS UNWARRANTED:
It’s been hard to understand the assortment of criticisms leveled at Monmouth Park and Breeders’ Cup officials since the October 26-27 event which was plagued by impossible weather. Attacks that smaller venues are inappropriate for the Cup; that Monmouth was ill-equipped for the undertaking; that betting lines were unmanageable and even that Aramark’s foodservice efforts were lacking, all seem petty and unfair given the circumstances. 

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by Steve Byk
first published on October 2, 2007 

Saturday’s main Breeders’ Cup events appear doomed to be run under difficult conditions with a turf course certain to be squishy at best and a main track potentially a quagmire. While the new grass strip comes well-regarded for its’ draining properties, the dirt oval is notorious for its’ inability to hold water and has been floated and sealed since mid-week. That reality gives pause for handicapping the 8 dirt tests with an eye on speed horses and just-off types with preferences for sloppy conditions on a surface already prone to kindness for runners of that ilk. 

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