At the Gate - Wednesday
The Royal Ascot meeting got underway this morning, with history being made in the sixth and final race when the Wesley Ward trained Strike the Tiger become the first American trained horse to win a race at the prestigious meeting.
The two year old won the Windsor Castle Stakes at odds of 33/1.
Ward brought six runners over to Europe for the Royal Ascot meeting. His first starter was Cannonball, who finished sixth in the King?s Stand Stakes (G1).
Ward is known as an outstanding two year old trainer, and will start a few more horses before the meet?s closing day, which is Saturday.
Among the horse he has entered are Jealous Again in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) on Wednesday, Yogaroo in the Norfolk Stakes (G2) on Thursday, Honor in Peace in the Chesham Stakes on Friday, and Aegean in the Albany Stakes (G3) on Saturday.
Wagering is available in a U.S. based pool at TVG.com, but I would shop around among the off shore books for better prices.
Most of the British commentators and handicappers gave Ward no shot of being competitive at Royal Ascot, and he proved them wrong in a big way on Tuesday.
I think I am going to find my way to wager on his remaining runners this week, although British bookmakers may be adjusting their prices after the big upset on Tuesday.
Here is today's opener from Belmont Park to get our day off to a good start:
BEL Race 1 OClm $25,000N2X (1:00 et)
#2 Groomedforvictory 2/1
#4 The Truffle Man 9/5
#3 Mr. Bourbon Street 8/1
#1 Ziptronic 4/1
Analysis: #2 Groomedforvictory prompted the early pace, took over the lead briefly and weakened to finish seventh last out at this condition in his first try on turf. The third place finisher in that race was Stormy Success, who returned to beat $50K starter allowance company on 6/4. The gelding has run several of his best efforts over the main track here including a win in the state bred Screenland last May and a runner up finish here last June in the Mike Lee behind the ill fated Tin Cup Chalice. Looks tough to beat here on the surface switch.
#4 The Truffle Man was the beaten chalk last out, setting the early fractions and unable to hold off the winner late in a runner up finish. The gelding was making his first start off a three month break and was nearly seven lengths clear of the rest of the field in the effort. The gelding owns a solid pace profile throughout and has not missed landing in the exacta in four trips since the Jacobson barn claimed this guy for $60K last fall. It looks like a chalky exacta to start the day.
Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 9/5 or better.
EX: 2,4 / 1,2,3,4
TRI: 2,4 / 1,2,3,4 / 1,2,3,4,5
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:
BEL Race 8 OClm $50,000N2X (4:45 et)
#3 Rollers 3/1
#9 Digger 12/1
#1 Executive Fleet 8/1
#8 Mucho Macho 4/1
Analysis: #3 Rollers is back on dirt here after prompting the early pace and tiring to finish fifth last out against NY bred stakes company. The colt popped a career top four back in a runner up finish in the G3 Mr. Prospector, and we can find excuses for his efforts since. Three back was poly, two back he did not take to the Del Park main track in a highly graded race that produced three next out stakes winners. Ramon sticks and this colt gets some class relief returning to the allowance ranks.
#9 Digger drops out of stakes company in NJ where he pressed a sharp early pace and tired to finish fifth. The gelding went gate to wire two back over the main track here versus $25K starter allowance company. The ten time winner owns the edge in early pace numbers and will be the one to catch. Worth tossing in the mix here if we see most of the 12/1 ML.
Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 2/1 or better.
EX: 3,9 / 1,3,8,9
TRI: 3,9 / 1,3,8,9 / 1,3,5,8,9
Live Longshots: These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.
Belmont Park
R1: #3 Mr. Bourbon Street 8/1
R4: #6 Rock Candy Mt. 8/1
R5: #9 Prime Obsession 15/1
R5: #3 Press Only 8/1
R8: #9 Digger 12/1
R8: #1 Executive Fleet 8/1
R9: #3 American Prayer 12/1
Good luck today!
The Royal Ascot meeting got underway this morning, with history being made in the sixth and final race when the Wesley Ward trained Strike the Tiger become the first American trained horse to win a race at the prestigious meeting.
The two year old won the Windsor Castle Stakes at odds of 33/1.
Ward brought six runners over to Europe for the Royal Ascot meeting. His first starter was Cannonball, who finished sixth in the King?s Stand Stakes (G1).
Ward is known as an outstanding two year old trainer, and will start a few more horses before the meet?s closing day, which is Saturday.
Among the horse he has entered are Jealous Again in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) on Wednesday, Yogaroo in the Norfolk Stakes (G2) on Thursday, Honor in Peace in the Chesham Stakes on Friday, and Aegean in the Albany Stakes (G3) on Saturday.
Wagering is available in a U.S. based pool at TVG.com, but I would shop around among the off shore books for better prices.
Most of the British commentators and handicappers gave Ward no shot of being competitive at Royal Ascot, and he proved them wrong in a big way on Tuesday.
I think I am going to find my way to wager on his remaining runners this week, although British bookmakers may be adjusting their prices after the big upset on Tuesday.
Here is today's opener from Belmont Park to get our day off to a good start:
BEL Race 1 OClm $25,000N2X (1:00 et)
#2 Groomedforvictory 2/1
#4 The Truffle Man 9/5
#3 Mr. Bourbon Street 8/1
#1 Ziptronic 4/1
Analysis: #2 Groomedforvictory prompted the early pace, took over the lead briefly and weakened to finish seventh last out at this condition in his first try on turf. The third place finisher in that race was Stormy Success, who returned to beat $50K starter allowance company on 6/4. The gelding has run several of his best efforts over the main track here including a win in the state bred Screenland last May and a runner up finish here last June in the Mike Lee behind the ill fated Tin Cup Chalice. Looks tough to beat here on the surface switch.
#4 The Truffle Man was the beaten chalk last out, setting the early fractions and unable to hold off the winner late in a runner up finish. The gelding was making his first start off a three month break and was nearly seven lengths clear of the rest of the field in the effort. The gelding owns a solid pace profile throughout and has not missed landing in the exacta in four trips since the Jacobson barn claimed this guy for $60K last fall. It looks like a chalky exacta to start the day.
Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 9/5 or better.
EX: 2,4 / 1,2,3,4
TRI: 2,4 / 1,2,3,4 / 1,2,3,4,5
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:
BEL Race 8 OClm $50,000N2X (4:45 et)
#3 Rollers 3/1
#9 Digger 12/1
#1 Executive Fleet 8/1
#8 Mucho Macho 4/1
Analysis: #3 Rollers is back on dirt here after prompting the early pace and tiring to finish fifth last out against NY bred stakes company. The colt popped a career top four back in a runner up finish in the G3 Mr. Prospector, and we can find excuses for his efforts since. Three back was poly, two back he did not take to the Del Park main track in a highly graded race that produced three next out stakes winners. Ramon sticks and this colt gets some class relief returning to the allowance ranks.
#9 Digger drops out of stakes company in NJ where he pressed a sharp early pace and tired to finish fifth. The gelding went gate to wire two back over the main track here versus $25K starter allowance company. The ten time winner owns the edge in early pace numbers and will be the one to catch. Worth tossing in the mix here if we see most of the 12/1 ML.
Wagering
WIN: #3 to win at 2/1 or better.
EX: 3,9 / 1,3,8,9
TRI: 3,9 / 1,3,8,9 / 1,3,5,8,9
Live Longshots: These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.
Belmont Park
R1: #3 Mr. Bourbon Street 8/1
R4: #6 Rock Candy Mt. 8/1
R5: #9 Prime Obsession 15/1
R5: #3 Press Only 8/1
R8: #9 Digger 12/1
R8: #1 Executive Fleet 8/1
R9: #3 American Prayer 12/1
Good luck today!
