At the Gate - Wednesday
Although Rachel Alexandra was nominated and is the top weight for Sunday?s $1 million Delaware Handicap (G2) at Delaware Park, she will not be entered to run and her next start will be against the boys again.
Majority owner Jess Jackson announced yesterday that the Preakness Stakes winner would be pointed toward the $1 million Haskell Invitational Handicap at Monmouth Park on Aug. 2.
The Del ?Cap seemed like a good spot, as she would have been heavily favored to pick up the winners share of $600,000 even though she would have been facing older for the first time in her career.
Another spot that was under consideration was the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Belmont Park on July 25, a race restricted to three-year-old fillies.
After manhandling the boys in the Preakness, she came back to trounce the field in the $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes (G1) by 19 ? lengths, although she only faces two foes in that victory.
It will be interesting to see who shows up on the Jersey Shore to take on the filly. Among those possible for the race, include Summer Bird, Munnings, and Papa Clem.
Big Drama originally was being pointed toward the Haskell, but trainer David Fawkes may switch plans and enter his colt in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (G2) instead.
The marquee event at Mountaineer Park is on Aug. 1.
We start the week at Belmont Park today with a good betting card. The feature is the $65,000 Jersey Girl Stakes, which is not one of the better wagering races on the card, with just a field of five, but it looks like we might be able to beat the 6/5 morning line chalk.
Here is today's opener from Belmont Park to get our day off to a good start:
BEL Race 1 Alw $46,000N1X (1:00 ET)
#1 Weekend Strike 9/2
#6 Blitzen Too 3/1
#7 Gran Appeal 7/2
#8 Forest Trail 5/2
Analysis: #1 Weekend Strike is making her first start since February for the Pletcher barn that is 21% winners with horses coming back off a 61-180 day layoff. Last out the filly checked in sixth in the Coconut Grove at Gulfstream Park. The filly broke inward coming out of the gate, tracked the early pace, and had nothing left in the stretch, finishing 4 1/2 lengths behind the winner. The winner of the race was Gozzip Girl, who has won three of four starts since that outing, most recently the Grade 1 American Oaks. She ran well two back off a three-month break, a runner up finish in the Sweet Chant. She has a very nice pedigree, the $350K purchase is a half to four stakes winners, including Court Vision ($1.2 million), Lord Snowdon ($502K), and Smart Surprise ($402K).
#6 Blitzen Too was not a factor last out in a seventh place finish at this condition in her first go off a six-month layoff. The filly passed her first two allowance conditions against state breds and was in the mix in a couple of open stakes including a good third two back in the rare Blend. She has a couple of wins over the turf here and tough to knock anything Clement sends out recently, the barn is hitting at a 28% clip at the meeting.
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 1,6 / 1,6,7,8
TRI: 1,6 / 1,6,7,8 / 1,4,6,7,8
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:
BEL Race 8 Jersey Girl S. (4:45 ET)
#5 Union City 9/2
#2 Slam the Cat 6/5
#3 Kiddari 5/2
#4 Datts Lady Di 7/2
Analysis: #5 Union City raced wide much of the trip in a fifth place finish in the Jostle at Philly. They went very quick early in that race and she was just run off her feet. The runner up in the race was Northern Belle, who came back to take an optional claimer for non-winners of three in her next outing at Del Park on July 11. Two back our top pick showed good early speed wiring a field of Alw-1 foes at Philly off a nine-month layoff. She is quick enough to get the lead here as she drops into restricted company and she figures to bounce back with a better effort here for the Tony D. barn.
#2 Slam the Cat is coming off a sharp win last out against Alw-1 foes, taking the field gate to wire. She has won three in a row since coming back off a six-month layoff for the Kimmel barn. She owns a solid pace profile throughout and showed two back she does not need the lead to win. Her last two figs point her as the one to beat here but the price is going to be on the short side.
Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 2,5 / 2,3,5
TRI: no play
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
R2: #2 Itobe 8/1
R2: #3 Calling My Colors 10/1
R4: #6 Dattt Echo 8/1
R5: #1 Ed?s Princess 8/1
R6: #6 Park Avenue Prince 10/1
R9: #10 Here I Go Again 8/1
Good luck today!
Although Rachel Alexandra was nominated and is the top weight for Sunday?s $1 million Delaware Handicap (G2) at Delaware Park, she will not be entered to run and her next start will be against the boys again.
Majority owner Jess Jackson announced yesterday that the Preakness Stakes winner would be pointed toward the $1 million Haskell Invitational Handicap at Monmouth Park on Aug. 2.
The Del ?Cap seemed like a good spot, as she would have been heavily favored to pick up the winners share of $600,000 even though she would have been facing older for the first time in her career.
Another spot that was under consideration was the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Belmont Park on July 25, a race restricted to three-year-old fillies.
After manhandling the boys in the Preakness, she came back to trounce the field in the $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes (G1) by 19 ? lengths, although she only faces two foes in that victory.
It will be interesting to see who shows up on the Jersey Shore to take on the filly. Among those possible for the race, include Summer Bird, Munnings, and Papa Clem.
Big Drama originally was being pointed toward the Haskell, but trainer David Fawkes may switch plans and enter his colt in the $750,000 West Virginia Derby (G2) instead.
The marquee event at Mountaineer Park is on Aug. 1.
We start the week at Belmont Park today with a good betting card. The feature is the $65,000 Jersey Girl Stakes, which is not one of the better wagering races on the card, with just a field of five, but it looks like we might be able to beat the 6/5 morning line chalk.
Here is today's opener from Belmont Park to get our day off to a good start:
BEL Race 1 Alw $46,000N1X (1:00 ET)
#1 Weekend Strike 9/2
#6 Blitzen Too 3/1
#7 Gran Appeal 7/2
#8 Forest Trail 5/2
Analysis: #1 Weekend Strike is making her first start since February for the Pletcher barn that is 21% winners with horses coming back off a 61-180 day layoff. Last out the filly checked in sixth in the Coconut Grove at Gulfstream Park. The filly broke inward coming out of the gate, tracked the early pace, and had nothing left in the stretch, finishing 4 1/2 lengths behind the winner. The winner of the race was Gozzip Girl, who has won three of four starts since that outing, most recently the Grade 1 American Oaks. She ran well two back off a three-month break, a runner up finish in the Sweet Chant. She has a very nice pedigree, the $350K purchase is a half to four stakes winners, including Court Vision ($1.2 million), Lord Snowdon ($502K), and Smart Surprise ($402K).
#6 Blitzen Too was not a factor last out in a seventh place finish at this condition in her first go off a six-month layoff. The filly passed her first two allowance conditions against state breds and was in the mix in a couple of open stakes including a good third two back in the rare Blend. She has a couple of wins over the turf here and tough to knock anything Clement sends out recently, the barn is hitting at a 28% clip at the meeting.
Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 1,6 / 1,6,7,8
TRI: 1,6 / 1,6,7,8 / 1,4,6,7,8
Today's Featured Race of the Day from Belmont Park:
BEL Race 8 Jersey Girl S. (4:45 ET)
#5 Union City 9/2
#2 Slam the Cat 6/5
#3 Kiddari 5/2
#4 Datts Lady Di 7/2
Analysis: #5 Union City raced wide much of the trip in a fifth place finish in the Jostle at Philly. They went very quick early in that race and she was just run off her feet. The runner up in the race was Northern Belle, who came back to take an optional claimer for non-winners of three in her next outing at Del Park on July 11. Two back our top pick showed good early speed wiring a field of Alw-1 foes at Philly off a nine-month layoff. She is quick enough to get the lead here as she drops into restricted company and she figures to bounce back with a better effort here for the Tony D. barn.
#2 Slam the Cat is coming off a sharp win last out against Alw-1 foes, taking the field gate to wire. She has won three in a row since coming back off a six-month layoff for the Kimmel barn. She owns a solid pace profile throughout and showed two back she does not need the lead to win. Her last two figs point her as the one to beat here but the price is going to be on the short side.
Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 2,5 / 2,3,5
TRI: no play
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
R2: #2 Itobe 8/1
R2: #3 Calling My Colors 10/1
R4: #6 Dattt Echo 8/1
R5: #1 Ed?s Princess 8/1
R6: #6 Park Avenue Prince 10/1
R9: #10 Here I Go Again 8/1
Good luck today!
