I have no problem betting a speed horse to win when there's another speedball in there. Two other speedballs I'm leery. 5 lead at all cost types and you have a crazy race. Caller One, Squirtle Squirt, Xtra Heat, Five Star Day and Snow Ridge all insist on the lead. Caller One is probably the fastest, and he set the pace in last year's BC Sprint but the 20.4 and 43.2 splits wore him down to finish 4th. Here are the early entries. I haven't decided on a betting strategy yet.
ALANNAN--I'm weary of horses who run their 2 best races in Kentucky w/their liberal drug rules. Both those races were at 7 furlongs. Bad form; he's a toss.
BET ON SUNSHINE--9 YO was 3rd in this race last year and in 1997. He has the right style here but probably isn't fast enough to be a real factor. Could maybe use 3rd in tris
CALLER ONE--Set the brutal pace last year, and if there's one horse who could get a clear lead, its him. He was 2nd to Kona Gold on July 22 and hasn't run since. A definite threat but not usable at real low odds.
CITY ZIP--3 YO also entered in turf. Probably in tough here
DELAWARE TOWNSHIP--3 wins in 4 starts at Belmont so he loves the track. Coming off a win over the track in the Forest Hills although he tracked a slow pace to do it. Won't be on lead but probably w/in striking distance. I'd like to see how he looks on the track. At 10-1 I like him; at 4-1 I dont
EL CORREDOR--Baffert; I like horses turning back in distance in races loaded w/speed. 7 wins in 9 starts and almost beat Fusaichi Pegasus over the track last year. 2 for 2 this year so he's fresh. Definite contender.
FIVE STAR DAY--no easy leads here
HOOK AND LADDER-same comment as above
I LOVE SILVER--deep closer was 5.5 behind Swept Overboard and 3 behind Kona Gold
KONA GOLD--last year's winner had a good trip. Contender but Swept Overboard went by him pretty easily.
LEFT BANK--Enough speed to stay close; enough energy to finish. 4 wins in 5 starts at Belmont. Solid contender
MOZART--5 for 9 on turf and dirt debut. I'll take my chances he doesn't win this race. Or finish anywhere close.
PEEPING TOM--could be an interesting longshot. He was 2nd in the Met Mile over the track and has won twice at Belmont. Small field and soft pace hurt him last time. Could hit board at a giant price.
SNOW RIDGE--Sorry. Not here
SQIRTLE SQUIRT--THink 6f better suits him than 7f but I thought he figured to make an easy lead last time and Left Bank still ran him down. He is capable of :43.2 half miles so he will be prompting the pace. If Caller One scratches, he could clear.
SWEPT OVERBOARD--Just beat last years winner, Kona Gold in the Ancient Title when he had a fast pace to run at. He's been compromised by several small fields where horses had the jump on him. Definite contender but don't want too low odds because he's going to probably be very wide turning for home.
XTRA HEAT--Beyer # of 121 in last looks fraudulent. An allowance race on the same card was only 2/5 slower so this 121 look about 10 pts too high. This horse also has been facing very small fields; 4 horses in last and 5 the two races before that.
YONAGUSKA--in tough
ALANNAN--I'm weary of horses who run their 2 best races in Kentucky w/their liberal drug rules. Both those races were at 7 furlongs. Bad form; he's a toss.
BET ON SUNSHINE--9 YO was 3rd in this race last year and in 1997. He has the right style here but probably isn't fast enough to be a real factor. Could maybe use 3rd in tris
CALLER ONE--Set the brutal pace last year, and if there's one horse who could get a clear lead, its him. He was 2nd to Kona Gold on July 22 and hasn't run since. A definite threat but not usable at real low odds.
CITY ZIP--3 YO also entered in turf. Probably in tough here
DELAWARE TOWNSHIP--3 wins in 4 starts at Belmont so he loves the track. Coming off a win over the track in the Forest Hills although he tracked a slow pace to do it. Won't be on lead but probably w/in striking distance. I'd like to see how he looks on the track. At 10-1 I like him; at 4-1 I dont
EL CORREDOR--Baffert; I like horses turning back in distance in races loaded w/speed. 7 wins in 9 starts and almost beat Fusaichi Pegasus over the track last year. 2 for 2 this year so he's fresh. Definite contender.
FIVE STAR DAY--no easy leads here
HOOK AND LADDER-same comment as above
I LOVE SILVER--deep closer was 5.5 behind Swept Overboard and 3 behind Kona Gold
KONA GOLD--last year's winner had a good trip. Contender but Swept Overboard went by him pretty easily.
LEFT BANK--Enough speed to stay close; enough energy to finish. 4 wins in 5 starts at Belmont. Solid contender
MOZART--5 for 9 on turf and dirt debut. I'll take my chances he doesn't win this race. Or finish anywhere close.
PEEPING TOM--could be an interesting longshot. He was 2nd in the Met Mile over the track and has won twice at Belmont. Small field and soft pace hurt him last time. Could hit board at a giant price.
SNOW RIDGE--Sorry. Not here
SQIRTLE SQUIRT--THink 6f better suits him than 7f but I thought he figured to make an easy lead last time and Left Bank still ran him down. He is capable of :43.2 half miles so he will be prompting the pace. If Caller One scratches, he could clear.
SWEPT OVERBOARD--Just beat last years winner, Kona Gold in the Ancient Title when he had a fast pace to run at. He's been compromised by several small fields where horses had the jump on him. Definite contender but don't want too low odds because he's going to probably be very wide turning for home.
XTRA HEAT--Beyer # of 121 in last looks fraudulent. An allowance race on the same card was only 2/5 slower so this 121 look about 10 pts too high. This horse also has been facing very small fields; 4 horses in last and 5 the two races before that.
YONAGUSKA--in tough
