Today's Best Bets3-9. Grabbed three winners on top (1st, $9.20; 3rd, $3.30; 5th, $3.90). Only two top picks ran second Thursday -- so our winners out-paced out place finishes and that's a bonus this season! Also, our top three boxed for the $49.60/$2 tri in the 2nd. In the 5th it was top pick over third choice over second selection for the $29.40/$2 tri. And there was a smattering of other gimmicks using the picks -- but not a whole lot of value on the afternoon no matter what you did.
Attendance was nineteen-thousand-James Bond (19,007). Weather-wise it was more of the same -- kind of like living in the tropics. Some humidity. The skies were overcast for the most part. And the dailt 4pm shower hit -- although not until closer to 5pm, it rained just before the 9th but was pretty much over by the time people filtered out to their cars. The 4th and the 6th were moved off-turf -- even though the rain didn't hit until much later.
FIRST RACE
Devine Wind...Third start of season off of two improving efforts. Drops down the claiming ladder and McLaughlin picks up top jock Dominguez. Adds up.
Symbolic Cat...Going well this spring/summer.
Sovereign Kit...Improving in each 2004 start.
Mutamayyaz.
Wind in Your Face.
Born to Pic.
On dirt: Judge's Case, Hourly Storm, Sovereign Kit, Wind in Your Face, Dawn of the Condor, Kid Kaelin.
SECOND RACE
Ground Game...Showed good speed and just nipped in debut at Delaware. Big jock switch today from 10-pound bug to Velasquez.
We Love Rocky...Showed solid improvement last time.
Sync...Expect improvement in second start for Mott and with drop from MSW. Should offer some value off of dull debut.
Golden Laces.
THIRD RACE
Life Savior...Ran best race yet last time in first try for trainer. Will be tough if able to repeat.
Drama Queen...This one and Lucky Paws are coming in with simialr improving form in two starts off of layoffs.
Lucky Paws...See above.
Traci Girl.
FOURTH RACE
Caribbean Sun...Traine is excellent with firsters -- and you might recognize that sire: Elusive Quality, sire of Samrty Jones.
Yankee Trick...Might be ready to go in debut.
Red Boa...Lake almost 20% first time out of the box.
Time for Karakorum.
FIFTH RACE
Always a Hero...Just like the fact that this one is lightly raced in a field that has been knocking aournd this condition ofr a long time. This one has been going pretty well this spring/summer on dirt and could prove tough if takes to turf.
Shoalihs Tale...One win in nineteen tries. One third-place finish in four tries this year. Ugh. Tough to take with confidence but seems to be in good enough form to compete with these.
On Rye...Has yet to grab an exacta finish in 2003-2004 but ran a decent third in his second start here last year. This is his second Spa start of '04. Maybe.
Unbridled Drive.
On dirt: Always a Hero, Break the Barrier, Run to Glory, Shoahlihs Tale.
SIXTH RACE
Outlaw Kid...Should prefer this distance and class level. Tough if able to recapture form shown two and three back at Churchill.
Dynaway...Another that should move forward with drop in for a tag.
Forest Hunter...Good improving form since moving to grass.
Stealth Flier.
Defrocked.
On dirt: Harbor the Gold, Who Is Chris G, Gibbons Terrace, Tex and the City, Icicle Charlie.
SEVENTH RACE
Simply Brilliant....Nice win in debut then just missed last time in first try at this condition. Could be a good one from McGaughey.
Psych...Nice improvement is often shown in second career start and if this one can improve she'll be a contender.
Quies...Hmmm, looks capable but has been going backward over last three. Speedy grass work is interesting though.
Medal of Freedom.
EIGHTH RACE - Spinaway G2 $250K
Sense of Style...Plenty of buzz about this Biancone filly both before, and especially after her good-looking debut win here on 8/1. We'll know more after today but this could easily be one of the contenders for the 2YO filly Eclipse by year's end.
Classic Elegance...3-4 including two graded stakes. Incredible closing move to win the G2 Schuylerville.
Punch Appeal...Never ignore the Florida shippers.
Portsea.
NINTH RACE
Mt Majesty...Super set up. Moves to turf and stretches to two turns off of two nice dirt sprints.
Honorable Tam...Clearly moved forward when put on turf.
Gryffindor...Expecting a good run from this guy. Ran last two in Delaware. Improving Beyers in those sets him up well for this start.
Nick the Vest.
On dirt: Mt Majesty, Lord Sheryar, Hero's Task, One Talented Pro.
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