Coast-to-coast

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RESULTS Saturday, March 19, 2005 Picks and plays for some of the day's major stakes

It was a fun afternoon. We spent the day at Tampa Bay Downs enjoying their Derby day card -- and simulcast action from elsewhere. Our coast-to-coast plays at Tampa struggled, but we found some nice value elsewhere and that propelled us into the black for the day.

Three winners on top in thirteen races (Tampa, $5.20, $2.10; Fair Grounds, $2.80). That $2.10 price on Sun King has to be labeled 'absurd'. Sure he looked best on paper, and yes, he won, but 1-20?!? No way.

Otherwise, we benefitted from a DQ at Aqueduct (sometimes you get the bear) to grab the gimmicks in the Gotham. Also pulled in exactas and tri's at Gulfstream and Fair Grounds with our best score of the day coming on a boxed tri at Fair Grounds where our favored top pick ran out but our other three got the job done at 6-1, 2-1, and 23-1. That tri paid $547.60/$2. And we tabbed a nice, high-value exacta as our top two reversed for the $71.40/$2 gimmick in the San Felipe at Santa Anita.

We'll have to go back and really take a closer look at the stats but it seems as though we've been on quite a roll in this category: Again this week our top four combined for a superfecta, in not but, but two races (Gulfstream and Fair Grounds). Seems like since the beginning of the year that's happened a number of times in at least one race a week...

All-in-all a solid afternoon.

WAGERED: $515.00
COLLECTED: $619.30

Turf wagers are turf only

Best Bets, 3/19/05
Felt pretty good about this bunch going into the day but had some real disappointments at short prices -- and, as noted above, even the win by Sun King was disappointing because the price was absurdly short. On the other hand we had a little bit of a thrill when our 20-1 shot gave us a good try in SoCal...

Aqueduct, Race 8, Alfonsina... Ran 3rd at 1-1 (xxx, xxx, 2.60).
Tampa Bay Race 9, Snowdrops... Ran 4th @ 3-5.
Tampa Bay, Race 10, Sun King... WON... (2.10, 2.10, 2.10).
Fair Grounds, Race 7, Crimson Stag... 8th at 1-1
Santa Anita, Race 5, Shamoan... 3rd at 20-1 (xxx, xxx, 9.60)

Aqueduct: Cicada G3 $100K

Dixie Talking 27-1
Acey Deucey 5-1
Alfonsina 1-1

Wager: $5 WP on Alfonsina.
Ran 3rd.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 3-6.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 3-4-6-7.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 3-4-6-7.

Alfonsina...Zito filly ran into a good one in Gulfstream stake. Fits well with this bunch.
Salute...Let's face it, with that breeding this one could turn out to be any kind and we'll see today if she picked up some maturity during the break.
Megascape...Might slip away early and be tough to rundown.
Pelham Bay.

Aqueduct: Gotham G3 $150K

Survivalist 3-1
Galloping Grocer 6-5
Naughty New Yorker 7-2
Pavo finished 2nd was DQ'd to 4th

Wager: $5 WP on Byanosejoe.
Ran 5th at 6-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 2-5.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $14.20 on the ex box ($28.40/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $34.00 on the tri box ($68.00/$2).

Byanosejoe...Steady improvement if four starts and could be ready for this assignment.
Galloping Grocer...Should benefit from last start and will likely appreciate the one turn trip.
Naughty New Yorker...Improving NY-bred is always in the hunt.
Survivalist.

Tampa Bay: Holiday Day Inn Express $75K

Whenthedoveflies 8-5
Scattering Breezes 7-2
Relaunch Star 36-1
Placido scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on Placido.
Scratched.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Scratched.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-5-9.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-5-9.

Placido...Should be winging early and already has a couple of wins this track and trip.
Whenthedoveflies...Just behind top pick when facing the boys last time. Can do it again -- particularly with nice jock switch.
Paradise Dancer...Faced a talented Medallist on dirt last couple. Done well on turf before and not facing that kind in here.
Take A Look.

Tampa Bay: Florida Oaks $150K

R Lady Joy 6-1
Toll Taker 8-5
Gotta Rush 5-1

Wager: $5 WP on Even Again.
Ran 8th at 3-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 6-8.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 3-6-7-8.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 3-6-7-8.

Even Again...Lightly raced and just broke her maiden but looks to be improving for trainer Ward. Prado rides again after guiding her to impressive score last time across the state.
KD's Shady Lady...Worse try was against Sis City. No such foe in here.
Atlas Valley...Like top pick this one is lightly raced but looks to have some upside potential.
Gotta Rush.

Tampa Bay: Hillsborough G3 $125K

Rizzi Girl 10-1
Sister Star 4-1
Noisette 4-1
Delta Princess, Adobe Gold scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on Snowdrops.
Ran 4th at 3-5.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Scratched.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 3-4.
...$1 tri box top four.
Scratched.

Snowdrops...Talented Clement mare is always in the hunt and comes out of a G3 win at Gulfstream.
Delta Princess...Good looking stakes winner for Mott right here last month.
Noisette...Another Mott trainee. Good try in last should set her up for this.
Adobe Gold.

Tampa Bay: Tampa Bay Derby G3 $250K

Sun King 1-20
Forever Wild 27-1
Global Trader 62-1
Mighty Mecke scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on Sun King.
Collected $10.50 on the WP (2.10, 2.10).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-5.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-4-5.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-4-5.

Sun King...Could be the #1 KY Derby from the loaded Zito barn off of solid 2YO season and impressive 3YO debut. Looks tops in this bunch.
Criminal Mind...Behind a nice Pletcher runner in 3YO debut then trouble in G3 stake last time. Another chance.
Medigating...Decent try in only dirt effort -- but was that legit, or was he beating other turf types? We'll know more today.
Mighty Mecke.

Gulfstream: Herecomesthebride G3 $100K

Cape Hope 3-2
Dynamite Lass 4-1
Dansetta Light 11-1
Paddy's Daisy (5-1) completed the $243.00/$2 super.

Wager: $5 WP on Dynamite Lass.
Collected $10.00 on the WP (xxx, 4.00).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Collected $18.00 on the ex box ($18.00/$2).
...$1 tri box top three.
Collected $9.00 on the ex box.
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $42.20 on the tri box ($84.40/$2)

Dynamite Lass...Lightly raced and looks to be on the improve.
Cape Hope...Caught and passed the top pick to win a small stake last time. The one to beat.
Paddy's Daisy...Third behind top two last time. Might have need that one and should be tighter today.
Dansetta Light.

Fair Grounds: Gentilly H'cp $100K

Prince T 6-1
Encinal/entry 2-1
Betnow/entry 2-1
Z Storm 23-1

Wager: $5 WP on Crimson Stag.
Ran 8th at 1-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 2/3-8.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $29.60 on the ex box ($59.20/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $273.80 on the tri box ($547.60/$2).

Crimson Stag...Makes turf debut but has been a monster since moving in against state-breds.
Betnow/Encinal...Betnow preferred. Seems to have blossomed on the grass for Asmussen.
Prince T...Also first-time turf but off to a solid career start.
Z Storm.

Fair Grounds: Kenner BC H'cp $125K

Gold Storm 2-5
Ole Rebel 12-1
Premier Performer 19-1
Bwana Charlie completed the $87.20/$2 super.

Wager: $5 WP on Gold Storm.
Collected $12.50 on the WP (2.80, 2.20).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-4.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $6.50 on the ex box ($13.00/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $29.40 on the tri box ($58.80/$2).

Gold Storm...Turned the corner last summer. Beat the very capable Clock Stopper in latest.
Bwana Charlie...Solid 3YO sprinter last season. Decent try against older in BC Sprint. Layoff since is the concern.
Ole Rebel...Likes the track. Likes the trip. Usually in the mix.
Premier Performer.

Fair Grounds: Muniz Memorial H'cp G2 $500K

Rapid Proof 31-1
A to the Z 2-1
America Alive 10-1

Wager: $5 WP on A to the Z.
Collected $10.50 on the WP (xxx, 4.20).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 2-5.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 2-4-5-7.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 2-4-5-7.

A to the Z...SoCal invader seems on top of his game right now.
Burning Sun...Frankel/Bailey runner been going well since arriving stateside -- could be ready for top effort.
GP Fleet...Beat a number of these winning a stake here last time and will be rolling late but has to leave from outside post.
Honor in War.

Oaklawn: Rebel G3 $250K

Greater Good 9-2
Rockport Harbor 8-5
Batson Challenge 60-1

Wager: $5 W on Afleet Alex.
Ran 6th at 3-5.
...$5 exacta key Afleet Alex over next two.
Ran 6/1-2.
...$5 tri key Afleet Alex over next two.
Ran 6/1-2.

Afleet Alex...The prep race should help set him up for this. Big jock switch.
Rockport Harbor...Always leery of Derby Trail contenders that have physical ailment trouble swirling around them and this guy has been battling some minor problems. We'll get a better read of his fitness today.
Greater Good.

Santa Anita: Pasadena $75K

Chinese Dragon 7-2
Eastern Sand 8-1
Shamoan 20-1

Wager: $5 WP on Shamoan.
Ran 3rd.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 3-8.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-3-4-8.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-3-4-8.

Shamoan...Love the set-up: Stretching out after a couple of good sprints.
Sunny Sky...Just missed in G3 in US debut in November. Off since but working well.
Chattahoochee War...Improving numbers through three starts. Will have to work out a trip from the post.
Chinese Dragon.

Santa Anita: San Felipe G2 $250K

Consolidator 7-1
Giacomo 7-2
Don't Get Mad 7-2

Wager: $5 WP on Giacomo.
Collected $12.00 on the WP (xxx, 4.80).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Collected $71.40 on the ex box ($71.40/$2).
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $35.70 on the ex box.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-4-8.

Giacomo...Has been facing the best the west coast has to offer and holding his own. Best races have been at this trip. Will be rolling late.
Consolidator...Can't ignore Lukas along the Derby Trail and this one should be tighter coming out of last.
Wilko...Proved BC Juvie was no fluke by putting in a solid effort in H'wood Futurity.
Roman Ruler.

Coast-to-coast Archives...Picks, plays and results from previous weeks

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