Equidaily Racing Journal

Coast-to-coast

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RESULTS
Saturday, April 2, 2005
Picks and plays for some of the day's major stakes

It actually wasn't a bad day. We started out a little scared that we were facing another debacle like last week -- but from the Florida Derby on things turned for the better. The wagering results came up short -- but not for lack of trying. It was just that we were hitting singles all afternoon, and to turn the corner we really need a couple of triples -- or maybe a good homerun...

On the win end a solid five winners in eleven races for a slight gain in the department (Aqueduct, $4.20; Gulfstream, $4.40; Oaklawn, $2.60; Sunland, $6.40; Santa Anita, $4.80).

And we added a nice mix of gimmicks -- unfortunately the value was low. Straight exactas in the Florida Derby as well as the stake at Oaklawn. And a nice reverse exacta in the Santa Paula at Santa Anita. Plus a few other various gimmicks that helped that bankroll...

WAGERED: $450.00
COLLECTED: $279.35


Turf wagers are turf only

Best Bets

Don't get us started! We should have eeked out a modest Best Bet profit on the afternoon -- but the stewards at Gulfstream took one away from us! Full Flow, in the 13th from Gulfstream, sat a nice ground-saving trip into the lane. As they turned for home front-runner Love to Tango drifted slightly leaving the rail open for our charging runner. Full Flow started to make a winning move up the fence when jock Castellano stood straight up in the irons as Tango put on the squeeze-play. At that point Full Flow dropped back to third and seemed -- for a moment -- done. But he gathered himself and surged again to be a clear second. The stewards looked at the video for quite awhile before leaving the results intact -- but it was truly hard to believe. The turf course doesn't have a camera angle looking straight down the stretch. Instead they use a camera on the clubhouse turn which has to look back and to the left, towards the turf stretch. Looking at the replay, as the horses turn for home and Full Flow moves up the fence, this camera angle shows Love to Tango in such a way that a viewer can see virtually the entire right-side of the horse... It's hard to imagine then that Love to Tango was maintaining a straight line, unless his butt-end was running independently of his front... Tough beat.

Gulfstream, Race 11, Unigold... 7th at 5-1.
Gulfstream, Race 13, Full Flow... 2nd at 2-1 (xxx, 3.60, 2.80).
Tampa Bay Downs, Race 7, Cullen... 3rd @ 6-5 (xxx, xxx, 2.40).
Oaklawn, Race 10, Savorthetime... WON (2.60, 2.20, 2.20).


Aqueduct: Excelsior BC Hcp G3 $200K

Offlee Wild 1-1
Rogue Agent 7-1
Cuba 14-1

Presidentialaffair scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on Offlee Wild.
Collected $17.75 on the WP (4.20, 2.90).
...$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.

Offlee Wild...Tied lifetime best Beyer in comeback race, so is a possible bounce candidate but trainer is pretty strong second time off the layoff so we'll look for him to hold it together for another good effort.
Coast Line...Lightly raced 4YO brings in a five-race streak, including the Campbell at Laurel last time where he beat the top pick.
Country Be Gold...Looks like there's going to be some speed to shoot at and this guy should be rolling late.
Presidentialaffair.


Gulfstream: Orchid Hcp G2 $150K

Honey Ryder 2-1
Ellieonthemarch 12-1
Pretty Jane 8-1

Wager: $5 WP on Briviesca.
Ran 4th at 3-2.
...$4 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-4.
...$2 tri key Briviesca over next three.
Ran 4/1-3-5.
...$1 tri key Honey Ryder over next three.
Ran 1/3-4-5.

Briviesca...Mott filly has just missed in last two on this course, and has won at the distance in France.
Honey Ryder...Beat top pick last time and is roudning into top form as a 4YO for Pletcher.
Snowdrops...Look for a rebound from the disappointment across-state last time.
Pretty Jane.


Gulfstream: Artax Hcp $100K

Value Plus 3-1
Gygistar 6-5
Super Frolic 27-1

Wager: $5 WP on Stockholder.
Ran 4th at 5-2.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-4.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $10.90 on the ex box ($21.80/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-4-6.

Stockholder...Missed most of his 4YO season. Finally getting a chance to string a few together a might be this good.
Value Plus...Probably sprint-meant, but still has to prove himself.
Gygistar...Hard to believe -- but winner of $870K hasn't lived up to early promise. Will be tough however if able to repeat last.
Christine's Outlaw.


Gulfstream: Pan American Hcp G2 $150K

Navesink River 2-1
Quest Star 8-1
Deputy Lad 8-1

Wager: $5 WP on Gigli.
Ran 6th at 3-2.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-6.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-3-4-6.
...$2 tri key Gigli over next three.
Ran 6/1-3-4.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-3-4-6.

Gigli...Looks primed for first US win. Third start off of long layoff and just missed last time in an improved effort second-time back.
Navesink River...Seems to have returned as an improved 4YO.
Deputy Lad...Has looked good since the claim.
Scooter Roach.


Gulfstream: Skip Away Hcp G3 $100K

Eurosilver 4-1
Twilight Road 21-1
Zakocity 8-5

Wager: $5 WP on Unigold.
Ran 7th at 5-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 3-7.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 3-7-8-10.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 3-7-8-10.

Unigold...Making third start off a long layoff and first two were nice, improving efforts -- but around one turn. Like the set-up.
Zakocity...He was a hard-knocking 3YO, might turn out to be just as competitive against the second-string in the older ranks.
Sir Oscar...Another stretching out in third start off the bench.
Ole Faunty.


Gulfstream: Florida Derby G1 $1 mil

High Fly 6-5
Noble Causeway 3-1
BB Best 7-1

Wager: $5 WP on High Fly.
Collected $17.50 on the WP (4.40, 2.60).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Collected $16.80 on the ex box ($8.40/$2).
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $8.40 on the ex box.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-5-6.

High Fly...Why try to be a wise-guy? This one comes out of a solid, winning stakes effort last time this track and trip. Repeat.
Noble Causeway...Another bullet in the Zito holster. Gets tested today but repeat of alw win and he's ready for this assignment.
Vicarage...We liked him in the La Derby at 21-1 and he ran a big second. This group might be just a little tougher.
Mighty Mecke.


Laurel: Smart Halo $50K

Jet Set Citi 7-5
Missile Bay 2-1
Flashy Three 2-1

Wager: $5 WP on Flashy Three.
Ran 3rd.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-3.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $7.40 on the ex box ($14.80/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $11.10 on the tri box ($22.20/$2).

Flashy Three...Experience counts and this guy is stakes-placed and has shown an affinity for the track.
Jet Set Citi...Broke maiden in debut last time and is the one to beat if able to repeat or move forward off of that effort.
Missile Bay...Plenty of early foot and is first-off the claim for Lake.
Loch Nessie.


Oaklawn: Carousel $50K

Savorthetime 1-5
Boston Express 7-2
Dance Tune 6-1

Storm Breaking, Feisty Princess scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on Savorthetime.
Collected $12.00 on the WP (2.60, 2.20).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Scratched.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $3.20 on the ex box ($6.40/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Scratched.

Savorthetime...Asmussen trainee is well-traveled in tow start this season but has had plenty of time to recover from most recent trip to southwest. Won a G3 at Gulfstream two back and looks best of this bunch.
Storm Breaking...Looks primed to run a good one.
Feisty Princess...Third start off the layoff. Trainer having a good meet.
Boston Express.


Sunland: Winstar Derby $500K

Thor's Echo 2-1
Southern Africa 8-5
Sort It Out 2-1

Wager: $5 WP on Thor's Echo.
Collected $23.50 on the WP (6.40, 3.00).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-4.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $10.40 on the ex box ($20.80/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-4-8.

Thor's Echo...With only three starts this guy is still learning so let's hope he can move forward off of last, his first try around two turns. A good second that day after leading much of the way, perhaps he can last longer with the experience under his belt.
Dover Dere...Stakes-winner has proven to be competitive in these second-tier 3YO stakes.
Riverman Jack...Seems like a hometwon hero always gets a piece in events like these.
Southern Africa.


Santa Anita: Santa Paula $75K

No Bull Baby 3-1
Leave Me Alone 4-1
Inspiring 1-1

Wager: $5 WP on Leave Me Alone.
Collected $12.50 on the WP (xxx, 5.00).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Collected $35.60 on the ex box ($17.80/$2).
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $17.80 on the ex box.
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $54.50 on the tri box ($109.00/$2).

Leave Me Alone...Lightly raced Cal-bred gets toughest assignment yet but looks capable.
No Bull Baby...Expereice counts and this filly is a stakes-winner. Goes turf-to-dirt.
Inspiring...Capable of taking the whole thing if she matured from 2 to 3 -- but she's been off a long time.
She's a Jewel.


Santa Anita: Tokyo City Hcp G3 $100K

Supah Blitz 7-5
Outta Here 4-1
Ender's Shadow 2-1

Jake Skate scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on Supah Blitz.
Collected $20.00 on the WP (4.80, 3.20).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Scratched.
...$2 tri key Supah Blitz over next three.
Ran 1/3-4.
...$1 tri key Jake skate over next three.
Scratched.

Supah Blitz...Capable on best -- but that's the question mark here. Hasn't looked good last two so we're hoping for a wake-up with the drop in cmpetition and addition of blinkers.
Jake Skate...If he can clear Ender's Shadow early he might run away with this.
Ender's Shadow...Speedy sort should hold for a piece in the short field.
Skukuza.


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

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