Today's Best Bets3-9. Three winners on top [4th, $5.00; 5th, $5.40; 7th, $5.50]. And our top choice finished second on four other -- which made it a little frustrating. In the 6th, our top pick 2-1 Imperial Reign might have been best but got stuck behind horses into the lane and lost her momentum. When things opened up she took a few strides to get going again and by then the winner was gone. In the 8th Richard Migliore just left favored Big Apple Daddy with a little too much to do as the winner, Gold and Roses opened up and ran away coming into the stretch. And in the finale our top pick got just the trip we hoped for when we wrote yesterday, "This one will need to clear from the outside, but if able to might take these all the way." It looked like that scenario would work out for us as ours did clear -- at 8-1 -- but was caught late by a Pletcher/Velazquez runner. Ours still finished second, well ahead of the show horse. Ah well, close but no cigars.
There were plenty of gimmicks using the selections. A couple of reverse exactas. And in all three races that our top pick won, our third choice completed the exacta.
Attendance was 18,895 and it was another beautiful day weather-wise.
FIRST RACE
Roanoke's Best...Just missed here on dirt on 7/28. Has done well in limited grass tries. Claimed by Lake and that one is prolific first-off the claim -- but the caveat is, he's not that strong at the Spa. Tepid vote.
Bless My Mary...Hasn't tried turf yet but looks to fit if he takes to the surface.
Baby Book...Solid experience sprinting on turf which is helpful in these events.
Embraceable You.
SECOND RACE
Caught Red Handed...Sire is getting off to a hot start with youngsters. Trainer can get them ready to fire first out. Adds up.
Icy City...Showed some nice improvement in second start. But "hobby" trainers [owns and trains -- only two starts this year, both with this horse] always give us pause.
Precious Too...Went for $100K at Ocala sale in March. Sire is good with the 2YOs.
My Kitty.
THIRD RACE
Latent Heat...We thought he would play a part on the Ky Derby TRail -- but he wound up on the sidelines most of the spring. Comeback at Belmont was impressive. Second in a G2 last time. Should appreciate cutback and perhaps a little class relief.
Tuffertiger...Solid, improving numbers with each start. Dangerous.
Disco's Son...Only one in the field showing a triple-digit Beyer. Would be no surprise.
Island Warrior.
FOURTH RACE
Ginforthewin...Sometimes a NY-bred comes along that's a step ahead and they blow through their conditions. Looks like this is one of those.
Violette entry...Trading Pro is always contentious and is liable to move forward at any time. Precise Action need only repeat the number from two back to be very dangerous.
Seeking the Money...Could be interesting cutting back to a sprint.
Heathrow.
FIFTH RACE
Truman's Gold...Darley/McLaughlin runner cost $650K at 2YO sale last year. Long, steady string of works for this.
Quail Call...Scary off of the two bullet works.
Mass Charles...Trainer Charlton Baker ships in from the F'Lakes. Always worth noting.
Dade County.
Proveyourlove.
SIXTH RACE
Builders Option...Might find some class relief here -- been facing alw company for awhile. Only two lengths behind the very talented After Market two back.
Upthecreekwithall...Looked good in two turf starts -- just missing in this condition last time.
Grosvenor Square...Probably better than last indicates.
Verdant Springs.
SEVENTH RACE
Your Hour's Up...Just missed in debut and likely to improve for Pletcher/Velazquez.
Bad Boy Rising...Also looked good in first start and could be set to move forward.
City Dealer...City Zip can sire some precocious runners and trainer can have them ready to roll.
Restless Mind.
EIGHTH RACE
Classic Campaign...On the upswing for Mott. Comes in off of a brief break but working well.
Chattahoochee War...Knocked heads with top 3YO turfers last season. Will be tough if ready to roll off of the bench.
Minister's Joy...Career best Beyer two back then a decent fifth in a rich Delaware stake last time. Dangerous.
Rousing Victory.
NINTH RACE - Waya $70K
Shared Dreams...Improving since arriving stateside and proven going a distance.
Sweet Science...Second in a similar stake at Churchill in latest.
Milwaukee...Ran into some tigers in US debut. Expect better today.
Pyrana.
Cozy Gain.
TENTH RACE
Stan the Man...The maiden claiming game isn't really where Pletcher excels -- but this one has run OK twice for a tag and looks a tad better than this bunch.
Gold Medal...Hmmm, paid $450K for this one as a yearling. Now debuts as a 3YO for a $40K price tag. Think we'd be more intrigued if he had drawn a top jock. Liable to run away and hide from these though. Should be interesting.
Revisionandreverse...Makes the potent drop from MSW to mdn clm.
McCalmont.
Betweenengagements.
Evacuee.
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