Coast-to-coast

Four winners on top in twelve races (Gulfstream, $3.60, 4.00; Oaklawn, $5.00; Sunland, $3.40). The fun this week came in the gimmicks. We picked up something in just about every race and, even though we don't typically have supers on our wagering template, it's worth mentioning that our top four combined for supers in a couple of races at Gulfstream, including a cold super in the Orchid Hcp.

However, the big -- BIG -- score of the day came in the Tokyo City at Santa Anita. After a scratch we were left with three picks -- and those three combined for the boxed exacta and tri -- with that tri paying a super-generous $687.40/$2.

A good day...

WAGERED: $489.00
COLLECTED: $656.10

Gulfstream, Race 8, Honey Ryder... WON (4.00, 2.60, 2.20).
Gulfstream, Race 12, Sharp Humor... Ran 2nd at 6-1 (xxx, 5.80, 3.80).
Sunland, Race 7, Keagan... 5th at 6-1.

Our Head-to-Head feature pits Coast-to-Coast's Seth Merrow against DRF's Weekend Warrior, Mike Watchmaker. Whenever the two columns make selections in the same race we'll tally the results for each.

Colita 5-2
Funny Cide 9-2
Colita 5-2

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

Colita...A couple of nice wins among last three starts. Needs to transfer that good form to the main track today.
Your Bluffing...Solid winter season in Maryland.
Liquor Cabinet...Lightly raced 4YO is on the improve and was a good second last time in stakes debut.
Evening Attire.

Exclusive Quality 4-5*
Diabolical 3-1
R Loyal Man 5-2
In Summation completed the $25.00/$2 super.

Wager: $5 W on Exclusive Quality.
Collected $15.00 on the WP (3.60, 2.40).
...$4 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-3.
...$1 tri key Exclusive Quality over next three.
Collected $7.60 on the tri key ($15.20/$2).

Exclusive Quality...Talented and being brought up the ranks nicely under Pletcher's tutelage. Looks good in stakes debut.
R Loyal Man...Stakes winner should appreciate the cutback.
Diabolical...Second start of season. Turf-to-dirt. Cutback to sprint. Bullet work. Dangerous.
In Summation.

Honey Ryder 1-1*
Olaya 7-2
Noble Stella 5-1
Dynamite Lass completed the $84.20/$2 super.

Wager: $5 WP on Honey Ryder.
Collected $16.50 on the WP (4.00, 2.60).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Collected $13.00 on the ex box ($13.00/$2).
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $6.50 on the ex box.
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $21.20 on the tri box ($42.40/$2).

Honey Ryder...Won this race last year and looks primed for a repeat.
Olaya...Just missed last time to break US streak. Expect another good try.
Noble Stella...Will be in the hunt with her best effort.
Dynamite Lass.

Little Thunder 10-1
Nightmare Affair 11-1
Gygistar 6-5*

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

Gygistar...7YO looks to have a class edge on this field. Question mark is the layoff -- but he had convincing win here last year off the bench.
Nightmare Affair...Been chasing this one since January and not ready to give up yet. Legit player if able to recapture top form from last year.
Blazing Pursuit...Lightly raced 5YO is riding a win-streak dating back a year.
Dark Cheetah.

Silver Whistle 5-2
Ramazutti 31-1
Go Deputy 9-5*

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

Go Deputy...On top of his game right now.
Einstein...Edged top pick last time.
Silver Whistle...Showed plenty of promise during 3YO season and 2006 debut indicates he's ready to continue.
Sabre d'Argent.

Bandini 2-5*
We Can Seek 37-1
O'Connell's 30-1

Wager: $5 WP on Bandini.
Collected $13.50 on the WP (2.80, 2.60).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-7.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 1-5-7-8.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-5-7-8.

Bandini...Win in Blue Grass stamped him as a 'contender' last year but flopperoo in the Ky Derby sent him for an extended break. Comeback a month ago tantalizes with promise that he's still a 'contender', not a pretender.
Contante...When he wants to he throws in some good ones. Big rider switch today.
Whos Crying Now...Another that's capable of competing here on best effort.
Network.

Barbaro 8-5*
Sharp Humor 6-1
Sunriver 4-1

Wager: $5 WP on Sharp Humor.
Collected $14.50 on the WP (xxx, 5.80).
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 2-7.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $18.00 on the ex box ($36.00/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $59.60 on the tri box ($119.20/$2).

Sharp Humor...Ny-bred son of Distorted Humor (that brings back memories) indicated added maturity in first 3YO start, winning G2 Swale nicely. Might be tough in first try around two turns.
Flashy Bull...Big effort might be in the works in this third start of 2006.
Barbaro...Undefeated but dirt win on sloppy track still leaves some question marks. But strongest knock here is the post position which is a tough call on this track.
Sunriver.

Platinum Princess 3-2*
Miss Elsie 5-2
True Tails 2-1

Wager: $5 WP on Platinum Princess.
Collected $20.00 on the WP (5.00, 3.00).
...$4 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-3.
...$1 tri key Platinum Princess over next three.
Collected $15.60 on the tri key ($31.20/$2).

Platinum Princess...Just miss in stake here last time should have her set up for improved effort today.
True Tails...Showed speed and faded in last two but now is third back off a long layoff == watch out she might be ready.
Miss Elsie...Just behind the top two a couple of starts back.
Lady Riss.

Sweet Fourty 3-5*
Well Hidden 3-1
Princess Patricia 7-2

Wager: $5 WP on Sweet Forty.
Collected $14.00 on the WP (3.40, 2.20).
...$4 exacta box top two.
Ran 1-3.
...$1 tri key Sweet Forty over next three.
Collected $16.70 on the tri key ($33.40/$2).

Sweet Fourty...Behind Balance in last two -- and there's nothing like that in here.
Princess Patricia...Undefeated but numbers will have to improve to contend here.
Well Hidden...Returns to favorite track.
Visual Effect.

Wanna Runner 4-5*
Sky Diving 6-1
Belligerence 5-1

Wager: $5 WP on Keagan.
Ran 5th at 6-1.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Ran 2-5.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $10.60 on the ex box ($21.20/$2).
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 1-2-5-8.

Keagan...Won the Turf Paradise Derby at 10-1 and might get overlooked again. Should be enough speed to shoot at.
Sky Diving...Over-matched in latest but fits here and with rail and blinkers he might prove tough to catch.
Doctor Decherd...Surprised in a Gulfstream stakes in January -- then flopped in two follow-ups. Hard to know what to do with him but workouts say he should compete with these.
Wanna Runner.

Bettarun Fast 31-1
El Mirage Queen 5-1
Acceleration 8-1

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

Candy Jo...Big maiden win in only her second start. Followed up last time with a near-miss in stakes debut. Could be tough with the experience under her belt. P Val sticks.
El Mirage Queen...Caught the top pick last time and looks like the one to beat again.
Ladies Souvenir...2-for-2 in NoCal and comes in off of a blazing work last Sunday.
Acceleration.

Preachinatthebar 7-1
Texcess 6-1
Melanyhasthepapers 6-1
Bully Hayes scratched.

Wager: $5 WP on Melanyhasthepapers.
Ran 3rd.
...$2 exacta box top two.
Scratched.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Collected $50.10.
...$1 tri box top four.
Collected $343.70 on the tri box ($687.40/$2).

Melanyhasthepapers...Seems to be in good form right now and we'll hope P Val can shake him up a little bit in here.
Bully Hayes...Another that's has been running fairly well since last fall.
Texcess...Couple of bullet workouts underneath. Might be ready to pop one.
Preachinatthebar.

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