Equidaily Racing Journal

Coast-to-coast

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Saturday, September 16, 2006
Picks and plays for some of the day's major stakes
by Seth Merrow

Eight races make up our dance-card this afternoon. A couple of solid stakes in NY. Jersey-breds face-off in four stakes at Monmouth. F/Ms go a one-turn mile at Laurel. And 2YO fillies take to the bullring at Fairplex.

Turf wagers are turf only

Best Bets

Belmont, Race 6, Border Cat.
Belmont, Race 9, Awesome Twist.
Monmouth, Race 9, exacta box Meadow Blue/My Husband.
Delaware, Race 5, Por Favor.
Fairplex, Race 5, Island Adventure.


Belmont: Floral Park Hcp G3 $100K

Great Intentions...Taking a little bit of a flyer here on the horse-for-course angle. Her two best races were on this strip last year. Let's see if she can step it up here again making the turf-to-dirt move.
Stormy Kiss...Behind the very talented Dubai Escapade last time. Cuts back to what look like her best distance.
Indian Flare...Also behind Dubai Escapade last time -- and that was this one's stakes debut. Can benefit from that experience.
Swap Fliparoo.

Wager: $5 WP on Great Intentions.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Belmont: Brooklyn BC Hcp G2 $150K

Awesome Twist...This could fall apart with scratches -- but with the field intact it looks like Wanderin Boy, Funny Cide and Take the Bluff will show speed. That might set it up for a closer -- and we'll go with this guy. He'll need to step it up but he's only had three races as a 4Yo and might have some upside.
Good Reward...Another closer and they've been shopping for a spot to get a graded win on dirt for this one. Decent second to Lava Man in SoCal last time.
Wanderin Boy...If the other speed scratches this one becomes even scarier -- but even if those others go this speedster has the ability to sneak away early.
Funny Cide.

Wager: $5 WP on Awesome Twist.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Monmouth: Jersey Girl Hcp $100K

I'mtoogoodtobetrue...Seems to have come back as an improved 4YO and might have a slight edge on these.
Jenny Bean Girl...Second to top pick in last.
Careless Glances...Three wins in last four starts -- but this is first stakes try and looks like she'll need to step it up.
Final Assault.

Wager: $5 WP on I'mtoogoodtobetrue.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Monmouth: Friendly Lover Hcp $100K

Who's the Cowboy...Won last three. All stakes. All over this track. All with triple digit Beyers. Adds up.
Why Oh Why...Running improved numbers this season and has been facing open company. Should fit well here.
Brucker's Brother...Could be the one to catch.
John's Pic.

Wager: $5 WP on Who's the Cowboy.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Monmouth: Eleven North Hcp $100K

Wild Gams...Just missed in a G1 two back -- then flopped in G1 Test last time. But let's toss that one. Her competitiveness against solid open company puts her ahead of this group.
Pickin Laurel/Summer Sting...Summer Sting is rounding into top form. Pickin Laurel looks capable on best.
Beautiful East...Tossed in a dud in a state-bred stake last time but was going well earlier this season and might rebound with the cutback.
Catessa.

Wager: $5 WP on Wild Gams.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 tri key Wild Gams over next three.


Monmouth: Jersey Breeders' Hcp $125K

Meadow Blue...Won a somewhat similar stake in a much improved effort last time. Was that a wake-up race? We'll go on that assumption until proven otherwise.
My Husband...Has some early foot and that's always dangerous on this oval.
Upturn...Hmm, been running well against open company this year in NY -- and not as well against Jersey-breds here. But certainly fits with this bunch.
Jersey Peach.

Wager: $5 WP on Meadow Blue.
...$5 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Laurel: Gala Lil $100K

Friel's for Real...She has a solid record at this track -- but is iffy over off-going. But we'll give her a slight edge.
Take a Check/Sticky...Both of these are probably getting some class relief over their last couple of races and should be heard from in here.
Defrere's Vixen...Lightly raced so far this year but is capable of running well.
Silmaril.

Wager: $5 WP on Friel's for Real.
...$4 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Fairplex: Barretts Debutante $130K

Katispsublue...Solid debut win at Del Mar, and check out the win-stats on the jock early in the meet.
Cool All Over...AE lister. Those works over this strip earlier this year say she might come out running.
Berriestoheaven...Improved nicely from start #1 to start #2.
Allie P.
Smokey Gal.

Wager: $5 WP on Katispsublue.
...$2 exacta box top two, sub next if scratch.
...$1 exacta box top four, sub next if scratch.
...$1 tri box top four, sub next if scratch.


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

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