Equidaily Racing Journal

Coast-to-coast

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Saturday, September 23, 2006
Picks and plays for some of the day's major stakes
by Seth Merrow

Eleven races down the page today. And lots of fun -- assuming the weather holds up at the various venues. Three solid stakes in NY. 2YOs of both sexes in NJ. Turfers in Maryland. Plenty of action in Louisiana -- topped by the G2 Super Derby. And yet another Derby in SoCal! Have fun...

Turf wagers are turf only

Best Bets

Belmont, Race 1, Armament.
Monmouth, Race 6, Ice Man Cometh.
Fairplex, Race 12, Sensational Score.


Belmont: Noble Damsel BC Hcp G3 $150K

Pommes Frites...Her style is all speed and we're not sure she won't find some company on the front-end today -- but it looks like she can clear. If so, she's obviously the one to catch and beat.
Bright Abundance...Won this race last year. No wins in four tries this season -- but going well.
Safari Queen...Last was her best yet, since arriving stateside.
Humoristic.

Wager: $5 WP on Pommes Frites.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Belmont: Matron G1 $250K

Cash's Girl...Solid debut seems to signal she's the real deal.
Magical Ride...Today is the litmus test -- was the debut for real?
Featherbed...Took two starts to get the hamg of it.
Octave.

Wager: $5 WP on Cash's Girl.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 tir key Cash's Girl over next three.


Belmont: Futurity G2 $250K

Incriminate...Lived up to purchase price with a nice debut win at Saratoga.
King of the Roxy...Went well to just miss in a Saratoga stake in first start for Pletcher.
CP West...One of the first-out winners from Zito at the Spa. Should benefit from that start.
Sam P.

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


Monmouth: NATC Futurity $200K

Ice Man Cometh...We used this one on top in the just-miss debut. He ran fourth that day -- by half a length. But more importantly the second- and third-place finishers both came back to win next out.
Actin Good...Battle-tested in stakes and that counts with these youngsters.
Reata's Rocket...Like the nice improvement from stat #1 to start #2.
De Lucia.

Wager: $5 WP on Ice Man Cometh.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Monmouth: NATC Futurity/Fillies $200K

Cat On a Cloud...Big win in debut -- but it was against only six at Ellis, so there are some question marks. She also must overcome the post. Iffy -- but looks best if that last was for real.
Chagall...Pletcher filly was solid in first two then had some trouble at Saratoga. Expect a rebound and she's the one to beat.
Angel Island...Might actually get a little bit of value here as that last is obviously worse than it looks -- horse was avoiding an spill.
Dinner Break.

Wager: $5 WP on Cat On a Cloud.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Laurel: Schapiro Memorial BC Hcp $200K

Ashkal Way...5-4-1-0 since arrving in US -- including a G2 win at Saratoga last time.
Giant Wrecker...Rounded into good form in mid-summer. Will be tough if ready off the layoff -- but that's the question, isn't it?
Fishy Advice...Solid turf performer comes out of a win in a rich Delaware event -- but is also trying to overcome a layoff since mid-summer.
Interpatation.
Dreadnaught.
Foufa's Warrior.

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


La Downs: Harrah's Juvenile $100K

Western Prize...They started him cheap early in his career but he progressed nicely and has gone well in stakes in last two. Just missed in turf debut and looks ready for this.
Going Ballistic...2-2 on turf so far, including a win over the top pick.
Manthea...Big debut win -- and a solid work in prep for this.
Locomotion.

Wager: $5 WP on Western Prize.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


La Downs: DeBartolo Oaks $200K

Dancing Band...Decent third behind Wait a While and Lady of Venice in Spa stake. No such competitors in here.
Brownie Points...A solid season so far and ran a good second over this track in last.
Charming N Lovable...SoCal invader is eligible to surprise here. Probably better than last and note that she's working well for this.
Rich Fantasy.

Wager: $5 WP on Dancing Band.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


La Downs: Super Derby G2 $500K

Point Determined...Just never got into it in his turf debut. Works say he'll rebound and he's shown that he's a member of the upper echelon in the division.
Lawyer Ron...He was our Ky Derby pick this year -- and he came out of that race with an injury that sent him to the sidelines. Looked good in comebacker but had to work for it.
Strong Contender...G2 Dwyer win validates that he could be any kind -- but he hasn't strung 'em together in a way that makes him look invincible here.
Louisborg.

Wager: $5 WP on Point Determined.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


La Downs: La Downs BC Hcp $200K

Dontbotherknocking...Looks like there should be some speed to shoot at and this one is likely to be rolling late.
Warrior Song...Looks like the most interesting of those expected to show early foot.
Erroneous ID...And this guy looks to split the difference between the top two and be stalking early.
We All Love Aleyna.
Waupaca.

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


Fairplex: Pomona Derby $100K

Sensational Score...Just have a feeling that this guy might be set-up for a good try in third start off layoff and moving turf-to-dirt.
Northern Soldier...Another that might be ready to pop off the set-up. Won a G2 at Hollywood in May.
Gimme S'mor...Showed good early speed and finished second in the prep for this.
Refinery.

Wager: $5 WP on Sensational Score.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.



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

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