Equidaily Racing Journal

Coast-to-coast

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Saturday, October 21, 2006
Picks and plays for some of the day's major stakes
by Seth Merrow


Turf wagers are turf only

Best Bets

Belmont, Race 6, exacta box Rahys Appeal/Finlandia.
Belmont, Race 8, Golden Commander.
Keeneland, Race 4, Almonsoon.
Keeneland, Race 6, Quietly Mine.
Santa Anita/Oak Tree, Race 9, Artiste Royal.


Belmont: Sleepy Hollow $100K

Chief's Lake...Got some education at Saratoga and then zipped through MSW and NW1 at Belmont. Looks ready for this assignment.
Bad Boy Rising...Ran second in Bongard. Winner of that race finished 7th in G1 Champagne. Beyers improving with each start.
Karakorum Cobra...J Jerkens going well after being cool at Saratoga. This one improved nicely in his second start.
Solid Strike.

Wager: $5 WP on Chief's Lake.
...$5 exacta box top two.
...$1 tri key Chief's Lake over next three.


Belmont: Maid of the Mist $100K

Win With a Wink...Mott filly is undefeated in three starts including a $100K stake last time. But we're a little hinky about the 9% jock as opposed to...
Laurentide Ice...20% Gomez onboard this one. Has finished behind top pick last two after solid number Beyer win in debut. Wouldn't be a surprise.
Caught Red Handed...Two nice starts against open company at Monmouth.
Queen of Green.

Wager: $5 WP on Win With a Wink.
...$4 exacta box top two.
...$1 tri key Win With a Wink over next three.
...$1 tri box top four.


Belmont: Hudson Hcp $125K

Gold and Roses...Solid 2006 when facing state-breds, including three NY-breds stakes wins. One was a sprint stakes two back at Saratoga where he pulled away under Gomez. Go-Go onboard again today.
Sharp Humor...Was a potential 3YO star early this year but has been on the bench since G1 Ky Derby flop. Might need one before best effort.
Papua...Third in this race last year and looks set for a good try in third start off layoff.
Introspect.

Wager: $5 WP on Gold and Roses.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 tri key Gold and Roses over next three.


Belmont: Ticonderoga $150K

Rahys Appeal...Won this race last year -- but that one was moved off the turf [keep that in mind under similar circumstances this year]. But she's set for a good turf try today.
Finlandia...Has been running well since summer.
Sabellina...Has struggled in last few -- but those were against open company. Expect a rebound.
Elisa's Energy.

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


Belmont: Iroquois Hcp $125K

Her Royal Nibs...As is often the case -- took a while to get through that first condition but seemed to turn the corner from there.
Summer Palace...Pletcher filly has come back as an improved 3YO.
Gold Like U...Faltered in last but that looks like an aberration. Expect a rebound to good form.
Judy Soda.

Wager: $5 WP on Her Royal Nibs.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Belmont: Mohawk Hcp $150K

Golden Commander...Left with too much to do in last two behind Certifiably Crazy and Retribution. But is now third off layoff and might have fitness to sit a little closer early on.
Certifiably Crazy...Likely to chase Retirbution early just as he did in last two -- and those ended in a second and a win.
Retribution...Faded at Saratoga. Ran away from 'em here at Belmont. Scary if he sneaks away again.
Foreverness.

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


Belmont: Empire Classic $250K

West Virginia...Banging heads with G1 company often this year. Class edge -- but not invulnerable against NY-breds as evidenced by last.
Organizer...Hasn't won -- but hasn't missed the board in five 2006 starts.
Naughty New Yorker...Beat top pick in NY-bred stake last time in lifetime best performance.
Funny Cide.
Carminooch.

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


Laurel: Safely Kept BC G3 $200K

Wildcat Bettie B...Rounded into top form this summer.
Cajun Mistress...Might be the speed of the speed and that's always dangerous.
Coli Bear...Always in the hunt.
Livermore Valley.

Wager: $5 WP on Wildcat Bettie B.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Keeneland: Raven Run G2 $200K

Windy...SoCal transplant from Frankel looks ready for stakes debut. Off the pace style working well on this track.
Sabatini...Could add some value here. Also has that good closing kick which has been key at the meet. Two bullets in the holster over the track.
Cherokee Jewel...Decent fourth in G3 at Saratoga was only off the board finish. Distance is a question mark however.
Morner.

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


Santa Anita/Oak Tree: CF Burke Hcp G3 $100K

Artiste Royal...Running well but has yet to win since arriving stateside but seems to fit well with these.
Symphony Sid...Has some early speed and that can be dangerous in these marathons.
Sarafan...Lots of back class here. Finished second in this race in 2004. But has been off since April.
Don Incauto.

Wager: $5 WP on Artiste Royal.
...$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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