Equidaily Racing Journal

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Saturday, December 9, 2006
Picks and plays for some of the day's major stakes
by Seth Merrow

A baker's dozen on the dance card this afternoon. Fair Grounds offers up a fun state-bred slate of stakes -- but the highlight of the day is the G1 Turf Cup at Hollywood.

Turf wagers are turf only

Best Bets

Aqueduct, Race 3, Hammered.
Calder, Race 2, Renown.
Calder, Race 5, R Last Installment.
Calder, Race 9, Le Dauphin.
Fair Grounds, Race 5, exacta box, My Friend Bele/Huckie.
Fair Grounds, Race 8, Desert Wheat.


Aqueduct: Queens Cty Hcp G3 $100K

Naughty New Yorker...Has been showing some early foot lately and that might be the key here.
Awesome Twist...Might fire a big one against this field.
Smart Growth...Dangerous off of current form.
Papi Chullo.

Wager: $5 WP on Naughty New Yorker.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 tri key Naughty New Yorker over next three.
...$1 tri key Smart Growth over next three.


Laurel: Jennings Hcp $75K

Orlop...Toss the turf start two back and he's been solid since July.
Due...Brings in a two-race streak, including a rich restricted stake here last time.
Forty Crowns...Wired 'em in a similar event last time. Likely to try again -- but will have to work from the outside post.
Foufa's Warrior.

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


Calder: Cherokee Frolic $100K

Perfect Motion...Moved into stake last time straight off of debut MSW win. Could benefit from that two-turn education.
Rutherienne...Won debut convincingly this track and trip last month.
Wine and Dyne...Hmmm, daughter of Dynaformer is ambitiously placed after troubled debut effort last time.
Naseem.

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


Calder: Kris S $100K

Le Dauphin...Showed some promise in last turf start and might have benefitted from brief time on the bench.
Soldier's Dancer...Improved greatly when switched to grass.
Storm in May...Might be the one to catch.
You're the Mon.

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


Fair Grounds: La Champs Day Starter Hcp $50K

Setemup Joe...In good form since late summer. Bullet work for this. Question mark is the distance.
No Surgeon...Was going well prior to last two. Break might have helped -- but also just might favor Evangeline.
Saucey Tiger.

Wager: $5 WP on Setemup Joe.
...$4 exacta box top two.


Fair Grounds: La Champs Day Lassie $100K

Huckie...Won a similar stake last time and left some of these in her wake.
My Friend Bele...Behind top pick last time -- but that was only her second start.
Leta Mae...Been right there in all four starts.
Zarb's Ballerina.

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


Fair Grounds: La Champs Day Sprint $100K

Cort's PB...Has won five of last six and latest was a sprint stake on this track vs open company.
Meteor Impact...Five times in the exacta in six 2006 starts -- but off since August. third in this race last year.
Zarb's Dahar...Won this race last year -- but came in off of a much better effort.
Nitro Chip.

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


Fair Grounds: La Champs Day Juvenile $100K

Tortuga Straits...Only blemish was the move-up second-place behind Go Poppa Fooze -- and that one might have a future.
Margarita Man...Tossed in best yet in latest.
Hallway...Had some traffic last time. Expect improvement.
Power Surge.

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


Fair Grounds: La Champs Day Turf $100K

Desert Wheat...Mott trainee has been facing graded company and should find some class-relief here.
Diggy Fresh...Typically in the hunt.
Spruce's Prince...10-for-28 turfer.
Betnow.

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


Fair Grounds: La Champs Day Ladies Sprint $100K

Cajun Mistress...Speedy miss has been facing open company in mid-Atlantic region.
Halo Humor...Dangerous if she's ready to run off of the long break.
Destiny Calls...Has thrown in a couple of clunkers but adds blinkers and might be dangerous off the short break if able to rebound to prior good form.
Ida Maria.

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


Fair Grounds: La Champs Day Ladies $100K

Blueyed Lass...Only off the board once in ten lifetime starts.
Raspberry Wine...Could be ready to pop in second start off layoff.
Grand Facile...Speed from the rail.
Eightforbish.

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


Fair Grounds: La Champs Day Classic $150K

Mean Butterbean...Last might have set him up for a good one here -- but the trip is a question mark.
Costa rising...Plenty of early speed and looks like the one to catch but will have to work early from the outside post.
Badtotheboneandrew...Capable on best -- but record is spotty over this track.
Jacob V and GA.

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


Hollywood: Hollywood Turf Cup G1 $250K

Symphony Sid...Will they let him sneak away again? Doesn't seem like any in here will challenge early and if not he could repeat.
TH Approval...Won a nice stake over this track in July at this trip.
Meteor Storm...Solid graded stakes winner is making only his third start of the season.
Cosmonaut.

Wager: $5 WP on Symphony Sid.
...$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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