Equidaily Racing Journal

Coast-to-coast

www.equidaily.com

Saturday, June 18, 2011
Picks and plays for some of the day's major stakes
by Seth Merrow


Turf selections/wagers are turf only

Best Bets

Belmont: Race 5... WP, Chardsey.
Belmont: Race 5... exacta box, Titus Catienus/Chardsey/More Than Lucky.
Monmouth: Race 3... exacta box, Chiquis/Hava Cigar.
Monmouth: Race 6... exacta box, Liston/Casino Host/Tune Me In.
Churchill: Race 3... exacta box, Ridgester/Second Street City/Sharp Tongue Lady.
Churchill: Race 3... exacta box, Second Street City/Sharp Tongue Lady.
Churchill: Race 7... WP, Cane Swagger.
Churchill: Race 7... exacta box, Cane Swagger/Sheriff Silverstar/Bluegrass Shoes/Whinston.


Belmont: Hill Prince G3 $100K

Air Support...Has a nice closing kick and might be primed in third start back.
Longhunter...Has raced well since arriving stateside.
Street Game...Two big wins vs state-bted company coming into this.
Casino Host.
Fastest Magician.

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


Belmont: Phipps Hcp G1 $250K

Absinthe Minded...Got some experience over the track in the just-miss effort last time. Even with an extra half-furlong today she could prove interesting on the front-end.
Super Espresso...Might be the one to pick up the pieces if the speed copmes back.
Awesome Maria...She seems best at Gulfstream - but has done well on this track also.
Unrivaled Belle.

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


Monmouth: Pegasus G3 $200K

Rush Now...Showed an affinity for the track last time.
Pants On Fire...Should be prominent throughout.
Turbo Compressor...Huge win here in first start for Pletcher.
Concealed Identity.

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


Parx: Parx Dash Hcp $200K

Ben's Cat...Solid win in turf sprint stake last time.
Chamberlain Bridge...Proven turf sprinter at this level.
Lt Hopeful...Off since last year but has plenty of speed.
Varsity.

Wager: $5 WP on Ben's Cat.
...$2 exacta box top two.
...$1 exacta box top four.
...$1 tri box top four.


Churchill: Jefferson Cup G3 $100K

Banned...Hard to go past based on the win on this track in latest.
Great Mills...Speed is always dangerous - but he should find some company up front.
Live In Joy...Hits the board more often than not.
Benergy.

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


Churchill: Matt Winn G3 $125K

Wilburn...Lightly-raced but could be any kind.
Infrattini...Beyers are on the improve and this is another that could be set for stakes debut.
Joe Vann...G3 Illinois Derby winner is capable - but certainly not invincible.
Uncle Brent.

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


Churchill: Regret G3 $125K

Diva Ash...Hard to fault the record so far and looked good winning a stake here last time.
Excited...Typically gets a piece.
Kathmanblu...Hasn't seemed to move forward much as a 3YO - but is eligible to get the wake-up call with the return to turf.
Bizzy Caroline.

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


Churchill: Foster Hcp G1 $500K

Giant Oak...Hard to know which way to go with this guy - fourth in this race last year and then a move-up winner of the G1 Clark Hcp here months later. We'll hope he's ready to run closer to that latter effort today.
Crown of Thorns...SoCal invader is capable of popping on his best effort.
Regal Ransom...Just missed in prep for this.
Apart.

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


Charles Town: Red Legend $400K

Little Drama...Scratched from a G2 at BEL last week. Won a stake this track and trip last time.
Black N Beauty...Has shown flashes and might add some value to the play.
JPs Gusto...Has knocked heads with some of the best in the division - question is the distance.
Decisive Moment.

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


Colonial: Colonial Turf Cup $500K

Smart Bid...Not a win-machine but season record indicates he might be set to run well.
Dark Cove...Has yet to prove himself in stakes company but last two have been promising.
Court Vision...Not willing to give up on him just yet.
Moryba.

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


Hollywood: Vanity Hcp G1 $250K

Switch...Was in very good form earlier this year and has run well on this track.
St Trinians...Just missed in this race last year - to Zenyatta.
Blind Luck...Hits the exacta way more often than not.
American Story.

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


If we are interested in both halves of an entry -- in event of a scratch -- it is noted that way [in other words, both halves are named]. If only one-half of the entry is named, then we prefer that half and will move to our next pick listed [rather than the other half of the entry] in event of a scratch.

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

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