Coast-to-coast

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RESULTS Saturday, December 20, 2003 Picks and plays for some of the day's major stakes

Note: More thanks to the folks at Capital [NY] OTB Racing Network. I made a return appearance as an analyst on the network during Friday (12/19) afternoon's racing action and once again everyone there made me feel right at home. This week I concentrated on Fair Grounds which proved a little tougher than last week's Calder card. During the three-hour program we had time to cover the first four at the Louisiana track and things were moving slowly through the first three. Finally, just before going off the air, your humble handicapper managed some modest redemption when my top two picks flip-flopped in the fourth race for a decent $84.80/$2 exacta.

As predicted, other than the Hollywood Futurity, it was a very competitive card. We managed one winner in six tries (Hollywood, $3.00). And we grabbed a decent little exacta as our top two flip-flopped at Fair Grounds -- although we just missed the tri there running 1-2-4. It wouldn't have been enough to put us over the top, but it would have helped the cause a little on a very difficult afternoon.

WAGERED: $265.00
COLLECTED: $91.90.

Turf wagers are turf only

Aqueduct: Ladies H'cp G3 $100K

Savedbythelight 9-2
Queen's Triomphe 9-1
Retroactive 3-1

Wager: $5 WP on Retroactive.
Ran 3rd.
...$2 exacta top two.
Ran 3-8.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 3-7-8-9.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 3-7-8-9.

Retroactive...Through in a clunker at Saratoga but, throwing that one out, seemed to be nicely improving through the summer and early fall. Made her stakes debut last time and ran a decent fourth despite some traffic trouble. If she takes to the inner track she should go well.
Lady Liberty...An all-McGaughey exacta? One of those types that's kind of a head-scratcher. Runs well enough in alw company to indicate she should be competitive in some of these stakes events -- but has run off the board in a couple of graded races. Just have a feeling she's better than those previous stakes tries.
Call an Audible...Another runner that's pretty consistently in the money. Finished just behind Lady Liberty last time.
City Fire.

Calder: Frances A Genter $100K

Changing World 8-1
Campsie Falls 3-2
Formal Miss 10-1

Wager: $5 WP on Ocean Drive.
Ran 5th at 2-1.
...$2 exacta top two.
Ran 5-8.
...$1 exacta box top four.
Ran 2-3-5-8.
...$1 tri box top four.
Ran 2-3-5-8.

Ocean Drive...Pletcher filly took most of the summer off then might have been slightly overmatched in a couple of graded events. Should be competitive at this distance and with this crowd.
Harmonist...Ships down from NY and into the hot Wolfson barn. Lightly raced and might add some value.
Formal Miss...Hometown girl rarely misses a check.
Campsie Falls.

Calder: Pete Axthelm $100K

Magic Mecke 3-1
Hear No Evil 25-1
Sharp Impact 5-1

Wager: $5 WP on GP Fleet.
Ran 6th at 6-1
...$2 exacta top two.
Ran 1-6.
...$1 exacta box top four, sub next if scratch.
Ran 1-6-7-8.
...$1 tri box top four, sub next if scratch.
Ran 1-6-7-8.

GP Fleet...Was a little dull in two late summer stakes tries but seems to have rounded back to form in a couple of optional claimers at Churchill.
Magic Mecke...Loves the track and the trip and is coming into this off of two wins, including a minor stake last time.
Sir Walter Rahy...Put together a solid -- albeit light -- season right up until seventh-place in Chicago G3 stake last time. But he was only back by three lengths.
Conservation.
Sircharlesschnabel.

Fair Grounds: Pago Hop $75K

Snowdrops 7-2
Baie 4-5
Tincan Too 32-1

Wager: $5 WP on Baie.
Collected $6.50 on the WP (xxx, 2.60).
...$2 exacta top two.
Collected $27.60 on the ex box ($27.60/$2).
...$1 exacta box top four, sub next if scratch.
Collected $13.80 on the ex box.
...$1 tri box top four, sub next if scratch.
Ran 1-2-4-8.

Baie...Will have to work a little from this outside post -- but might have a slight class edge on these. Making third start since shipping from France and first two US tries were in G1 company. These will be easier.
Snowdrops...Clement filly makes third start off of a brief layoff and fits well with this type.
Adopted Daughter...Might offer some value making first turf start -- but could be set up well coming out of two Ky sprints.
Tiva's Little Sis.
Mexican Moonlight.

Hollywood: Hollywood Futurity G1 $200K

Lion Heart 1-2
St Averil 5-2
That's an Outrage 17-1

Wager: $15 exacta Lion Heart over St Averil.
Collected $37.50 on the ex box ($5.00/$2).

Lion Heart...2-2 lifetime, including a big win last time in G3 stake. Has yet to try two turns but probably good enough to take these anyway.
St Averil...Good looking debut win and will be the one to beat if able to handle the trip.
Saint Afleet.

Hollywood: Dahlia H'cp G2 $150K

Katdogawn 7-1
Personal Legend/entry 4-5
Betty's Wish/entry 4-5
Moscow Burning 13-1

Wager: $5 WP on Betty's Wish.
Collected $6.50 on the WP (xxx, 2.60).
...$2 exacta top two.
Ran 2/3-6.
...$1 exacta box top four, sub next if scratch.
Ran 2/3-6-9-10.
...$1 tri box top four, sub next if scratch.
Ran 2/3-6-9-10.

Betty's Wish...Frankel trainee seems to have really taken to the turf -- winning two including a G3 stakes last time.
Blind Ambition...Hard to fault an 8-4-4-0 record. Cal-bred gets tested for class a little today but should go well.
Innit...Lightly raced this year. Might be rounding into competitiveness and addition of blinkers should help.
Adalgisa.

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

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