2/16: Magna 5; Tampa; Santa Anita (C/O)

[Kasept]

A tumultuous and unpleasant period for New York racing ended this week with a 25 year renewal of the franchise rights for the 'Association' that has run the sport as an entity since 1955, and in reality, since the 1850's. While the legislation that resulted from this arduous situation is hardly perfect, it appears to be a decent foundation from which all concerned parties can build towards the unified goal of keeping racing in NY at the top of the North American version of the game.

Needless to say, if you have listened to 'At the Races' since I joined it in November 2005, you know where I stood from Day One in this debate, and that I am personally pleased with the result. Having grown close to scores of NYRA employess in the 7 years I have been a part of Saratoga through Carolina Barbecue Co., I have the utmost respect for the Association's commitment to racing and how hard it has been to operate under the conditions of duress these last 4 years. With stability restored, I think we can expect a great period ahead for the racing we all look toward on the premier circuit in the U.S.

Magna 5 and Santa Anita with Carryovers; Tampa Bay with their Derby Preview Day, and a few interesting other stakes around the nation today...


MAGNA 5


A Laurel 10 4:39 pm
B Santa Anita 4 5:03 pm
C Gulfstream 9 5:15 pm
D Santa Anita 5 5:34 pm
E Gulfstream 10 5:44 pm


LRL 10th: Barbara Fritchie H., Gr. II, F&M-3+, 7f (Leg A, Super)

Best Value: #4 Golden Dawn 8-1: Hushion ships with readily improving rednut.. WON
Most Likely: #8 CONTROL SYSTEM 8-5: Trombo standout gets home track spot.. 2nd
Next Best: #3 For Kisses 10-1: Small's mare appealling in pace collapse scenario.. 3rd
Exotics Add: #2 Baby Bird 6-1: Dutrow bay turns back 2nd off break.. 4th

$1 Exacta (4-8) $13.40
$1 Trifecta (4-8-3) $160.00
$1 Superfecta (4-8-3-2) $249.40


SA 4th: OC/N1X, 3yo, 6.5f-DHT (Leg B, P3, DD)

Seven horse field and none look like cross outs..

Best Value: #5 Polonius 10-1 4th
Most Likely: #2 Slam Slew 5-2 5th
Next Best: #3 Belafonte 4-1 2nd
Exotics Add: #1e Miller entry 4-1 WON


GP 9th: ALW/N2L, 3yo-F, 1m (Leg C, DD, Super)

Best Value: #2 SCRATCHED...
Most Likely: #8 Ginger Brew 4-1: Top connected miss.. 2nd
Next Best: #10 She's All Eltish 6-1 WON
Exotics Add: #11 SCRATCHED...
SCR ADD: #9 Back for More 3-1 8th


SA 5th: CLM, 4+, 1m (Leg D, P6, P3, DD, Super)

Best Value: #7 Get Off the Sugar 15-1: Circling back to effort.. 7th
Most Likely: #6 MANANAN McLIR 5-2: Been seeking spot; Drops.. WON
Next Best: #2 Spriggzee 5-1 3rd
Exotics Add: #1 Ghost Actor 7-2 6th


GP 10th: MDN CLM, 3yo, 6f (Leg E, Super)

Best Value: #14 Wild Repent 6-1 2nd
Most Likely: #4 Blue Brother 5-1 3rd
Next Best: #1 B L's Metropolitan 7-2 6th
Exotics Add: #2 Joe Five 6-1 12th; #5 A Song for Sarah 20-1 9th


<$150 Main Play:

A: 8
B: 2-3-4-5
C: 8-9-10
D: 6-7
E: 1-4-14

1x4x3x2x3 = 72 x $2 = $144



TAMPA BAY DOWNS


8th: 28th Suncoast, 3yo-F, 1m-40y (P3, DD, Super)

Favored pair from Mott (#8) and Albertrani (#6) look no better than McPeek's late addition (#4) and bomb candidate from capable Feliciano (#2)...

Best Value: #2 Formal Arrangement 15-1 7th
Most Likely: #4 My Baby Baby 4-1 2nd
Next Best: #8 Sunday Holiday 8-5 5th
Exotics Add: #6 Vaulcluse 5-2 WON


9th: 9th Endeavour (Gr. III), F&M-4+, 8.5f-T (P4, Super)

Best Value: #4 The Real Future 20-1: Been sharp locally.. 8th
Most Likely: #3 SCRATCHED...
Next Best: #8 Lear's Princess 5-2: KMc always tough off the break.. 2nd
Exotics Add: #6 Dreaming of Anna 3-1: Will see company up front.. WON


10th: 28th Sam F. Davis, 3yo, 8.5f (P3, Super)

1 Wise Answer (Lezcano/Brownlee) 122 (4-1): Brownlee bay curiously handled with cutback and turf try after proving dirt ability routing during Calder FL series; Returns from 6 week freshening and looks ready to compete off set of sharp Miami mornings..

2 Celtic Meal (Ramgeet/Feliciano) 116 (30-1): Turf gelding from solid conditioner looks ill-suited for this undertaking..

3 Wonder Mon (Dunkelberger/Capuano) 116 (15-1): MD homebred from Capuano was drilled in GP ALW upon visit from LRL, likely an acclimation victim; Maria's Mon son may have a little talent and has worked well, but needs to move up 15 lengths to best top ones signed on here..

4 Fierce Wind (Velasquez, C/Zito) 116 (6-1): Zito Dixie Union from the former Buckram Oak team became new horse upon arrival in Sunshine State crushing MDN foes at CRC and ALW crowd three weeks ago at GP; Will be interested to see what he has when real running starts given the slow paces he metted out in pair of wins, but still appears to have upside..

5 Dynamic Wayne (Morales/Bennett) 116 (12-1): IL bred from high percentage outfit has improved in every start thus far but is way too slow too compete here..

6 Big Truck (Coa/Tagg) 116 (6-1): NY bred started fast at 2 and has gone backwards since Bongard win over Spanky and would need form reversal to compete; Respect Tagg, but think he overestimated this Hook and Ladder bay..

7 Smooth Air (Cruz/Stutts) 118 (9-2): Willing to be proven wrong about next step potential of Mount Joy homebred that has done little wrong in 5 race career (3-1-1); Note Stutts slipping in pair of 8f drills after sparkling Gr. III Hutcheson win, and be prepared to watch stalk and pounce masterpiece here..

8 Z Humor (Gomez/Mott) 122 (9-5): Dead heat winner of Delta Jackpot and MGSP bay has no demands on his Derby Trail undertaking, as Mott can bring him along leisurely; Gomez in town looking for big day with him, Meribel and Sunday Holiday, but doubt he's cranked up..

9 Honey Honey Honey (Lopez/Gold) 120 (10-1): Homebred bay from Gold and Jacks or Better Farm has simply been far better one-turning; Won the 2 leadups to this event but looks to be part of the early pace only today..

SELECTIONS:

1. #7 Smooth Air 3rd
2. #8 Z Humor 5th
3. #1 Wise Answer 6th
4. #4 Fierce Wind WON


11th: MSW, 3yo, 8.5f-T (DD, Super)

Best Value: #10 Skywire 9-2 3rd
Most Likely: #1 Be Boppin Wynn 3-1 5th
Next Best: #9 You the Man 4-1 4th
Exotics Add: #5 Majestic Albert 7-2 2nd


12th: CLM, 4+, 6f (Super)

Best Value: #11 Blaine's Storm 10-1 5th
Most Likely: #5 Colonial Silver 5-2 11th
Next Best: #8 Tanqueray Time 4-1 WON
Exotics Add: #3 Spectacular Crisis 12-1 2nd


<$50 P4 Play:

9: 4-6-8
10: 7
11: 1-5-9-10
12: 3-5-8-11

3x1x4x4 = $48



SANTA ANITA


$93k carryover into fun six pack at Arcadia.. PRE-SCRATCHES..


SA 5th: CLM, 4+, 1m (Leg D, P6, P3, DD, Super)

Best Value: #7 Get Off the Sugar 15-1: Circling back to effort.. 7th
Most Likely: #6 MANANAN McLIR 5-2: Been seeking spot; Drops.. WON
Next Best: #2 Spriggzee 5-1 3rd
Exotics Add: #1 Ghost Actor 7-2 6th


6th: MSW, 3yo, 6f (P3, DD, Super)

Best Value: #5 Lunch Time 10-1 7th
Most Likely: #3 Home of the Gold 7-2 8th
Next Best: #8 Booted 9-5 4th
Exotics Add: #7 Forest Echoes 9-2 3rd


7th: ALW/N1X, F&M-4+, 6.5f-DHT (P4, P3, DD, Super)

Best Value: #8 Athena of Troy 6-1 3rd
Most Likely: #7 Stefani 7-2 5th
Next Best: #9 Shebang 6-1 6th
Exotics Add: #10 Lavenham 8-1 4th


8th: San Carlos H. (Gr. II), 4yo, 7f (P3, DD)

Best Value: #1 Soul City Slew 12-1 3rd
Most Likely: #5 Surf Cat 9-5 WON
Next Best: #4 Greg's Gold 5-2 2nd
Exotics Add: #3 Circular Quay 4-1 5th


9th: CLM, 4+, 1m-T (DD, Super)

Best Value: #1 Raise the Heat 10-1 6th
Most Likely: #11 Seeking Answers 8-1 7th
Next Best: #10 Cateclipse 3-1 8th
Exotics Add: #5 Papanonie 15-1 12th


10th: MDN CLM, 4+, 7f (Super High 5)

Best Value: #6 Bertie Boy 8-1 3rd
Most Likely: #11 Turkish Victory 7-2 2nd
Next Best: #12 Maj. Trouble 12-1 4th
Exotics Add: #8 Forest Hawk 8-1 6th
High 5 Add: #3 Quite the Man 5-1 7th


<$400/<$200/<$100/<$50 P6 Plays:

5: <6>-7
6: 3-5-8
7: 7-8
8: 1-5 (3-4)
9: 1-11
10: 6-<11>

<X> = Options for Singles

Full using 4 in 8th: 2x3x2x4x2x2 = 192 x $2 = $384
Narrowed in 8th (1-5): 2x3x2x2x2x2 = 96 x $2 = $192
1 single with Full : 96 x $2 = $192
2 singles with Full: 48 x $2 = $96
2 singles with Narrowed: 24 x $2 = $48


<$75 P4 Play:

7: 7-8-9
8: 1-3-4-5
9: 1-11
10: 6-11-12

3x4x2x3 = $72


Good luck!
Steve