3/18: Gulfstream (6th-11th)

[Kasept]

Kind of odd that weekday action would be more enticing than on a big weekend day, but I felt that way making decisions Saturday and my humdrum results reflected it. Missed the Gulfstream P5/P4 due to glossing over Lee Pokoik's Arch Support, a filly Gary Sciacca selected as a yearling. She wasn't impossible, but was spotting recency coming off a 3 month break. Her $64 mutuel boosted the rest ofthe mundane sequence results to a $4,167 P5 and $2,881 P4. A pair of P5 consos for $63 helped defray expenses.

At Oaklawn, I used 3 in the Azeri concerned about Absinthe Minded, but left off highly viable Tiz Miz Sue who was tons the best and returned an overlaid $19.60. When the maiden races went formfully ($10 Master Rick, $6.60 Skyring) and Secret Circle gutted out the Rebel ($4), the quad still brought back $411.. almost 3X the parlay. One small win came in the Rebel exacta ($61.60) when I included Optimizer in exotics after the SCR of Ring It Up from the Chris Richard entry. Hope everyone did OK. Sorry to be of so little use on a Saturday...

In terms of the Rebel's usefulness as a Derby Trail prep, it was a wholly disappointing spectacle. Secret Circle is a really nice, game horse, but he isn't going much further than the 8.5f you saw Saturday. A mile and an eighth on a speed track would be reasonable certainly, but all that will do is whet appetites to keep going to Kentucky where he would be the 2012 Comma to the Top. Optimizer's rally will propel Lukas further along with him as he takes on the role of this year's version of Dublin. Dan Pietz should think Belmont and BC Marathon with Najjaar as he was the one horse that just kept running after every other had shut down past the wire.


GULFSTREAM PARK


POST-SCRATCHES


6th: ALW/N1X, F&M-4+, 9f-T/72' (P6, P3, DD, Super)

Wildly competitive turf set and there is no reason to not swing for the fences here. Price choices abound with at least 8 of the 12 eligible to win with "A" effort and good trip..

Most Likely: #4 Nandira 10-1 8th
Best Value: #1 Inimitable Romanee 10-1 5th
Next Best: #9 Forest Legend 6-1 7th
Exotics Use: #12 Imperial Pippin 6-1 6th
Super Add: #10 Wet One 20-1 10th


7th: OC/N1X, F&M-3+, 1m (P5, P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #5 Joyce's Angel 3-1 5th
Next Best: #6 Latin Rocks 5-2 4th
Exotics Use: #1 Believe in A.P. 4-1 WON ($5.00)
Super Add: #2 The Marikutana 12-1 6th


8th: OC/N2X, 4+, 1m-T/12' (P4, P3, DD, Super)

Another terrific, supremely competitive group on the lawn..

Most Likely: #6 Gathering Cloud 5-1 5th
Best Value: #10 Tawaared 8-1 8th
Next Best: #7 Pinckney Hill 6-1 9th
Exotics Use: #2 Dynafortwo 3-1 3rd
Super Add: #1e JMJ Racing entry 6-1 WON/7th ($8.60)


9th: MSW, 3yo, 6f (P3, DD, Super)

Most Likely: #8 Venture World 5-2 6th
Best Value: #6 Not a Given 5-1 3rd
Next Best: #4 R Street Cat 4-1 5th
Exotics Use: #7 Doyouseemecoming 6-1 WON ($17.80)


10th: 29th Honey Fox (G2), F&M-4+, 1m-T/72' (DD, Super)

Excellent lawn companion stake to Saturday's exciting Inside Information. Marshua's River and Suwannee River grads and a number of other solid citizens should make this a good betting opportunity. As brought up with DRF's Mike Beer Friday on ATR, always like to find successful specialists when it comes to Turf Miles and 7/8ths on the Main and many here including Romacaca, Bay to Bay, La Riene Lionne and Future Generation fit that bill. Good, good race..

SCR #1 Persuading who contested Saturday's stake instead..

Most Likely:#9 La Riene Lionne 5-1: Agonizing nose beat in Marshua.. 3rd
Best Value: #7 Tapitsfly 6-1: Wide every step in Marshua.. WON ($12.20)
Next Best: #8 Future Generation 3-1: Bush button ready in N.A. debut.. 4th
Exotics Use: #3 Romacaca 4-1: Ultra-consistant and loves this lawn.. 5th
Super Add: #2 Bay to Bay 6-1: Respect this hard-hitter making 5yo debut.. 2nd


11th: MDN CLM, 3+, 8.5f-T/12' (Super, Super Hi-5)

Predictably challenging MDN CLM turf route nightcap. While the top two seem obvious, these events have been producing their share of ignored players that are hard to like on paper..

Most Likely: #11 Money's Worth 3-1 2nd
Next Best: #4 Golden Tornado 4-1 8th
Exotics Use: #1 In the Midnight 6-1 WON ($10.60)
Super Add: #5 Roars More 6-1 6th
Hi-5 Play: #9 Franklinpark 30-1 7th


<$75 P5 Play:

7: 1-5-6
8: 1-2-6-7-10
9: 8
10: 2-3-7-8-9
11: 4-11

3x5x1x5x2 = 150 x .50 = $75


<$75 P4 Play:

8: 1-2-6-7-10
9: 4-6-8
10: 2-3-7-8-9
11: 4-11

5x3x5x2 = 150 x .50 = $75


Good luck!
Steve