Thoroughbreds Tuesday: On a light racing day, Garrity seeks winners at Thistledown and Indiana Grand
Short post today. The weather is great, but the national racing/simulcasting slate is light. So we'll be brief. We're handicapping everywhere for fast dirt; let's go.
At Thistledown in Ohio, the 1st (post time: 1:40 pm; all times here are Eastern) is a first-level allowance race for Ohio-breds 3 and up at 6 furlongs on dirt. We like 1-Dare Day in here, and we like him a lot: he ran a big figure winning a maiden race at Belterra Park last out, and we think that none of the other six runners here can keep up with him. We think he wires this field easily, and we especially like his 9/2 morning-line price: his price will be inflated because he broke his maiden at a minor track like Belterra, rather than at Thistledown. We will bet him to win, and we will do so enthusiastically. The bet: Thistledown, Race 1, $40 to win on 1-Dare Day.
The 6th at Thistledown (post time: 4:10 pm) is another first-level allowance race, this one a dirt mile for fillies and mares 3 and up. The pick here is 7-Stellar Trick: she went speed-and-fade in a sprint last time, but that race looks intentional to us: she has always run better over a route of ground than sprinting, and now, back around two turns where she belongs, that race will be a good foundation for her; she should be primed for a maximum effort. We like the fact that trainer Gerald Chatterton, who claimed her two back for $8,000, bumps her up in class to an allowance race, because her speed figures fit here. At 6-1, she's a good bet, and we will bet her to win. The bet: Thistledown, Race 6, $20 to win on 7-Stellar Trick.
Over at Indiana Grand, the 3rd (post time: 3:11 pm) is a $5,000 claimer for older horses at 5 1/2 furlongs on dirt. The outside horse 7-Marty McDougle, has a very consistent race pattern: when he gets a comfortable early lead, he wins; when he has to fight for the early lead, he fades in the stretch. Well, he's going to get the lead today, and he's going to get it easily: he has a significant early-pace edge on the rest of the field, and he will take the lead easily, and gallop home from there. We will bet him to win at 2-1. The bet: Indiana Grand, Race 3, $30 to win on 7-Marty McDougle.
The 7th at Indiana Grand is a baby race, a Maiden Special for 2-year-old fillies at 5 furlongs on dirt. It goes to post at 5:03 pm. The fillies in this one who have run before haven't shown much, so we are looking to a first-time starter, and that's 3-Pure Air Havana. Trainer George Leonard is good with firsters, hitting at a 22% clip, and this girl has shown a bit of ability in the mornings. She will not have to be the second coming of Ruffian to win this one, and that, plus her 8-1 morning line price, is good enough for us. We will bet her to win. The bet: Indiana Grand, Race 7, $20 to win on 3-Pure Air Havana.
That's it for today. Good luck at the windows.