Disabled Jockey’s Fund Charity Contest: Monday, Garrity and RT both pick the 8th race at Lone Star Park — but disagree on who will win
Bettors Insider's two horse racing handicapping experts – Chris Garrity (@belmostickey) and RT and SmartCap (@RTsSpot) – have agreed to take part in a weekly handicapping contest throughout June.
For the contest, each handicapper will designate one of his race picks per weekday and two on Saturday and Sunday. Win, place, show betting only. $20 per bet. Weeks run Monday through Sunday.
The 'capper with the most money at the end of each week will have a donation made in his name to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. You can donate to the fund here.
Play along and in future months you may have a chance to beat the pros.
Yesterday
RT entered with nary a win to show for his week and $80 behind Garrity, who had two winners Saturday. Fot his first pick in the 3rd at Churchill, he put $7 win and $13 place on 3-Petrov. Petrov won and paid RT $34.30 on the win and $29.90 on the place. In the 7th at Churchill he made the same wager on 9-Lead Guitar. He paid RT $13.30 on the win and $22.20 on the place thanks to a huge longshot finishing second. Since he had a third Sunday pick due to scratches, he put $20 on 3-Treasured Bond to show in the 7th at Mountaineer. He finished second and paid RT a meager $22 to show on his $20 bet, but . . . his $60 wagers brought in $121.70 so after 9 $20 bets he finished the week -$41.30. Garrity entered Sunday -$23. He picked 1-Flavius to win the Belmont 9th. He ran a game race but finished 3rd. Then he bet 1-Flagstaff to show in the Santa Anita 8th, but he finished 4th. So Garrity ended up -$63 for the week.
RT wins Week 1 of the handicapping contest and a donation will be made in his name to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
Week 2 starts today.
Garrity's Monday Picks
The pick: Lone Star Park, Race 8, $20 to win on #2 Sir Rick, Post time 6:15 pm EDT.
Why: For today’s contest play, we are headed to Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, and the 8th race, an allowance at a mile and a sixteenth. It drew seven sophomore colts.
Two of them have speed figures superior to their rivals, and they are the two morning line favorites. They will line up right next to each other: 1-Icecap, who’s 7/5 and drew the rail, and 2 - Sir Rick, who’s 6/5. While their speed figures are similar, Sir Rick is a strong play, as he’s got much, much more early speed than Icecap. One of the handicapping axioms that is invariably true is that on dirt, all other things being equal, the horse with more early speed gets the edge.
We will take that edge to the windows, and will bet Sir Rick to beat Icecap, and the other five runners as well. Check out my other picks at Lone Star Park today by clicking on this link.
RT's Monday Picks
The pick: Lone Star Park, Race 8, $7 to win and $13 to place on #5 Code Runner, Post time 6:15 pm EDT.
Why: #5 Code Runner (15/1) has third best overall class, speed and second best last. Tossing out his no chance episode in The Rebel, where Nadal came away with a big win, and you’ll find a horse that put on an excellent performance in the previous race, winning by 3.25 lengths against similar company. He recently had a bullet work of 5f in 1:01.2 and his last was another 5f of 1:01.4 from the gate. The two works, especially the gate work last time, along with his competitiveness, makes him a compelling choice – certainly at that price. For my full analysis and other pick today, please check out my post.