Maiden America Monday 12.20: Fair Grounds Picks, Delta Downs Picks, Parx Picks from the Hooptie Handicapper

Maiden America 12.20.202

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There is a smattering of Maiden Special races to go over today

Race 7 Fair Grounds - $45K Maiden Special

Two-year-old fillies going 8.5 furlongs

There are three in this that will contend. 6-Gun Slingin (9/2) ships in from Churchill and put in a pedestrian 1:03 work. Filly by Gun Runner, which Steve Asmussen has shown an affinity for, and quite a bit of success. Gun Slinger 2yo fillies 29% with first routes. Use underneath. 2-My Aim Is true (8/1) is another Churchill shipper that had her debut and flopped. However, Medaglia d’Oro 38% 2yo fillies 38% in their second effort. Use underneath.

4-Hidden Wonder (8/5) made her debut at Churchill as well, went off as the favorite and was bumped in the upper stretch and rallied to place money. Godolphin-owned and bred filly by Curlin, will take a lot of money, and is my choice.

Race 9 Fair Grounds - $45 Maiden Special

Louisiana bred 3yo fillies and mares going six furlongs

I do not like one experienced runner in this and will take 8-Scrappy (8/1). Her sire, Star Guitar is a 42% win prop at this class and for first time starters. Her recent work of :48.4 shows she has an interest in running.

Race 7 Parx - $42K Maiden Special

2yo’s going one mile and seventy yards

2- Twist N Twirl (7/2) comes in from Laurel where, after two races in waiver claimers, put in a solid race as the second in the betting. This Twirling Candy colt has raced his first to at the claiming range, moved into msw, and whereas he neared the 79 Equibase rating of 72, I am not trusting a horse who has three races with two in claimers. Use underneath. 6-Curteis, Finger Lakes shipper who bowed five weeks ago and ran a 47 Equibase number in the slop. His daddy, Connect, is a 27% win prop in similar conditions ran a 58 number. Second leading jockey at Parx, Frankie Pennington, gets the nod today, and his dad, Connect, is 13% in this situation. His works have been marginal since and you want to see how motived the horse has run after his first. Use underneath. My choice is 9-Caveman (5/1) is on his third race and his last at Aqueduct was against smsw types; much stiffer competition and he showed he could pass horses and had a much improved race than his first. He just clicked works of 1:04 and 1:00 at Parx.

Race 1 Delta Downs - $35K Maiden Special

Two year olds going five furlongs

Going with Asmussen-trained first timer 5-Lightning Streak (4/1) who is by second leading sire of 2021, Practical Joke. Practical Joke first time starts are 32% winners this year at this level and with a :47 work, after a steady diet of works leading up to today, should take this

Race 4 Delta Downs - $35K Maiden Special

Two year olds going seven and a half furlongs

I will go for CD shipper, 4-Rithmicalla (5/1) mostly due to leading jockey, Tim Thornton, an ace at routes here. Rithmicalla just worked a :48 at Fairgrounds 10 days ago and he has the strong numbers today. I will use 1-Lost Gold (12/1) underneath and 2-Escrow Style (2/1) and 5-Dreamers Delight (6/1) underneath

Happy Hunting!