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Saturday’s Race Recap from Belmont at Aqueduct:
(All odds US)
Belmont at Aqueduct:
Race 4: 4th@ 0.55/1
Race 5: 2nd@ 18.60/1
Race 6: 3rd@ 3.10/1
Race 8: 7th@ 20.90/1
In an oddly-run edition of the Joe Hirsch, huge longshot So High turned for home with a 15 length lead only to be run down by War Like Goddess. Favored Rebel Romance had to settle for a lackluster 4th. In Race 5, Central Avenue raced in last early over the sloppy going and came flying late for second at 18/1. In Race 6 we were rained off the turf and Wit was up against it on this speed favoring track as Today’s Flavor coasted wire to wire and Wit closed late for third. In the Grade 1 Champagne, El Grande O never made the front and that was his only chance to win. I knew 1/2 favorite Fierceness was a fraud and he proved me right. Once again, I couldn’t capitalize on what was a frustrating day at Aqueduct.
Saturday’s Race Recap from Keeneland:
(All odds US)
Keeneland:
Race 5: 9th@ 1.24/1
Race 9: 2nd@ 3.68/1
Race 10: 1st@ 2.29/1 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Race 11: 3rd@ 6.70/1
In Race 5, Alder raced in between horses and faded in the drive. In Race 9, The Wine Steward got the trip just off the speed. Locked came wide into the stretch and the Wine Steward gamely battled on the rail but we had to settle for second once again. In Race 10 Up to the Mark was behind favored Master of the Seas entering the stretch and the bang-bang finish resulted in a WIN for us. In Race 11, Rapoport was last early and last on the far turn in his debut but made up a TON of ground for third in a race that should set him up well for future efforts.
A WIN, two seconds (one at 18/1) and two thirds from eight selections on the day have us pounding on the door ready for a HUGE day. When the handicapping is there the results follow. We’ve been close all week.
Let’s close out our week with Sunday racing from Keeneland and one race from Belmont at Aqueduct. We’re expecting fast and firm conditions beneath cloudy skies at Keeneland, but we’ll have some moisture in the track at Aqueduct so I’m only doing the first. Let’s get to the action!
Keeneland:
Race 10: Depiction - 1 pt win (US Morning Line Odds: 10/1)
The Grade 2 Bourbon is our final race of the week and a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Two-year-olds race a mile and a sixteenth on the grass here and my choice is Depiction from the barn of Cherie DeVaux - former assistant trainer to Chad Brown. First time out Depiction was favored, but encountered some trouble in the stretch and had to settle for fourth. Last time out he had a clean trip and got to strut his stuff - blowing away a field of 9 other runners by nearly 6 lengths. I loved the way he leveled out and strode out strongly. He’s got the early speed to be in this race from the start and has four strong maintenance works setting him up for today’s affair. 10/1 would be a dream. I think he’ll be half that by post time at best.
Best of luck to all our members playing Sunday’s races from Keeneland!