January 31, 2004. The opener at Aqueduct is a 15k claiming race for horses who have not won twice, run at 1 1/16 miles. Improving apprentice Edwin Perez gets the ride on the outside horse, King of the Mount, who took 14 races to break his maiden as a 4yr old last year over this surface. He just missed at the 1st level allowance in his next start, then sat for 6 months. Trainer Scott Everett has experimented with different surfaces and distances without much success until the now-five year old mare showed some early speed in the mud last week. Her claiming price has been cut from 25k, and with little speed in the field, this one has a good chance at a fair price. Well-bred Hesa Angel (Hesabull - Miss Angel, Talc) was rested for nearly a year after his wire to wire maiden win at Gulfstream Park. In two starts off the bench he has shown very little, but Rodney Soodeen will again try to move him to the front early. This colt is one to watch for the future. Trainer Gregory Martin has taken over the guidance of Woodbine shipper Festy Eskimo, the likely favourite today. With a huge maiden victory under his belt in Canada and a better post position here, there's no reason this 4yr old gelding shouldn't walk away with the top prize. He has improved in both starts since arriving in New York, stuck on the outside twice and bumped last time, getting place money in each contest. Shaun Bridgmohan gets the mount and could easily control the rail. Our Song has dropped to what seems to be an appropriate level for him and finished a neck behind today's top choice in their last meeting. Mike Luzzi retains the mount and will likely have this 5yr old at the front of the second flight, waiting for room in the stretch. An intriguing entry is lightly-raced 5yr old, Look Out Joe, unraced since his maiden win at a flat mile over the main track in late November. Jockey Javier Castellano jumps from Festy Eskimo to ride for trainer Nick Zito. There was a 3 week break in training in January which raises some doubts for us, but there is enough upside potential to include this one on all tickets. Slumping trainer John Candlin sends out Allisons Smile, a deep closer, from the inside post. There won't be too much of a pace to run at today and this one hasn't hit the board in 10 starts dating back to his maiden win last March. Trainer Howard Tesher hopes that underachieving 6yr old La La's Passion improves in his second off the bench. The drop from allowance races at Monmouth didn't make a difference as this one doesn't like to get involved early. Colum O'Brien turns to leading jockey Pablo Fragoso to turn around the fortunes of 5yr old gelding Ride With Rythym. Fragoso rallied with him in Saratoga for a 2nd place finish in a tough turf contest. Things have gone downhill since. Hey Brother, shipped in from Finger Lakes, appears to be well out of his class. SELECTIONS 2-10-7-4 FINISH 7-2-1-9 King of the Mount (11-1) was unable to clear the field and got into a duel with favourite Festy Eskimo (1-1) leaving Mike Luzzi free to sit back with Our Song (4-1), then bring him hard on the 2nd turn for a relatively easy 3 1/4 length victory. Tim Thornton brought Allisons Smile along late for third, completing a disappointing trifecta payout of $97.00. Look Out Joe (7-2) never got involved. January 30, 2004. The 5th at Gulfstream Park today is a 6 furlong sprint for older fillies and mares, most of whom have been shipped in from the Northeast to winter in Florida. The claiming price is 14k -12k. Trainer Daniel Hurtak, off to a dismal start this season, sends out the well-bred 4yr old Red Dice (Valid Wager - Red Wing Star, Red Wing Bold) for Olympia Stables, hoping to break his slump after claiming this one out of the same conditions two weeks ago. Red Dice broke her maiden over a year ago at Fair Grounds, had some time off, then returned with a big win from the inside at Churchill Downs in late June. Some unsuccessful attempts at routes at Ellis Park were followed by another layoff and another decent performance at Churchill, this time just failing as the outside horse. She'll have the rail early and Hurtak does pretty well with horses first off the claim. Her good form isn't so far behind her that she couldn't steal this one. C.R.Pace made heroes out of the longshot players last week when she was just caught at the wire by Miss Kipper Kelly after going off at 49-1. That was the first time she'd even hit the board in over a year and now her claiming price more than doubles. There's also very little likelihood that this race will finish in over 1:13, putting this 7 year old mare on the outside once again. A curious horse going for the front will be 4yr old Never Under, who shipped in from the Meadowlands to demolish a field of non-winners of two at Calder a week before Christmas. Trainer Alan Seewald, who has had great success with horses in their second off the bench, has breezed her lightly a few times since over this track. Today's post won't be as problematic for jockey Christopher DeCarlo as it was in the last where he had to clear eight horse to get to the rail. The move up from conditioned claiming ranks will be a challenge, but any move forward by this one puts her in the winner's circle. Scott Lake claimed Champagne Powder out of her maiden win at Delaware Park in September for Home Team Stables, sent her out to fly past a group of non-winners of two, then watched as she stalled at the n1x allowance level. She lost a speed duel in her first race at Calder a month ago and now gets her claiming price cut from 25k to 14k. The drop should get her involved with more appropriate company. If all is well with this one, it could be a romp. Eclipse winning jockey Eddie Castro picked up just his 2nd win of the meet aboard Caller's Image two weeks ago and retains the mount today for trainer Joe Pierce Jr. This 5yr old has been racing just below this claiming price in New Jersey, Delaware and at Philadelphia and the win here was with a price tag of 8k. We think this one's a little out of her class. Edgar Prado takes the mount on Marley Hart, a 4yr old who continues her descent from the heights of a maiden allowance win at Colonial Downs last July. Other than a slow victory in the slop at Pimlico two months later she hasn't been competitive. Trainer Allen Ferris III shortens her from a troubled route trip and drops her in price. We'd need there to be rain today, and even then, it's doubtful we'd play her on top. Hot apprentice, Renzo Diaz, gets the mount on A Little Smooch who is slumping after some success at Calder in the fall. The 7lb allowance will help but the 8 post will hinder this 5yr old who's easy to leave off most mutuel tickets. Trainer Manuel Azparia takes another crack at this level with Maria's Image, a 4yr old who won three races ago at a higher price. Jockey Julio Garcia must keep her back after breaking from the outside post. Saving ground early, this one has a great shot at hitting the board with a nice price. Struggling jockey, Manuel Aguilar, and struggling 5yr old mare, Unreal Fantasy, team up once again to try to reclaim some of the glory they shared last summer when they hit the board a few times at Calder. We doubt this is the race for her to suddenly reverse form. SELECTIONS 5-6-9-2 FINISH 5-3-2-1 All was certainly well with Champagne Powder (6-5) and it was anything but a romp as our top choice wasted no time getting the lead in fractions of 21.69 & 44.84, then barely held on to the win in 1:11.97. Never Under (5-1) knuckled under the demonic pace and was through by the top of the stretch. Edgar Prado cleverly kept Marley Hart (11-1) off the pace and had plenty left for a serious shot at the win, missing by 3/4 of a length. Cornelio Velasquez again tried to come late with Red Dice (9-2), a curious strategy as she's run her best races on or close to the pace. Today, she finished 3rd, barely ahead of Unreal Fantasy (54-1). The superfecta paid $708.50. January 29, 2004. The 6th at Fair Grounds is a 5 1/2 furlong sprint for fillies and mares four years old and older with a claiming price of 10k - 9k who have not won twice. A new track record of 1:03.20 was established on Monday at this distance by a 4 year old at the n1x level for state-breds. Toby's Success need not worry about any of these stealing his crown for the time being. A finish under 1:06 should get one of these girls to the winner's circle. Shane Sellers keeps the mount on the inside horse, Christavilla, a 5yr old mare, who won on the turf at Retama Park in August going wire to wire. Since then, she has been consistently competitive at this level both on the grass at Retama and on the dirt here at Fair Grounds. She won from the inside post and is the likeliest speed horse to still be standing in the stretch. Noi'manangel fought hard for the lead 5 weeks ago against some of these at 58-1. All 3 speed horses are to her left again today and that will, once again, cause this 5yr old mare some strain early. We think she's a step below this level unless the conditions come up perfectly. Trainer Elliot Necaise drops Glimpse of Glamour in price and goes to a new apprentice rider, James Graham, for today's matchup. This 4yr old has shown nothing since her win as a juvenile. Gold Irish broke through the gate in her last, switches barns, picks up apprentice Dominic Terry, and will probably be a pace factor but she has developed a nasty habit of folding things up after 3 furlongs. Morris Nicks ships in Smilin' Minster from Delta Downs and goes to hot jockey Gerry Melancon for this 4yr old's third start off the bench. Her win came last March as even money favourite at Oaklawn Park, returned strongly at Delta Downs in a n2l allowance race and had the lead in her last through the stretch at 6 1/2 furlongs. The turnback should work in her favour and makes her our value pick to win. Storm Saint (Devil His Due - Storm Bev, Storm Cat) will get a lot of attention from bettors based on her pedigree and coming off a tough maiden win over this track at a higher price tag. Trainer Ronny Werner is having an outstanding meet and will try to ensure that jockey Eddie Martin Jr. keeps the filly out of the speed duel. A rating trip could easily win her the prize. Wild Native Lady hasn't been the same horse since arriving in New Orleans from Texas. She hit the board in her last at 11-1 but didn't show much grit in the stretch. Jockey Corey Lanerie has to guide her into the action from the outside post today. Timing will be everything for Kirk LeBlanc aboard Rainy Day Romance, the only true closer among this bunch. She has missed by two necks, a head and 1 1/4 length in her last four showings. This filly is obviously a must-use in the exacta tickets and has a fair shot at the whole thing. SELECTION 5-8-1-7 FINISH 8-1-5-4 At post time, it was announced that Gerry Melancon would not ride our top choice, Smilin' Minster (7-2), to be replaced by Joel Santiago. Suddenly, the shipper from Delta Downs was not getting one of the go-to guys in New Orleans but a journeyman who came into the day with 3 wins in 77 tries. It looked to us as though Storm Saint (3-2) was handed the victory and, indeed, Eddie Martin stalked a slow pace set by Noi'manangel (29-1), then took control at the top of the stretch to win in 1:06.43. Shane Sellers couldn't get Christaville (3-1) to the lead but she did hang on for place, another respectable showing for a very consistent mare. Gold Irish (43-1) ran a better race than usual to complete the superfecta. Smilin' Minster had to be steadied on the turn, went outside and rallied for third. Boxing our top three choices in the trifecta netted a tame payout of $67.00. Using our top three over 'all' in fourth would have been the big play as the super paid out a decent $690.40. Congratulations! January 28, 2004. With poor weather conditions cancelling races at Aqueduct, we have turned our attention to Laurel Park, where the 3rd race features older fillies and mares with claiming prices of 5k - 4k who haven't won since July 28 of last year going 7 furlongs. Apprentice Ashton Fitzpatrick will try to move 6yr old mare, Anna's Code, to the early lead from the seven post. She won at Pimlico last May in the slop going wire to wire with very slow fractions. The pace could be similar today, however, there will be more competition for the rail. This one's recent success has come from inside post positions. On the inside is Dream Dancer, another 6yr old, with Richard Monterrey aboard. Monterrey likes to get his horses to the lead and today that's probably the place to be. This one has taken place money in over 25% of her races and needed more track in her Laurel debut in November. A brutal performance at a mile at Penn National last out might give us a decent price today. Charles Town shipper, Saskatchewan, ran a few decent races as a three year old, winning here in the slop in March and again at Pimlico in April. She has shown nothing since returning from a 2-month layoff in early November. Top apprentice, Luis Garcia, takes the mount. You have to roll the dice and close your eyes with this one. Skoor picks up 10 lbs and shortens from 8 1/2 furlongs for today's event. The combination isn't enticing, particulary as this filly doesn't like to be involved early. Shining Forever, shipped in from Suffolk where she'd been running on the turf, doesn't appear to be entirely fit. Popular Blues went 0 for 19 last year as a four year old, but showed great interest late on the grass at Pimlico in September, splitting horses and missing the win by 3/4 of a length. She endured poor starts in a couple of starter allowances at Laurel in October and was gaining late in a freshener at 4 1/2 furlongs in her latest at Charles Town. With a suspect field ahead of her today, she should be picking them off in the stretch. Jockey Josiah Hampshire Jr. will have Tribal Quest charging late from the very back of the pack. Last May, she came from 18 lengths back at Penn National to win by 3 lengths. She's also a keeper on the triftecta tickets. With Scott Lake training and Mario Pino riding, Silver Touch will likely get more attention at the wickets than she deserves. The 5yr old hasn't been competitive at the n4l claiming level at Philadelphia Park and Penn National and now tries this course. SELECTIONS 1-4-5-7 FINISH 2-1-4-6 The rail certainly was the place to be in this race. Unfortunately, Richard Monterrey wasn't able to control the inside on our top choice, Dream Dancer (4-1), was forced to go 3-wide and fell short by 3/4 of a length behind wire to wire winner Shining Forever (7-2) who finished in an uninspiring time of 1:27.52. Popular Blues, the betting favourite at 5-2, loomed large at the top of the stretch but couldn't close the deal. For those of you who boxed the top three bettors' choices, you cashed a trifecta ticket worth $115.60. And, by the way, Silver Touch was bet down to 7-1 because of his connections and finished last. January 25, 2004. The 6th at Fair Grounds is a 5 1/2 furlong sprint for Louisiana-breds who have not won 3 races, with claiming prices of 10k - 9k. The only speed in the field is the outside horse, Scuppernong, exiting a tough allowance heat for state-breds in which he got hung outside. That race was his first off a 10 week rest. In late September he wired the field at 6 furlongs from the outside and breezed :47.4 on Thursday. Gerry Melancon retains the mount, which is the biggest positive for us as these days Melancon can pick his spots at this track. Trainer James Hodges plays the claiming game well and is our bet to be in the winners' circle. Justlikejessejames posted two seconds and a third in five stakes races for juveniles in 2002. The 4yr old colt beat open allowance racers two back off the bench at Delta Downs at 7-1 and shows enough back class to suggest a shot at the top prize. Tellek cuts back from a flat mile at Delta Down and jockey Corey Lanerie will be trying to gain the rail early. This gelding likes the track and Lanerie has been aboard for both lifetime victories. He'll be there in the stretch. Tell Me Mr G has beaten open claiming company but doesn't appear to have enough early speed to remain competitive today. The move up in class will betray Choppa Toulouse as a horse who belongs at Evangeline Downs in lesser company. Constituent hasn't raced in 3 months and hasn't won in 9 months. Trainer Victor Arseneaux sends out both inside horses but Justlikejessejames is clearly the better of the two. Remembering Beau, who won his maiden race over this track, drops down from an allowance race after winning off the bench in early November at Delta Downs, then closing too late in an open claiming race for non-winners of three. This 4yr old gelding will be passing tired horses in the stretch. Bud's Bayou produces a gem once in a while but the move up in class will be enough for us to say that there's no price big enough to play him on top. Go Baby Geo has shown no speed since last summer and is in a brutal form cycle currently. SELECTIONS 9-1-3-7 FINISH 9-3-2-1 Isn't it fine to cap off the week with a very playable $145.60 trifecta that drops down from heaven? Our top choice, Scuppernong (7-5), had no difficulty sprinting to the lead and maintaining it to the finish over fractions that were honest, if not arduous. Second choice, Justlikejessejames (8-5), stalked the leader to the stretch (setting up a very low exotics payout) until Corey Lanerie brought Tellek (7-2) flying between horses for the place money. While he never seriously challenged the winner, Tellek's lack of early speed cost him any chance at the win. Fortuitously, (if you punched all on the bottom of your tri tickets) Victor Arsenault's second banana, Constituent (23-1), caught third by a length, creating the decent trifecta return and contributing to a superfecta payout of $325.40 (fair, considering the 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 5th choices hit). January 24, 2004. The 3rd at Gulfstream Park, on the undercard of the Sunshine Millions event, is a first-level allowance for 3 year olds at 1 1/16 miles. Trainer Richard Violette Jr. enlists Santa Anita rider Tyler Baze to take the mount on Aqueduct shipper Swingforthefences who overcame a rough start to break his maiden on the 1st of November in a nifty 1:10.4 over 6 furlongs. The layoff and the stretch out oblige us to leave this talented colt only on the bottom of trifecta tickets. Ballado Breeze (Saint Ballado - Wild Royal, Wild Again), an Elliot Walden trainee, with Alex Solis aboard, arrives out of his maiden win in the mud at Turfway Park following an outstanding 6-wide run for third at Churchill Downs in late November. With a lack of early speed in this field, Solis might find them too forwardly placed early. The key to the win for this one is a patient ground-saving trip. Dashing Deputy (Awesome Again - Ms. Copelan, Copelan) stretches from 7 furlongs and picks up hot Florida rider Rene Douglas. Eibar Coa had this one too close to the front in his last at this level but today with an outside post, there will be plenty of room to mount a late challenge. Mr. Willie Joe was in contention midway through the What A Pleasure stakes at Calder after placing twice at this level. Gary Boulanger picks up the mount and will be mounting a late run at the leaders. Stormy'sback, exiting a wide turf try at Calder, looks to be outmatched today. Fumph Around has gone off at odds of over 40-1 since arriving in Florida and has finished ninth both times. Robbie Alvarado Jr. picks up the mount and will have the colt involved early. Mustanfar, from the inside post, represents the hot barn of Kiaran McLaughlin and picks up John Velasquez for his return to the track after winning at nine furlongs at Aqueduct in November and then stumbling at the start of the Grade 2 Remsen. The distance won't be a problem and there is good reason to believe this one will still be around late in the stretch. Play All Night (Coronado's Quest - Play all Day, Steady Growth) won his debut over the inner track at Aqueduct at the distance at 12-1 odds, then shipped to Gulfstream to lose a tough duel at this level 3 weeks later at odds of 10-1. Joe Bravo picks up the mount for star trainer Mark Hennig who looks to have this colt ready for a big race today. Although the odds won't be in double digits, we still feel this is a good value play. Suave ran a troubled trip in his last at Gulfstream off the bench. His Churchill Downs win at this distance in November was impressive and he retains Cornelio Velasquez, who won four races yesterday. In a race that begs for a longshot to emerge from the pack, this one looks logical to us off the freshener. Current Niner was losing ground in both tries at this distance at Calder. Some fast workouts are encouraging but this is a step up in class against an unusually tough group. SELECTIONS 3-8-5-9 FINISH 1-2-8-3 In trying to find some value, we allowed ourselves to overlook classy Mustanfar (7-2) who was rated well off the pace by John Velasquez and swooped in late to win by a head over our second choice, Suave (7-1). The price was right on Suave and we were feeling pretty smart as he had the lead at the eighth pole only to start drifting in on the charging Swingforthefences (7-2), who had to check to avoid running up on our hero. The inquiry went against us and Suave was placed third behind Swingforthefences, creating a cheap $24.70 exacta and a disappointing trifecta of $138.10. Our top choice, Play All Night (5-2) went off as the betting favourite, made a move 4-wide on the second turn but failed to fire. Dashing Deputy (8-1) acquitted himself well in his first route. He remained in contention until faltering in the stretch. We'll use him on top in his next two-turn event. January 23, 2004. The 7th on the inner dirt course at Aqueduct is a 6f sprint for New York-breds at the n1x allowance level. Dummy (Souvenir Copy - Astarte, Deputy Minister) will go for the rail early as the 4yr old gelding, in his 3rd lifetime start, will attempt to make amends for a disastrous Aqueduct debut 2 weeks ago at the same level against some of these. He looked good at Finger Lakes winning against state-breds in his debut covering the distance in 1:11.1. Charles Lopez jumps ship and is replaced on the mount byHeberto Castillo Jr. This may not be the best spot for him, although he delivered a decent gate work last week for trainer Ken Nesky. Dixie Bourbon (Dixie Brass - Moonwaki, Miswaki) will be the bettors' choice based on an 88 Beyer he delivered in the same race Dummy ran on January 8. The 4yr old colt's best races have been run out of outside post positions and this is a difficult spot for him as there is speed all around him. Apprentice Edwin Perez retains the mount and will be under pressure from the get-go to prove the last race wasn't a fluke. Beep Beep Beep will also go for the lead and has proven he can be a factor in a 6 panel race in 1:12; this contest should go quicker, leaving the 4yr old gelding on the outside. Steve Jerkens again sends out Jol at this level despite hitting the board only twice in his last twelve. Two races back, the 4yr old gelding finished second to Sunnyridge Sam, who came back to win convincingly yesterday. Jerkens goes back to Pedro Cotto Jr. but this is a strictly a fringe player. Tamusky, with 1 win in 33 starts lifetime, and a dismal showing at the 25k claiming level in his last, can safely be left out. Crouching Tiger (Tale of the Cat - Berkshire Shopper, Carr de Naskra) won three in a row and four of five last summer in the claiming ranks against 3 year olds. Philip Gleaves claimed him for 25k from Michael Hushion in June and moved him up to state-bred allowance sprints, with poor results. Mike Micelli picked him up for 25k at Saratoga in August and, after a layoff, has nudged the now 4yr old gelding up in class. Norberto Arroyo Jr. stays on after a 4th against these in his last. A clean stalking trip and even minor improvement make this one our value play of the day. Rudster, a closing-type, is stuck on the inside today and hasn't been able to handle conditioned claiming horses at Penn National, Thistledown and Finger Lakes. We think he's outclassed here. We'll officially jump on the Jason Servis bandwagon today. The guy has the Midas touch so far at this meet. Today, he sends out Snorzalot, who inauspiciously won a 10k maiden claiming event at the Meadowlands in October. That one became a key race and the 4yr old gelding finished a decent fourth in his next start on the Aqueduct main track at this level at 47-1. After a seven week layoff, he couldn't catch Dixie Bourbon. But with that freshener and some speed to run at, we like this one's chances today. Paraneck Stables-owned Uncalculated ran a brilliant closing race to break his maiden over this track on Boxing Day. After a near miss at a mile & 70 yards, trainer Jennifer Pederson shortens him up again. It's tough to play this type of runner to win because so many factors have to work in his favour, but we can't leave him off the deep exotics tickets. Richard Schosberg sends out Mister Fizz after a 4 month break off his maiden win at nine furlongs on the turf at Belmont. Despite some strong workouts we're not convinced this is exactly the right placement for this 5yr old. SELECTIONS 9-3-5-8 FINISH 8-5-3-9 For the second straight day, all four selections at whodoyoulike.info finished in the superfecta. As expected, Dummy set a pedestrian early pace with favourite Dixie Bourbon (2-5) in close pursuit. Beep Beep Beep got to within a head of the leader, then tired at the half. Snorzalot (6-1) caught Dixie Bourbon in the stretch but was no match for Uncalculated (10-1) who found room on the rail to win by a length. The exacta paid $120.50 as everything did work perfectly for the closer today. The trifecta, with the favourite on the bottom, paid a decent $253.50. Our value play, Crouching Tiger (11-1) ran fourth without really menacing. January 22, 2004. The 5th at Fair Grounds is a 6f sprint featuring eight seasoned veterans with some suspect speed on the outside. All runners have a claiming price of 10k. First on the rail should be Gold Sunset, trained by William Calhoun, with Corey Lanerie up. The only 4yr old in the race, this gelding produced some big performances at Lone Star last summer until he was shipped back to Louisiana for a 50k stakes race. A 2 1/2 month layoff and a drop to the conditioned claiming ranks resulted in a win here 3 weeks ago. While lacking experience, at least this one is on the upswing career-wise. Lanerie must keep him to the task as there will be some speed coming at him early from the outside posts. Well-conditioned, this one should still be in the mix in the stretch. Eight year old gelding, Privano's First, with 48 races under his belt, leaves the allowance and optional claiming ranks after a string of dismal performances over the past six months. He might draw some attention from the bettors as there is a 105 Beyer figure jumping out of his past performance sheet. Kirk Leblanc will have him placed forwardly early but the alarm bells are ringing loud on account of the drastic class drop. Trainer Thomas Tomillo urged a strong performance out of Storm Chronicle in December for a win in Hawthorne at the 8k claiming level. The 6yr old had an inside post an wired the field over outrageously fast fractions finishing in 1:08.1. The class might be right for this one but moving to the lead from the outside has never been a strength of his. The outside post is the deciding factor here. Prince Ante has finished third in 10 of his career 44 races. Based on that alone, it would be prudent to use him on the bottom of trifecta tickets. Sprints aren't his forte and he has failed to hit the board in 7 starts at Fair Grounds. At his best, this 6yr old gelding couldn't beat most of this field. McNellis closed well in his last at this claiming level over 5 1/2 furlongs and shows a decent breeze in the mud since then. All 3 of his career wins have come at this distance, trainer Norman Miller has him in a positive form cycle and decent mutual price make this on an attractive play. Dead closer Cielo's Garden gets blinkers from trainer Angel Montano in his first try off the claim. Montano watched this 5yr old gelding fire two bullets over the course in preparation. Lanerie jumps ship and is replaced by Luis Espinoza who has a good shot at bringing him home a winner. Tomillo's other entry today is Alpha Strike, who has been consistently outclassed at this level at Hawthorne, with his lone victory last year coming at 6 1/2 furlongs. Hot jockey Gerry Melancon retains his usual mount on Wings of Jones, who got too close to the lead too early off a very slow pace in his last at this level. The place horse in that one, Ze Fact, went on to win his next out. With over 300k in career earnings and 15 victories under his saddle, this 6yr old gelding is our top choice and could be a decent value play based on his last race. SELECTIONS 6-1-3-2 FINISH 2-3-6-1 We hope you boxed our 4 horses in the superfecta and picked up the $233.40 payout. The race went pretty much as we expected, but our key horse, Wings of Jones (4-1) didn't fire in the stretch. Favourite Gold Sunset (8-5) set an honest pace and held on doggedly to the wire losing by a neck to Cielo's Garden (3-1) who, with the blinkers, produced a style reversal by staying within 4 lengths of the lead at the first call. Luis Espinoza gave it an impressive, well-timed ride. McNellis (6-1) was too close to the action early and had nothing left in the stretch, finishing 4th by a head behind Wings of Jones. An outside post at this level would suit McNellis better. January 21, 2004. There is speed inside and outside in the 7th at Philadelphia Park, a 5 1/2f sprint for non-winners of three lifetime. Four year old gelding Cedar Key draws the inside post and could potentially be the speed of the speed today as he was in September winning a 1st level allowance at the distance by 8 lengths. Jose Flores, originally scheduled to take the mount, is recuperating from broken ribs suffered in a spill over the frozen track on Monday and will miss significant time. After a disastrous turf attempt, trainer Kathleen DeMasi has struggled to get Cedar Key back to form, failing most recently against 3 year olds at a 25k claiming price. The price will be right, but will this one still be in the mix after a tough speed duel? To his right in the gate will be Prince Slavic with Anibal Prado aboard. This 5yr old gelding has hit the board three times at this level since late November and looks to have a better chance of withstanding the pressure late. Trainer Randy Allen sends out 4yr old gelding Mama's Joy off his win at the n2l condition. His price goes up and the competition will be much tougher. Unless Carlos Cruz can coax this guy into rating he will be through early. Top jockey Stewart Elliot abandons Cedar Key for well-travelled The Fat Man, returning to the track after a 4-month layoff. A winner at here over 1 mile & 70 yards and a dogged maiden victory at Aqueduct in March don't compensate for the fact that this guy, more often than not, delivers a dud. The pace scenario doesn't set up well for him today. Boogie Woogie Type, a 6yr old gelding, drops in from allowance routes at Delaware Park, Pimlico and Charles Town. Not a particulary sharp sprinter and representing a stone cold barn, the outside post today is the least of his worries. The distance might be a bit short for Gold Goose, dropping back to this condition after a try at 7 furlongs against n1x allowance runners. It's foolish to leave him off exotics tickets as he has hit the board every time at the distance and loves Philadelphia. Jockey Victor Molina hits the board at a 48% clip but wins at a 4% rate. The math is simple. He has a shot but we prefer him underneath. With a competitive pace in front of him, Karms Echo will be able to stay in touch saving ground under Orlando Bocachica, and will have first shot at overtaking the tiring pace horses. This will be the 4yr old gelding's 2nd try at this level. There was no pace to close on in the last. Jockey Elliot departs, but Bocachica jumps over from Mama's Joy. This is the value play of the day. Harry Vega returns to the mount on King Matthew, trained by Preciado Guadalupe, a 4yr old colt that won twice around two turns last fall over this track. The distance will be a problem but we should see him closing fast past tiring horses. Not a win candidate but suitable on the bottom of trifecta tickets. SELECTIONS 6-4-2-5 FINISH 3-5-2 When Karms Echo scratched we pulled our bets off the table, but were shocked to see Cedar Key go off as even money favourite. Suddenly, options were open all over the field to make some money by betting against the favourite who picked up Anthony Black as rider and set the pace at 21.94 & 44.90 before folding. Jockey Carlos Cruz was, indeed, able to keep Mama's Boy (8-1) off the pace and accelerated to the lead in midstretch for the upset victory in a quick 1:03.36. As expected, Prince Slavic (4-1) held on in the stretch, couldn't handle the winner and was nosed out for place by King Matthew (14-1), given a strong closing trip by Harry Vega. Talk about value in a six horse race: the exacta paid $199.20 and the trifecta was $832.60. January 19, 2004. The 3rd at Gulfstream Park features eight talented sprinters, all of whom like to be forwardly placed early in the race, running for 6 furlongs with claiming prices of 18k - 16k. Timothy Hills has shipped Scattering Breezes back to Gulfstream, where he competed last year as a maiden before winning at Monmouth Park in May. The 5yr old has been out since winning a sprint on the turf at Colonial Downs last June. Joe Bravo will have him gunning for the wire. He'd be a longshot to win but has stayed on stubbornly in the past. The drop from the allowance ranks might be a gamble on Hills' part, hoping to sneak him through this claiming race on the presumption of others that the horse has dropped in value. Concorde's Appeal, another 5yr old, trained by Ralph Ziadie, picks up Edgar Prado for the ride today. This Calder - based sprinter has carried less weight with apprentices for much of the past year. Every time Ziadie has called a journeyman to the mount, Concorde's Appeal has faded badly in the stretch. Too much early speed might back this one out early. Woodbine trainer Alex McPherson ships in with 6yr old gelding Wondrous Zeal, who had great success at Assiniboia Downs in Manitoba before accounting himself well at Woodbine, then being eased in his last and laid up for 2 months. He might be spotted correctly class-wise but we would like to see the first trip over the course before investing. A better post would also help. Scott Lake trainee Lucky Chip, starting from the inside post, must be careful not to be drawn into a speed duel. If Robbie Alvarado Jr. can rate him behind the speed, he has a big chance to win off the drop in price. Out of 41 career starts, he has won 10 times and is 8/32 at the distance. With over a quarter million career earnings, this guy doesn't need too much luck to beat this bunch. Also getting a drop in price is Laughing Luke, who is trying to come out of a brutal form cycle. Don't count on a rebound here as this 4yr old won only once in 18 starts last year. Even on his best day, hitting the board would be difficult. Top jockey John Velasquez takes the mount on Mister Fox, a 4yr old gelding trained by Steve Flint who has been a hard-working grinder on the mid-west circuit over a 12 race career. Claimed four times over the past year, he spit the bit early at Churchill Downs in a starter allowance in November, his first race for the current connections. He was returned to action at Calder with a 40k price tag, went off as 2-1 favourite, caught a pretty good group and got caught outside. He's the only horse with late closing ability and Velasquez has the talent to keep him out of trouble until the big move. We think this is the best value win play on the card. Eibar Coa, now off of Mister Fox, keeps the mount on Seeking the Show, owned and trained by Happy Alter. The 6yr old gelding is better suited to routes and has yet to win at Gulfstream in eight tries. Yakima Canutt draws outside again in a return to the same level as last in which he had the lead in the stretch, drifted and was beaten a length. The pace will be a bit quicker today and Manny Aguilar returns to the mount. Aguilar guided this 5yr old to a nice stalking victory at Calder in early December. The post hurts but shortening from 7 furlongs could be the key to victory for owner/trainer Barry Rose. SELECTIONS 6-1-8-2 FINISH 8-7-3 Unfortunately, our top pick was scratched, leaving a void of late speed. Manny Aguilar was able to rate Yakima Canutt (5-1) off the hot pace, leaving plenty of gas in the tank for the stretch run as the speed started to break down. The win for Yakima Canutt netted Barry Rose his first win of the meet and produced a trifecta worth $303.10. Happy Alter's Seeking the Show (4-1) followed the winner to the stretch for place while Laughing Luke (23-1) was the lone front-runner left standing for place. Lucky Chip (7-5) with Robbie Alvarado couldn't negotiate the turn and finished a disappointing fourth. He was claimed out of this by Timothy Ritvo for Rey Wan Racing. Scott Lake continues to struggle at Gulfstream this season. January 17, 2004. The 9th at Fair Grounds is a an exciting, highly competitive 6f sprint for 3yr olds with n1x conditions. Last month, we watched Jimmy Cracked Corn come out of a troubled trip at Churchill to demolish the field at Turfway Park, wiring the 5 furlongs in 58 seconds flat. Thomas Amoss takes control of his future and Corey Lanerie takes the mount from the inside post. With the other early speed stuck on the outside, we like this one to graduate first level allowance ranks today. Robbie Albarado is the new rider on Nightlifeatbigblue, who held on for a maiden win here a week before Christmas. The outside post is a tough spot to start but winning a speed duel after a 7-month layoff is impressive enough for us to at least keep him in the gimmicks. Forthcoming will show early speed but will prove to be outmatched by this bunch. Bc's Music (Prospector's Music - Ages 'n Stages, Raise a Man) broke his maiden at a mile on the turf at Louisiana Downs in September and, despite good sprint breeding, has yet to meet a field soft enough since then to even hit the board. Leading North American trainer Steve Asmussen sends out the probable favourite, Palpen (Pentelicus - Darned If You Don't, Darn That Alarm), who was nosed by Shiloh Bound at this level a month ago. Asmussen ace, Shane Sellers, takes the mount but some improvement is necessary from this one as the pace will definately be hotter. Sellers, in our estimation, is the one of the finest at riding the perfect trip. Slow Walkin' John won a 35k stakes race for state-breds in his last but won't find it so easy-going today. Consistently underbet Stalkerazzi got a poor start in the Sugar Bowl 60k, finished fifth and came back with a bullet at Fair Grounds last week. Calvin Borel replaces Sellers for trainer Dallas Stewart and we expect to see this son of Tale of the Cat flying by horses in the stretch. Notonetoquit needs a race against winners before we can assess his future as the finish today will be better than 1:12. SELECTIONS 1-3-7-9 FINISH 1-8-3 As we expected, Jimmy Cracked Corn, despite a slow start, sprinted to the lead in 21.3 for the first quarter and maintained a length and a half lead till the stretch when he pulled away to finish the 6 furlongs in 1:11.1 on a sloppy course at odds of 2-1 (which we considered fair). Palpen (2-1) was well positioned by Shane Sellers but the speed was too much and finished an even third, beaten by longshot Forthcoming (20-1), who proved he was racing below his level in his maiden win for a 30k claiming price. Keying our top choice with all returned $106.00 for the exacta, while using our top two picks in the trifecta returned a sweet $416.20. Congratulations! And thanks to trainer Ronny Werner for sneaking Forthcoming through that claiming race in December. January 16, 2004. The final race of the day at Gulfstream Park, the 9th, is 1 1/16 mile route for older with price tags of $6.25k. Bottom level claiming races draw the usual suspects: aging has-beens whose owners hope to unload and youngsters with terrible-looking past performance sheets, some of whom once showed some potential. Cajun Concert, a 7yr old gelding, starts from the inside post and will be the controlling speed today. Trainer Peter Walder drops him to the price at which he was last claimed from Julio Cartagena in New Jersey. This former speedster is a confirmed winner who must wire the course and has an excellent opportunity here. John Velasquez keeps the mount after being unable to grab the lead against better from the 7 post in his last start. A more likely pace scenario is similar to the win off the bench at Delaware Park in October of last year. The price won't be pretty but with a fairly large field the exotics might offer up some value. Czardas Dancer continues his descent on the claiming race elevator and not being able to hit the board at the Meadowlands doesn't bode well for him here. Bet Gold, a 4yr old gelding, has stubbornly stayed on in speed duels in the fall. Trainer Tyrone Harris has bounced this one around from sprints to routes, keeps the 7lb apprentice, and drops the price tag. He could still be around in the stretch against a very weak field. Eddie Castro, an Eclipse finalist as top apprentice, has had a very tough start to the Gulfstream meet and will find things difficult again here aboard Unbridled Resolve out of the 10 hole. This well-bred 4yr old gelding has failed miserably at the n2l condition. He'll be badly outclassed. Boardroom Drama is my pick to ride the perfect trip and challenge the pace horse in the stretch. Manny Cruz will have no trouble holding the rail and the 5yr old gelding won twice last year going 3-4 wide. He was bumped in his last and that performance could bring us a better price. Jamaican Justice has not been competitive at the n2l level. Dr. Clayton could hit triple figure odds to win. Don't bite! Solid journeyman rider Edwin King Jr. keeps the mount on Internal Revenue, who has looked fine at Philadelphia Park and has nibbled at the edges of this class at Calder. We won't get 10-1 odds again on him but he's worth including on all exotics tickets in this spot. Eleven year old gelding Ten Times Nobility is a turf specialist who has shown no interest in dirt racing ever in his career. Lucky Charm's Jet ships in from West Virginia and gets Jon Court for the ride. This 6yr old closer could drop a bomb here. We don't think it's worth more than inclusion on the bottom of trifecta tickets. Uncle Bill will again not get involved from the 11 post. SELECTIONS 2-1-6-7 FINISH 1-2-11 Cajun Concert (1-2) easily wired the field and was claimed by Olympia Stables to be trained by Daniel Hurtak. Our other top choice, Boardroom Drama (5-1) closed well to be best of the rest but didn't challenge the winner. Internal Revenue (12-1) was caught in the stretch by Uncle Bill (23-1) for show and a trifecta payout of $60.20. The superfecta paid $233.40. January 15, 2004. Today's feature at Gulfstream Park, the 8th race, is a 3rd level allowance at 1 1/6 miles for older fillies and mares with an optional claiming price of 75k. A couple of horses here had notable juvenile and sophomore campaigns, one with a graded stakes win under her belt. The betting public will be lured by these returning heroes, leaving excellent value plays open on 4yr olds who have been campaigning without a break and who are probably more fit. Roar Emotion will go off as the favourite and with good reason: as a 2yr old she won the G2 Demoiselle at Aqueduct and as a 3yr old won the G2 Black Eyed Susan at Pimlico. Super-trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has taken charge of this girl's 4yr old season, which starts here with her trying to gain the rail from the 6 post. She can rate also and gets her regular rider, John Velasquez, back on the mount. This race looks like a tuneup for upcoming stakes races, leaving her vulnerable against a sharp bunch of allowance veterans. Jerry Bailey gets the call again on Rhumb Line, on the bench since early October. This daughter of Mr. Greely was climbing the allowance ladder last spring and summer until trainer Frank Alexander ill-advisedly entered her in the G1 Mother Goose. After that debacle, she doesn't look like the same horse. Her works have been promising, however, and we can never count Bailey out of the money, given a strong ride and the rail. New York-bred 5yr old Serenity's Smile leaves her home state and, while she had success at Finger Lakes and the Aqueduct winter meet last year, we feel she'll be outclassed today. Mark Hennig has shipped City Sister down from the North East again. Last year, she won her maiden debuting at Gulfstream and progressed enough to be third in the G2 Nassau County Breeders' Cup at Belmont in May. Eibar Coa could get this one positioned for a run at the top prize. Unforgettable Too, shipped from Woodbine, has had most of her success on the turf. Take note of the trip she gets for future use. Jose Santos takes the mount on Mystical Beauty, who needs to revert to her fall form to have even a chance here and doesn't seem to currently be in a positive form cycle. Paisley Park won her first two allowance levels in "off the turf" races last summer at Monmouth Park. After a couple of disappointing performances at the Meadowlands, she was best of the rest at n3x in Philadelphia before shipping to South Florida to win an optional claiming race at Calder. She was bumped hard at the start of that one but still endured for the win at 8-1. Elvis Trujillo retains the mount. She is bred for the distance (Notebook - Silent Ridge, Lyphard's Ridge) and has shown courage in the stretch. This filly will provide excellent value today. The only closer in the field is Kiss Me Twice who didn't like the Gulfstream surface last year. Granted, she's a better horse as a 5yr old but even her best only gets her a minor share against these. We won't leave her off the trifecta tickets, though. SELECTIONS 6-7-3-8 FINISH 6-8-7 Kiaran McLaughlin left no doubt as to the fitness of Roar Emotion (3-5) as the filly quickly sprinted to the lead and wired the victory in her return to competition. We can assume that as long as she exited the race in good health a move back up to stakes competition is imminent. Kiss Me Twice (9-1) chased the pace and was clearly second best, finishing only a length back. The exacta paid only $10.40 but for those of you who keyed Roar Emotion on top with our three other choices in the middle and bottom of your trifecta tickets ($12.00) the payout was a reasonable $63.90 as Paisley Park was allowed to go off at 25-1 and managed to hold show. Rhumb Line stumbled at the start and never contended. January 14, 2004. The 4th at Laurel Park is a maiden allowance for 3yr old fillies at 1 1/16th miles. Inside horse Knockin Boots gave way in the stretch after racing with a 3 length lead in her last over this surface as 3-5 favourite. She likely won't be bet down as hard today as it appears she's in tougher. Jose Caraballo, who finally picked up his first win of the meet Sunday, has the only speed in the field and doesn't need to push her in this, her second start off the bench. This will also be her second try at two turns and second try over the course. Pennsylvania-bred Fappadoon shipped out of Maryland for an allowance try at Philadelphia Park two days before Christmas. She used a huge closing kick to gain place, missing by a half length, but beating Roma Royale who won easily next out Friday at Philly. Trainer John Myers goes for a 10lb break again, using apprentice Leigh Offut. Well-bred Townline (Arch - Tukwila, Coastal) makes her second career start retaining Rick Wilson on the mount. She rallied after a slow start at this track in mid-November. Trainer John Fisher has been successful with 2nd starters off the bench. Veteran Graham Motion goes back to hot jockey Ramon Dominguez and adds blinkers to My Limit who has had a tendency to go wide over her 3 career starts. She has a big late kick and can't be ignored, even on top of some of the deeper tickets. Yolanda King sends out Pursesnatcher who likes to nibble at the edge of the action and finished 3/4 length behind Knockin Boots in their last. Motion's other entry is Forestry progeny Forest Kitty who appears talented but hasn't yet shown the propensity to get involved. She's definately one to tab for the future. Charles Hadry adds blinkers to Service Medal, who showed some potential on the grass at Belmont in the fall under Shug McGaughey III. We'll wait and see. Star jockey Mario Pino, who won 3 races on Sunday, gets the mount on Ladyinastorm in her first route. She was passing tired horses in her last at 6f and trainer Katharine Voss handles the sprint/route angle well. SELECTIONS 1-5-4-6 FINISH 5-2-4 Apprentice Leigh Offut picked up her first victory of the meet as Philly shipper Fappadoon (4-1) moved past favourite Knockin Boots on the final turn for a relatively easy maiden victory. Trainer Graham Motion got a pleasant surprise out of Forest Kitty (12-1) who started slowly again, but finished willingly for place. Townline (9-1) broke slowly again and had to be rushed up. Any improvement out of the gate in the future will get this one to the winner's circle. Keying Fappadoon on top of exacta tickets returned $107.80. Anyone using our top three with Forest Kitty in the trifecta part wheel was rewarded with a payout of $1,118.00. Congratulations! January 12, 2004. The 5th at Fair Grounds is a 1 mile contest for older horses who have not won three lifetime with claiming prices from 15k - 10k. The only horse comfortable with the speed is Greely's Best, a lightly raced 5yr old claimed last month by Michael Pino. With top jockey Robbie Albarado now taking the mount, look for a big improvement over his last. A trip more similar to his Fair Grounds debut will keep him on the rail and alone to the stretch. This gelding has the class to hold off the competition. Of particular note is the bullet he fired over the course a week ago. Pino also enters the inside horse, Elusive Gentleman, a 4yr old who's fallen on hard times since racing in allowances on the turf at Belmont last spring. He's been out since 23 November but his works over the track here have been impressive. Still, it would be wise for us to have a look before keying on this one. The well-bred Brookstreet gave away 15 lengths at the start in his last over this course under the same conditions. He came along late but wins at Canterbury Park and Ellis Park (Cl 8k n2l) last summer don't inspire us to move him into the "contenders" category here. Outclassed. Curt Bourque keeps the mount on Broom, who was beaten 6 lengths by Greely's Best two starts ago. Bourque hasn't managed to get this 5yr old gelding into a winning position since his arrival in New Orleans. My suspicion is this isn't the same horse who finished fourth behind Magic Weisner two years ago at Laurel Park. We see this one as an outsider with a chance given a perfect trip. On the outside, making his third start off the bench, is Delray Dancer. This 5yr old gelding showed some speed early in his return race in late November, then faded. Following a drop in price, he led through mediocre fractions and was caught in the stretch. Back up in price today, and with a post more conducive to a tracking trip, this is our value play. His win at 9 furlongs last summer at Churchill Downs, suggests a more talented horse than we've seen this year. Double Slam will get support at the betting windows because he's trained by Steven Asmussen and Shane Sellors gets the mount, but since his win at 9 furlongs at Arlington in August, this 4yr old has shown nothing but regression as his trainer has methodically dropped him in class from 1st level allowance to here. He could be there at the end but this is a tough sell for us. Salem Times loses Albarado but regains Gerard Melancon as he moves up from a convincing win over n2l at 7-1. The 5yr old gelding appears to be fit and looks to be the one who can pick up the pieces in the stretch. Greely's Best is a late scratch. Because there is no early speed in the field, give added attention to the inside horse, Elusive Gentleman who will now have no competition to the rail and could get clear easily, leaving him enough strength in the stretch to fight off the closers. SELECTIONS 2-7-4-3 FINISH 3-1-7 When Greeley's Best scratched, the pace of the race and any value in it disappeared. We hope you begged off this one as Double Slam went off at an unplayable 6-5. A ton of money was dumped onto Elusive Gentleman, dropping his odds to a laughable 9-5. And at the break, Elusive Gentleman swerved violently to his left, nearly dumping Kirk LeBlanc. He then rushed to the lead in 24.0 at the quarter call, had a 3 length lead in 48.0 at the half and began to drift at the top of the stretch. Shane Sellers calmly rated Double Slam along the rail and made his move just as the pace horse began to wilt. Delray Dancer ran an even third, but had no speed duel ahead of him to exploit.