January 30, 2005. 6th Gulfstream Park - Claiming (30-25) N2L - 6 furlongs - 3+ Without a specific pace horse in the field, Smoke Glacken filly, Cant Smoke Me, will probably find herself forwardly placed once again, a position she doesn't relish in a crowded backstretch. Making her second lifetime start, Sea Breeze Marco will try to improve off a surprising victory over $22.5k maiden claimers in her debut at odds of 23-1 at Calder. Trainer David Fawkes finally saddled his first winner of the meet yesterday with Flying Circle in yesterday's opener. Woodbine shipper, Gemini's Revenge, gets Joe Bravo for the ride from the inside post in her first appearance in two months. Our choice for the win is Fighting Speedy, who was dropped to the maiden claiming rancks after an unusually sluggish performance at Aqueduct, whereupon she demolished a field of $25k claimers at Calder in late December. The New York bred daughter of Senor Speedy nearly won her debut at Saratoga in the slop in August at 12-1 against a state bred allowance field. She should be able to easily handle this bunch. Quixote's Quest has improved significantly with the addition of blinkers and should be able to get a ground saving trip inthe pocket today. Already having a fine meet, Jorge Chavez brilliantly guided 70-1 longshot Musique Toujours to victory in the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic yesterday. Today he is aboard Heaven's Reply, who stretches out from a string of 5 1/2 furlong dashes. New Jersey native, Murphy Style, nearly caught a field of $50k claimers two back at Calder and will be a late presence today. Ronny Werner trainee, Big Time Cat, tries a big jump in class from $15k maiden claimers at Turfway Park to today's heat. Fortunate Prospect filly, Island Miss, races out of a 3 month layoff. SELECTIONS #2. Fighting Speedy PLACE 4.00 3.00 #3. Quixote's Quest SCRATCHED #8. Murphy Style #6. Sea Breeze Marco Big Time Cat (6-1) hit the "Big Time" today, stalking our top choice, Fighting Speedy (8-5), through fractions of 22.54 & 46.17 before taking over at the top of the stretch to cruise to the wire in 1:11.50, 4 lengths clear of the favorite. The Kentucky bred Catienus filly was making her second career start and remains undefeated under trainer Ronny Werner. The exacta paid $50.20 and the trifecta returned $215.20, with Gemini's Revenge (7-1) third. January 29, 2005. 7th Gulfstream Park - The Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint - 6 furlongs - 4+ Fla & Cal breds The Sunshine Millions, a series of big purse stakes races for Florida and California breds run in tandem at Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita, has become a highlight of the winter racing season and today's Gulfstream segment starts off with older female sprinters. Last year's upset winner of this race, Mooji Moo, has drawn the inside post for her attempt at defending her title. The Tim Hills trainee had started her 5 year old season last year on high notes with 2 seconds and the Sunshine Millions win following a successful 2003. But, after finishing a neck back of House Party in the $100k Hurricane Bertie Handicap, Hills switched her to turf for a dismal showing in the $85k Stravinsky stakes at Keeneland. She showed brief speed in the Grade 2 Genuine Risk Handicap at Belmont, then hit the sidelines for 8 months before returning with a close second in the $40k Born Famous stakes at Calder 4 weeks ago. This girl knows how to win and we think she can pull another upset (although the price won't be as juicy as last year) and go gate to wire for victory. Her primary rival is the likely favorite, Bear Fan, another 6 year old, who endured a troubled trip in last year's running of this event as the 3-2 chalk. Her price today will be even skimpier as the Wesley Ward trainee rattled off 4 straight victories between February and June, 3 of them Grade 2 stakes races. She beat stars of the division such as Harmony Lodge and Smoke 'n Frolic. Obviously, she is the win choice, but the 7 1/2 month break in competition makes us want to try to beat her. Double Scoop races third off the bench for the George Arnold barn, a month after winning by 10 1/2 lengths in a restricted stakes at Calder. This 5 year old Seeking the Gold mare earned a little less than $200k as a 4 year old but has struggled over the past year and a half when asked to go up against top drawer competition. Lightly raced 5 year old, Alix M, has never missed the board in 9 career starts, all at Calder. Today's field is the toughest she's had to face and we expect a late fade. Cyber Slew, starting from the outside post, is the sole California based runner in this event and has the kind of late kick that can earn her a piece of the pie. Really Royal is a cut below this competition. SELECTIONS #1. Mooji Moo #4. Bear Fan PLACE 2.20 2.10 #6. Cyber Slew As we expected, post-time favorite Bear Fan (2-5) delivered a sub-par performance off the long layoff, but it was End Sweep mare, Alix M (9-2), unraced before she was 4 years old, who started her 5 year old season by stalking the moderate pace set by our top choice, Mooji Moo (8-1), then pulling away in the stretch for a 3 1/2 length victory in 1:10.40. Double Scoop (8-1) closed to be a well-beaten third. The exacta paid $19.60 and the trifecta returned $60.20. January 28, 2005. 1st Gulfstream Park - Claiming (30-25) N2L - 6 furlongs - 3 year olds In today's opener at Gulfstream Park, we like the idea of trying to beat the favorite. There is a lot of speed amongst these nine 3 year old non-winners of two, starting with Bull Power, a Holy Bull colt who began his career in the rarefied atmosphere of the Saratoga meet where he ran into a few 2005 Derby candidates, notably Better than Bonds and Kansas City Boy. Unable to seriously compete with New York elite maidens, trainer Scott Lake shipped him over to Philadelphia Park for a Hallowe'en coming out party as the 3-2 favorite. After two months on the bench, he re-emerged against $25k unconditioned 3 year old claimers, and, at 6 1/2 furlongs, had the lead until giving way in the deep stretch. Using that race as a stepping stone, we feel this well-bred colt can go gate to wire today. Determined to campaign him as a sprinter, trainer Henry Collazo, seems unwilling to admit that Fairy Image's best turn of foot has come at the middle distances. Aggressive Jorge Chavez takes the reins on the inside starter, In Control, an American Chance colt making just his fourth career appearance and without an actual first place finish to his credit. The Michael Rogers trainee was awarded the win at 7 furlongs here 3 weeks ago after dueling gamely with Wise Prize then getting bumped in the stretch. Golden Laces will have to break more alertly under Edgar Prado than he usually does to get a chance at these today. The impressive maiden victory at 5 furlongs at Calder for outside starter Uncle John looks like the best race run by any in this field, but looking more closely at the Richard Ciardullo's record, that race begins to look anomalous and we think he might be a candidate for underlay of the day. Fortunate Prince moves up in class after hanging tough with Inda Caton, a good looking sophomore. The Fortunate Prospect progeny doesn't mind closing from off the pace and the scenario today sets up nicely for a runner with his style. Honored Code might find himself a little further back from the front than he is accustomed to. Attracting Eclipse winning jockey, John Velasquez, and racing first off the claim for Peter Walder, Seventhavenuegolda will take a lot of money at the wickets and, likely, go off as the betting favorite. We are sceptical about keying on a horse who's been away from competition for nearly two months and is being dropped down in price from open company to the conditioned claiming ranks. Flying Chevron colt, Flying Chance, showed little in his Gulfstream debut a few weeks ago. Veteran Woodbine rider, Patrick Husbands, who has been picking up cheques this winter, gets the mount. SELECTIONS #3. Bull Power #1. In Control SHOW 4.00 #7. Fortunate Prince #8. Seventhavenuegolda WIN 3.80 3.00 2.40 The pacesetters were through by the half and betting favorite, Seventhavenuegolda (4-5), was allowed to take over at the 1/8 pole and cruise home to victory in a pedestrian 1:11.43, finishing a length and a half up on late charging, Golden Laces (8-1), who was sent wide by Prado through the stretch but came up short. In Control (7-1) softened the front running Bull Power (5-1) and had engaged the winner but was through in the final strides and finished a game third. The exacta paid $23.80 and the trifecta returned $110.20. January 27, 2005. 5th Fair Grounds - Cl (7.5-6.5) N3L - 6 furlongs - Louisiana Bred 4+ Half of the this field of non-winners of 3 races are making their first start off the bench, including two sons of Bag, a stallion who hasn't repeated the success of his sire, Devil's Bag. Both breaking from the inside, Review the List and Bagalicious, will be involved in the early pace. A Steven Asmussen trainee, Review the List went gate to wire for an easy win at $12.5k against non-winners of two races at Louisiana Downs in August. He hit the bench after that and returned this winter as a shadow of his former self. Out again for 6 weeks, we have to question the fitness of this one. Bagalicious won a couple of 5 1/2 furlong dashes at Evangeline Downs in the early summer and has beaten open company but is entered here off a 2 1/2 month respite. Even at his fittest, this 4 year old colt would need some improvement, or the race of his career thus far, to get to the winner's circle against this bunch. Also competitive versus open foes at Evangeline Downs, Believein Mud Bugs has a strong ability to rate and generally closes well, making him useful on the bottom of the exotics plays. Our choice for the win, Afastfact was an impressive maiden allowance winner over Lousiana breds as a juvenile, but couldn't stay healthy enough to build a career as a sophomore. After two months off recently, the Sam David Jr trainee returned to contest the pace at a flat mile at Delta Downs before fading in the stretch. The 6 furlong distance is more suitable to this lightly raced 5 year old who gets Jose Riquelme for the ride. A late threat will be Letigre, who has hit the board in 3 of his 4 career starts in New Orleans. If the pace breaks down, this lightly raced Disciple progeny will be there to pick up the pieces. Mr. Cara has rarely shown enough speed to make an impact in sprints and his pedigree backs that up. Likewise, Aleke, who has hit the board just twice in 20 races and still qualifies for N2L competition, lacks the speed necessary to make an impact today. Veteran 6 year old gelding, Over Sunset, makes his 41st start and shortens up from a steady diet of 7 panel and 7 1/2 furlong tries. SELECTIONS #3. Afastfact #6. Believein Mud Bugs #7. Letigre SCRATCHED Double Bag this race, please, as the two runners from that stallion raced first and second the whole way, with Review the List (2-1) getting the top prize in 1:11.64, demonstrating the cleverness of trainer Steven Asmussen, who dropped the gelding into the perfect spot after the claim and exits the day with the horse and the lion's share of the purse money. Bagalicious (4-1) pressed the pace for a half mile but was no match late. Mr. Cara (11-1), racing on the inside, was up late for the show. The exacta paid $31.80 and the trifecta returned $135.80. January 26, 2005. 5th Tampa Bay Downs - Cl (16-14) N3L - 6 furlongs - 4+ This field of 9 four and five year old non-winners of three races is full of speed types, many of them on the rise in the conditioned claiming ranks. Most notable of these is lightly raced 5 year old gelding, Good Bye Escalade, a progeny of Montbrook who re-emerged 3 weeks ago after not having been raced since he was a juvenile. He had no trouble with $7.5k non-winners of two and with that refresher under his belt, we feel he can move toward the allowance ranks. Battling early will be Suffolk shipper, Zany Northwestern, a Florida bred 4 year old gelding who has won both his races in the sloppy going. Half of an uncoupled Earl Begley Jr entry, he burst onto the Tampa scene with a gate to wire effort 12 days ago at 15-1 odds. Today's pace scenario doesn't indicate he will be so loose on the lead, meaning an early fold is probably in order. That's the Berries spent 2004, his 4 year old season, stalled at the N2X allowance condition for Illinois breds. Dropped to claiming company at Hawthorne late in the year, he hit the board twice, but we're hesitant to back him after a 6 week layoff. Starting from the outside post, Sparkman had a great run in the late summer at Woodbine until his former connections dropped him from a game third place finish against open $32k claiming foes down to $20k company who had never won three races. In that race, he finished next to last, beaten 13 lengths, and was claimed by trainer John Simms, who shipped him south to sunny Florida. Prospects haven't improved for this Ontario bred snow bird. Springfield Boy, a 5 year old son of Devongate, managed to earn over $17k last season without a victory, racing in the allowance division at Calder. At the top of his game, he beats these without much effort, but with a combined 30 length losing margin in his last two outings and the sudden drop in class, we will be conservative today. Another 2004 also ran who picked up quite a few cheques is Gotta Have Fun, an Indiana bred 5 year old who tired late in his Tampa debut. Exiting a tidy win against non-winners of 2 races, Indian Run, who will be making his third start of 2005, threatens to be today's underlay of the day. He simply must vastly improve his speed to keep up with this bunch. West Flank, out since July, has never acquitted himself particularly well in sprints. Our choice for the win, Dynamic Vision, is the other Begley entry who makes his second start over this oval after a very strong 2004 campaign spent in the Northeast, with great success at Philadelphia Park and Belmont Park. His flop 5 days ago will be redeemed with an effort more befitting this 4 year old gelding who headed south on the back of 4 staraight "in the money" finishes. Second leading rider at the meet, T.D. Houghton, sticks with him despite the ownership change. SELECTIONS #1. Dynamic Vision SCRATCHED #6. Good Bye Escalade WIN 4.80 3.00 3.20 #3. Springfield Boy PLACE 4.40 3.60 #4. Gotta Have Fun Two key scratches created the perfect setup for our top choice by default, Good Bye Escalade (7-5). The only other viable win choice, Dynamic Vision, and speedy Zany Northwestern both were sat out leaving Good Bye Escalade alone on the front setting moderate fractions without a closer in the field who could pressure him in the stretch. Consequently, he was able to easily catch his second consecutive victory since returning to competition in a leisurely 1:11.79, staying a length ahead of Springfield Boy (4-1), our second choice who picked up his fifth place cheque, at the wire. Illinois invader, That's the Berries (8-1) attended the pace and held on for show. The exacta returned $27.40 and the trifecta paid $139.20. Congratulations! January 23, 2005. 2nd Fair Grounds - Cl (10-9) N2L - 6 furlongs - 4+ A field comprised mostly of 4 year olds looking for their second career victory completes the early double today in the potentially high winds at Fair Grounds. High-priced Forest Wildcat colt, National Legend, breaking from the inside post, makes his second start for the Thomas Amoss stable since being claimed for $30k out of another disappointing sprint at Churchill Downs in November. This is, by far, the weakest group he has encountered and should be able to go gate to wire for the modest victory. Phenom trainer, Bubba Cascio, sends out Eastwood's Song, a 5 year old who left himself too much to do in the stretch in his debut at Fair Grounds a few weeks ago at 5 1/2 furlongs. The Kentucky bred shipper from Texas fairs best when he is near the lead early and the pace scenario sets up well for him, considering the general lack of speed in this bunch. Cheery Hour beat $5k maiden claimers at Evangeline Downs in April of last year and has shown nothing in two starts here over the winter to indicate he has the speed to compete seriously at this level. Pennsylvania bred Test the Limit was a $120k purchase at auction as a 2 year old and races for the Steven Asmussen stable. Out since a loss to allowance company at Sunland in November, the Out of Place colt has shown speed in Texas and Arizona, is lightly raced and looks like a fit with these characters. Donnie Meche gets the call from Asmussen. Frome nearly broke the entry level allowance condition in Oklahoma in October, then faded late after pressing the quick pace in his return from the layoff here in late December. With that race under his belt, the Future Storm gelding is a threat from the second flight. Chipofftheblock hasn't finished ahead of a single horse in two starts at this level at Fair Grounds. Eltish colt, Erikas Pride hasn't shown the speed at this distance that his pedigree suggests. Likely favorite, Persistancepaysoff, is the late running half of the Amoss uncoupled entry who exploded onto the scene in New Orleans after being shortened up for a near miss at this level in his second start for thsese connections after being claimed for $10k at Churchill. An also-ran since breaking his maiden against $8k claimers at Ellis Park at 7 panels in August, this Diligence gelding looks like he could bounce today. Babypaws is a 6 year old gelding with a 1 for 20 record and only one other "on the board" finish to his credit. The El Prado progeny will, once again, be outclassed. SELECTIONS #1. National Legend SHOW 2.40 #4. Eastwood's Song #2. Persistancepaysoff PLACE 3.40 2.40 #7. Frome WIN 17.60 6.20 3.60 On a cold, windy day National Legend (7-5) couldn't hold off Frome (7-1) coming out of the turn and the longshot got a textbook ride under John Jacinto resulting in a half length victory over Persistancepaysoff (2-1) who was a bridesmaid for the fourth time in 10 career starts. The exacta paid $71.60 and the trifecta returned $179.00. January 22, 2005. 9th Gulfstream Park - The First Lady Handicap - Grade 3 - 6 furlongs - f&m 3+ With the retirement of Harmony Lodge, winner of the previous two runnings of the First Lady Handicap, we are sure to watch a new filly or mare toss her hat in the ring to be considered a top sprinter in the handicap division for older females. There aren't many multiple graded stakes winners in this field, but one of two is well-travelled 5 year old, Ebony Breeze, winner of last season's G3 Endine Handicap at Delaware Park and a very close second in the G2 Honorable Miss Handicap at Saratoga. Jockey Jerry Bailey sticks with the mare who won over $250k last season and who should surely improve on her disappointing performance as favorite in the G3 Chipossa Springs Handicap at Calder on New Year's Eve. Empire state hero, Cologny, winner of 7 races at New York tracks last season alone, many against state bred company, is the one serious gate to wire threat. Robby Alvarado Jr, who was aboard for her fourth in the Honorable Miss, gets the call from trainer Scott Lake. Their best chance for the win is to try to get loose on the lead, but there a couple of formidable closers in this field. Midwest invader, Savorthetime, is a 6 year old who does her best running in the stretch and ships in from a victory in the $71k Dream Supreme stakes at Churchill Downs in November. Her 7th place finish in the Honorable Miss landed her on the sidelines for three months and we expect a more typical race from her today under John Velasquez. Brazilian bred, Una Mirim, makes her second North American start and would be a surprise were she to even hit the board. Trainer Bobby Frankel has high expectations for Pop Princess, having entered into graded stakes company after she cleared the N3X condition at a flat mile at Aqueduct in the fall. She was beaten by some good ones in the G2 Top Flight Handicap at Aqueduct but had no excused racing 7 panels in the Chipossa Springs Hdcp. The lone filly in the field, Feline Story, beat Cologny in the slop at Belmont in the G3 Floral Park Handicap in September, and has the tactical speed to win or be very close every time at this level. Winner of the Chipossa Springs, Expect an Angel, looks like a prime candidate for a bounce in this one. SELECTIONS #1. Savorthetime WIN 5.40 3.00 2.20 #3. Feline Story #4. Cologny PLACE 3.40 2.40 Cologny (3-1) sped to the front and got through a half mile in a blistering 44.87, standard procedure for the New Yorker. But, unlike her win in November at the Meadowlands, today she had company on the rail. John Velasquez and our top choice, Savorthetime (8-5), stalked the front runner determinedly along the inside until taking over with a half furlong to go and cruising home in 1:09.21 for a 2 1/2 length victory over Cologny. Ebony Breeze (5-2) got by Feline Strory (6-1) for the show money. The exacta paid $21.00 and the trifecta returned $50.80. Congratulations! January 21, 2005. 3rd Gulfstream Park - Cl(50-40) - 6 furlongs - 3 year olds Many of the 3 year old fillies assembled for this 6 furlong sprint are dropping in from allowance and stakes races, including blue blood, Snug Harbour, who hit the board at 17-1 in the $75k Cassidy stakes at Calder in October. The Boston Harbor filly is the only one of the group who beat allowance maidens and must run back to that effort in her first try with a tag. Trainer Rodolpho Garcia goes to veteran rider, Jorge Chavez, to reverse the fortune of a highly touted miss who looked dismal in two tries in the allowance ranks. The strongest entry in the early going will be plucky My Kip, a David Fawkes trainee who was making strong forward strides after coming back from a layoff under the auspices of her new handler. Fawkes switched gears and had the Kelly Kip filly try the turf in the $50k Happy New Year stakes on New Year's Day. She chased a hot pace in her grass debut and finished a solid fourth at 8-1 odds under Joe Bravo, who is back in the saddle today in a race more suited to her liking. Also out of that race comes Cadet Nurse, who has had difficulty when she hasn't been able to secure a big early lead. The Double Honor filly has also never managed a decent rating trip. One darkhorse is Woodbine shipper, Gold Quill, a Kentucky bred who races first off the claim for trainer Henry Collazo on behalf of prominent Canadian owner, Bruno Schickendanz, who watched Collazo bring home Baiser d'Amour first off the plane for him yesterday in a $25k starters allowance. Collazo gets results with new acquisitions but there is a question of the 7 week layoff for the 3 year old. Trainer Edward Plesa Jr has yet to make it to the winner's circle at this meet and teams up with hot jockey, Edgar Prado and the inside starter, Inrightclassitime, a Straight Man filly with the ability to use tactical speed. The plethora of shaky front runners should set up nicely for a closing try with the meet's leading rider aboard. Lucky Colleen gets blinkers today in the hope that she will stay on a little longer than she has been at Calder. We feel this one has been a bit of an overachiever early in her career and her real class will be exposed today. With a win over $50k claimers in December and 5 trips to the photographer already, Gloried Dancer is our choice to rebound from a curious move up to a flat mile against allowance runners after establishing herself as a solid winner at this very level in sprints. Trainer Angel Salinas should get his first win of the meet today as the Robyn Dancer filly, owned by Michael Sherman, has a lot of speed to run at in the stretch. Ms Touriffic gets her price tag doubled and is a very unlikely win candidate today. SELECTIONS #8. Gloried Dancer #5. My Kip #1. Inrightclassitime This race fit in on a day when longshots were firing left and right and handicappers only needed 4 of the 6 winners to cash their Pick 6 tickets. Front speed ruled as Snug Harbor (12-1) served notice that he's back in business, battling hard on the inside to take the lead on the turn after pressing the early fractions of 22.62 & 46.38 set by Lucky Colleen (18-1). The Boston Harbor colt got home in 1:12.92, finishing 2 1/2 lengths up on Lucky Colleen. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back to Canadian shipper, Gold Quill (9-1), who recovered from a bumpy start in which he virtually knocked the favorite, My Kip (8-5), out of contention immediately after the bell. The exacta paid $407.00 and the trifecta returned $2,375.80. January 20, 2005. 4th Fair Grounds - "S" Cl (10-9) N3L - 1 mile & 40 yards - 4+ Almost a year ago to the day, trainer James Hodges sent out a winner with Gerry Melancon aboard that we keyed on in this column in a race very similar to these conditions. Today, Hodges has an uncoupled entry featuring the likely favorite, Queen's Bouquet, a 5 year old mare who has doubled the earnings of all but one of this field of Louisiana bred ladies. Virtually all of 2004 was spent on the turf but when a conditioned claiming race was pulled off the grass at Louisiana Downs in the summer, she put away the field of nine with 3 lengths to spare at 3 times the claiming tag. After being outmatched in a $80k stakes race in October, she returned with a strong effort against open company here a month ago. She and Melancon will be putting the pressure on front runner, Ole Miss Twist, who has won under these conditions at Delta Downs, racing above her class. That win opened her 2004 campaign and it went all downhill from there. Tracy Hebert rides again as trainer Patrick Ladner sends her back out on 5 days rest. Inside starter, Glad It's Holly, is racing well out of her class today and gets apprentice, Cherell Smith, who is 1 for 50 at the meet. James Graham takes the reins aboard Frankie and Me, who moves up in price after fading to fifth against $6.5k state bred claimers on Christmas Eve. In that same race, Naletha Gray, stalked and hung for second. With a quicker pace today, the Patrick Mouton trainee should again hit the board in her second try since dropping down to state bred company. A closer who is adept at picking up the pieces of the shattered pace scenario is Hot Fast N Loose, who got the place money at 29-1 two races back by passing tired horses. Sprinting appears to be the way to go with Chocolateville, who breaks from the outside post today. However, if the pace comes up slow, she could be around for a piece of the action as she did here in her maiden victory last February. The only filly in the field, Noontime, also from the Hodges stable, will be closing late with a lot of ground to make up. SELECTIONS #6. Queen's Bouquet SCRATCHED #2. Naletha Gray #5. Hot Fast N Loose SCRATCHED Two of our picks scratched, making this race a wash for us and allowing front runner, Ole Miss Twist (5-2) to easily grab the lead off the rail, loping through fractions of 24.86 & 49.31 before hitting the 6 furlong mark in 1:14.95 without having to deal with any serious challenges. Chocolateville (5-1) made a mild bid approaching the stretch but faded to finish third and Glad It's Holly (8-1) made a move from the back of the pack to finish for the place, but never got closer than 4 lengths to the winner. The exacta paid $47.60 and the trifecta returned 284.60, good numbers because the public made slow starting Noontime (9-5) the baffling post-time favorite. January 19, 2005. 2nd Tampa Bay Downs - Cl 5000 N1Y - 5 1/2 furlongs - f&m 4+ A half dozen seasoned veterans take on a couple of 4 year old fillies who have come to winter on the Gulf Coast in today's second half of the early daily double. One of the speed horses, Madison's Pleasure, missed the summer months last year after an injury at Finger Lakes and earned only $4,301.00 in 11 starts for 2004. Even at her best (which she is nowhere near) this 7 year old mare would have great trouble fending off the late challengers today. We will pace close attention to No Inclusions, making her first start in 9 months. The lightly raced 8 year old has 3 wins in 4 tries at the distance and 4 of her 7 career victories have come over this oval. Starting from the inside post, the most promising of the two fillies, Blazing Miss Fufu drops in from facing $12.5k unconditioned claimers and makes her third start off the bench after shipping south from a summer campaign at Fort Erie in Canada. Jockey Eric Daigle had the Islefaxyou filly going hard at the top of the stretch against $8k claimers last month and she will most probably not have to keep up with the lightning pace of her last outing. Watafleet Miss has not put two races together nor has she even hit the board since October 2001, when she raced as a sophomore in allowance company. Back class suggests she has the talent to beat these and any improvement over her January 2nd performance would put her in striking range. Still, we find it hard to back her with much conviction based on her recent absence from competition. Mis L.S. will be in tough as she enters this out of a 10 month layoff. The other filly in the field, Lilly the Kid, formerly trained by hotshot, Chris Gatos, beat up on fellow 3 year olds with higher tags a few times here last spring before going north for some unsuccessful turf attempts at Suffolk Downs. Now trained by Brenda McCarthy, there is reason to believe she will rebound from her flat 2005 debut race. Florida bred 7 year old, The Irish Nun, returned home to find the competition much tougher in her childhood home than it had been at Great Lakes Downs, where she campaigned most of last year. Trainer Daniel Hurtak had a tremendously successful Calder meet and ships here with our choice for the win, Jill Rabbit, who drops way down from facing $14k optional claimers on the turf. The 6 year old is a deep closer who has attracted second leading rider at the meet, Jesus Castanon. Cutting back to a distance she has won at, and back to her preferred surface, she is clearly the class of this field. SELECTIONS #2. Jill Rabbit WIN 3.40 2.80 2.40 #1. Blazing Miss Fufu #4. Lilly the Kid PLACE 7.20 4.40 The only speed to escape from the gate on the run was Blazing Miss Fufu (4-1), who was dogged for 3 furlongs by our top choice, Jill Rabbit (3-5), and gave way readily on the turn. Jill Rabbit had to contend with our third choice, Lilly the Kid (13-1), sent off at a surprisingly fat price, who briefly headed the favorite before Jill Rabbit reclaimed the lead and drew clear for a 1 length victory in 1:06.29, a time more or less appropriate for this class. The exacta paid $26.20 and the trifecta, with The Irish Nun (14-1) up for third, returned $198.40. Congratulations! January 16, 2005. 3rd Gulfstream Park - Cl (30-25) N2L - 1 mile - 3+ A heated pace duel will likely take place on the long backstretch in this one turn mile for 3 year old non-winners of two races. Jockey Jose Santos, having an uncharacteristically poor meet, will be aboard the probable front runner, Fairy Image, a gelded son of Halo's Image who held on well in a couple of two turn contests at Calder over the winter. He will be chased early by Maryland shipper, Golden Laces, who was vanned off in her last, an optional claimer at Pimlico in late November. If the track comes up slop or muddy today, it might be wise to note that Ritmo de Son showed his only good form over an "off" track at Calder last summer, winning by 3 1/2 lengths over Jay's Suave, who hit the board here yesterday racing with a $40k tag. Banker's Dinner has been plagued by troubled starts since his debut victory at Calder in August and his dam's family suggests that this gelding might like more distance. After a fall campaign which saw him overachieve, Kee Kaw is now dropped into an appropriate class. The Outflanker colt hit the board twice against allowance company and should have no problem keeping up with the pace today. Jockey Jorge Chavez sticks with Honour Emblem, who broke his maiden at Calder against $25k claimers after shipping from Philadelphia, showing huge improvement in his second career start. The Our Emblem colt, starting from the outside post, needs another jump up in speed to compete with these. Our choice for the win is Marnesia Boy, who swept past the field for a late closing win over maiden allowance company at 1 1/16 miles at Calder in September. His dam is from Prospector's Bid, indicating a sprint pedigree, so the one turn mile here at Gulfstream could be to his liking. Dropping down from entry level allowance company in his second start off the bench is another positive angle. SELECTIONS #6. Marnesia Boy #2. Fairy Image SHOW 3.00 #4. Kee Kaw PLACE 5.80 3.60 Outside horse, Honour Emblem (6-1), easily kept pace with front running Fairy Image (3-1) through pedestrian fractions, then took over at the top of the stretch and was able to hold off a late charge from Kee Kaw (4-1) to win by a neck in 1:41.22. The exacta paid $124.60 and the trifecta returned $380.40. January 15, 2005. 7th Fair Grounds - The Tiffany Lass $100k - 1 mile - 3 year old fillies The 3 year old fillies division will come into clearer focus after today's running of the The Tiffany Lass at a mile at Fair Grounds. Louisiana Futurity winner, The Beter Man Can, faces open company for the first time and stretches out beyond 6 furlongs. Despite her inexperience in routes, we like the Lord Avie filly to still be fighting off challengers in the stretch. Both Eyes On Eddy and Emmy's Storm are trying to make the jump from maiden allowance wins. Of the two, Emmy's Storm , a daughter of Stormy Atlantic, has the gaudier pedigree but enters this out of a 7 week layoff. Inside starter, Chubbs Last Call, goes for his fourth straight victory, thirds straight after being claimed by Carl Bowman for a mere $25k out of a 7 panel win at Keeneland in October. Our choice for the win is Punch Appeal, a Steven Asmussen trainee with 5 stakes wins to her credit, who has attracted Jerry Bailey for the ride. The Successful Appeal filly has been victorious in all three of her attempts at the distance and has shown the ability to win with the lead or from off the pace. Maryland shipper, Take a Check, has delivered her best performances in sprints. One intriguing character in this play is Enduring Will, out of racing since a monstrous 10 length victory in the slop at Lone Star Park in the $100k Silver Spring BC in early October. From the powerful stallion, Arch, and dam, Jodie Foster, who is from the line of Theatrical, this lightly raced filly could be the late surprise today. SELECTIONS #3. Punch Appeal SHOW 2.10 #6. Enduring Will PLACE 5.00 2.10 #5. The Beter Man Can WIN 24.40 8.40 2.10 Jockey Elvis Perrodin gave The Beter Man Can (11-1) a tremendous ride, keeping the filly just off the pace, though she wanted to sprint to the lead, then let her go on the turn to challenge favorite, Punch Appeal (2-5). The two dueled through the upper stretch, with The Beter Man Can prevailing and just holding off Enduring Will (3-1) for her first stakes victory in open company. Her time was 1:39.59 and, the trifecta, with all three of our choices in, paid $170.80. The exacta returned $107.20. Congratulations! January 14, 2005. 7th Fair Grounds - Cl (30-25) N3L - 1 mile & 40 yards - 4+ Racing the first time for new owner, Michael Gill, Runnin Frankie goes for his fifth straight "in the money" finish with a claiming price twice the amount he was picked up for last month. The 4 year old gelded son of Take Me Out found his stride going for the lead at Lone Star Park in the fall and has suffered two near misses since being shipped to Fair Grounds. Today, he is the speed of the speed and strictly the horse to catch on a drying out surface. To his right in the gate, and a likely early contender for the lead, Boston Bean ships here out of a big gate to wire win over lesser lights at Delta Downs. The distance today might be a touch out of reach for the Boston Harbor progeny who has shown his best turn of foot at 7 furlongs up to a flat mile. Another son of Boston Harbor, Mr. Ron, was stretched out last February and scored a huge 21 1/4 length victory over this surface at this distance. Consequently, he hit the bench for 9 months and today's race marks the third start back for the 5 year old. We like him to rebound and hit the board at a fat price. Mr. Excavate has only beaten Louisiana breds, and despite the drop in class, is still going to be outmatched in here. Grande's Grandslam splashed onto the Midwest racing scene a year ago with a couple of performances against maiden allowance sophomores which earned him a berth in the $105k Borderland Derby at Sunland Park and the Grade 3 Northern Dancer stakes at Churchill Downs. The Grand Slam colt graduated from the entry level allowance ranks at Churchill in the summer and has been close in N2X events as recently as November. Is trainer David Carroll betting that his sub-par race here in December is enough to scare off would be claimers at $30K? Trainer Malcolm Pierce, who won with Elle Runaway for Live Oak Plantation here a month ago, switches Durkin's Call from turf to dirt and drops him from the N2X condition. With Robby Albarado up, a lot of money will be directed towards Trust Me, entered here by Merrill Scherer with just 13 days rest. A turf winner at Ellis Park this summer, dirt racing has not been his specialty. Outside starter, Nocona Gold, is badly outmatched against these and draws Joel Santiago, 0 for 81 at this meet, for the ride. SELECTIONS #3. Grande's Grandslam WIN 3.80 2.60 2.20 #4. Mr. Ron #6. Runnin Frankie SHOW 2.40 Onto a great deal when he sees one, hotshot trainer Bubba Cascio plucked Grande's Grandslam (4-5) out of this one for $30k, and watched as the David Carroll trainee winded his way through the field to sweep past the leaders on the outside in the stretch and win by a half length over Durkin's Call (7-2) in 1:41.63. Our third choice, Runnin Frankie (9-2), proved best of the rest for the show prize. The exacta paid $9.80 and the trifecta returned $32.00. Congratulations! January 13, 2005. 7th Fair Grounds - Alw30000N2L - 6f - 3+ The top two trainers at the Fair Grounds meet go head to head with talented 3 year old colts in this contentious allowance sprint for non-winners of two races. Steven Asmussen, the leading trainer in wins in 2004, sends Substantiate, a son of Valid Expectations, who was no match for Razor here in early December. If the Texan bred can duplicate his impressive gate to wire maiden victory at Lone Star Park, there won't be a horse near him in the stretch. However, Tom Amoss has entered Toliver, a Menifee colt poised for greatness as a sophomore. He was rested after some tough stakes tries in the summer and enters here second off the bench with high percentage rider, Robby Albarado, in the irons. Another colt we think will be tough in the stretch is inside starter, Time Out, who also came up against Razor as a maiden. Jockey Corey Lanerie will have the Stormin Fever progeny close and he could pick up the pieces if one of the top two falters after a lengthy speed duel. Yankee Treaty is racing out of the hot Angel Montano stable but it took the Yankee Victor colt four attempts to beat maiden claimers and appears to be a little outclassed today. Bold Lion took advantage of a pace breakdown in his debut at Hawthorne Race Course in mid-November, then was beaten badly by the top two when he made his first start at Fair Grounds. An uncoupled Asmussen entry, Class Five, has been a terrible disappointment after being purchased at auction for $500k, then having to be dropped to the $25k claiming level to break his maiden. Racing first off the claim for his new connections, the Storm Creek colt has attracted Brian Hernandez Jr for the ride. Michigan bred, Per Curiam, is facing tougher horses today than he ever encountered at Great Lakes Downs. SELECTIONS #6. Toliver #4. Substantiate PLACE 5.00 3.80 #1. Time Out Substantiate (5-2) and Time Out (5-2) dueled through a quick opening quarter in 22.49 with Bold Lion (8-1) looming. Our top choice, Toliver (8-5), was allowed to settle well off the pace by Albarado and never got involved. Substantiate put away Time Out by the half mile but couldn't contain Bold Lion, who reverted to his debut form at Hawthorne and pulled away in the stretch for a length and a quarter victory in 1:11.26 over Substantiate in the slop. Yankee Treaty (16-1) was up for the show. The exacta paid $78.20 and the trifecta returned $771.80. January 12, 2005. 1st Pimlico - Cl (7.5-6.5)N2L - 6 furlongs - 4+ A field of 8 geldings between 4 and 6 years old who have not won twice go 6 furlongs in the opener today at Pimlico. Singgmeeasong earned exactly $20k last year at Suffolk Downs and finally broke his maiden on the first day of November in his 8th try in the allowance condition. The Peter Bazeos trainee hasn't moved forward off the win and has struggled to regain the form he showed last summer. His two Pimlico starts have indicated no reason to back him today. Dropped for a $5k tag at Timonium in September by former trainer, John Robb, and claimed out of that one by his current owner, Hubert Cave, No Trump may have found the weak field he's been looking for at Pimlico. If this Press Card progeny can summon just a little of the speed he showed in the summer, he could be the one to catch in a relatively paceless sprint. Inside starter, Play, won a very slow maiden heat here in the spring at 39-1 odds, wasn't close before that and hasn't been close since. Even this bunch isn't slow enough to allow this 6 year old to sneak in for more than a small piece. Our choice for the win, and the probable favorite, is Gold Song, who picked up 10 1/2 lengths in his first try against winners at double the price. The 5 year old gelded son of Deerhound won two back at this oval in the fog. Outside horse, Twice for Money, only started twice last year and hasn't been competitive since the summer of 2003. Savvys Tomas is one of the few in this race who has much upside potential. The 4 year old makes only his sixth career start - third off the bench - and seems to have a strong late kick. Jonah rarely hits the board and has been stalled at this condition since last summer with very limited success. After 15 months on the sidelines, Pineapple returned to action with a couple of dismal efforts here in November. Is a return to form imminent for a 5 year old who hasn't been close since May of 2003 and who isn't even a sprinter? Probably not. SELECTIONS #5. Gold Song WIN 4.60 2.60 2.60 #6. No Trump SHOW 4.40 #2. Savvys Tomas Gold Song (6-5) made it 2 for 2 in the fog and started his 5 year old season with a victory, dominating the field in a time of 1:14.83. Singgmeeasong (9-5) finished a well-beaten second, 2 1/4 lengths up on our second choice, No Trump (9-1). The exacta paid $13.00 and the trifecta returned $53.80. Congratulations! January 9, 2005. Last year's winner of the Crescent City Derby, Arcus, has had little success since beating Louisiana bred 3 year olds here in the slop. Trainer Alvin Sider moved the Dayjur progeny onto the turf, where his career has turned sour and he finds himself running for a tag for the first time in his career. A year away from his gamest performances, we would have to back away from the probable pace setter. Latest Edition makes his third start at Fair Grounds after shipping from a reasonably profitable 2004 campaign in Texas. The gelded 4 year old from Peaks and Valleys hasn't looked good on this oval and struggles late when he gets stuck near the front early, as will be the case today. Jockey Corey Lanerie sticks with Reconnection, who lengthens out while his claiming price drops in half. His two sprints here indicated that the 5 year old gelding needs more distance. Lightly raced 5 year old, Big Gun, drops in from a strong second against open company in the first dirt try of his career. Originally trained by Christophe Clement, the New York bred broke his maiden at a mile on the turf at Belmont against state bred allowance foes in his debut as a 2 year old. He was benched for a year after winning again on the grass as a sophomore and had been brought back carefully by Bertrand De Brevedent, before being privately sold to owner/trainer Gorden King, who looks to have found an excellent spot for a trip to back to the winner's circle. Warned lost a lot of ground late in both starts at Fair Grounds, and, despite hitting the board both times, hasn't shown the speed necessary to overtake the major players here. We cannot discount any horse sent out by trainer Bubba Cascio, who has exploded onto the scene on the Fair Grounds backstretch during this meet and today enters Hibernate, who moves up in class after defeating non-winners of two races. Jockey James Graham stays for the ride. Inside starter, Crown Me Later, has the look of the "underlay of the day" based on some sparkly numbers against lesser lights at Louisiana Downs and then a less than impressive Fair Grounds debut, in which he was beaten over 14 lengths at 6 furlongs. SELECTIONS #3. Big Gun WIN 7.20 4.00 4.60 #6. Reconnection #7. Hibernate SCRATCHED Big Gun (5-2) is clearly not the horse he was 2 years ago, but he showed grit and determination in the stretch as he fought back for the lead after being headed and completed a gate to wire victory in 1:47.92. Warned (11-1) was nearly the spoiler as he delivered relentless pressure to the front runner in a career best effort and settled for the place prize. The longest shot on the board, Latest Edition (13-1), was up for third, creating decent exotics payouts. Favorite, Reconnection (7-5), came up flat and took a lot of play in the show pool, resulting in high show payouts. Crown Me Later (5-2) lived up to his billing as "underlay of the day", passing only a horse who stopped and being beaten by over 9 lengths. The exacta paid $44.20 and the trifecta returned $246.00. Congratulations! January 8, 2005. 7th Gulfstream Park - The Aventura $125k - 1 mile - 3 year olds Until last year, the Aventura stakes had been run in early April, effectively making it a last chance for some late blooming 3 year olds to make an impression for inclusion in the Kentucky Derby field. Moving the race up in the calendar year changes it's purpose and makes it one of the early preps for the Florida Derby. Consequently, there is a very good collection of sophomores, many making their first route attempt, but still going around only one turn. At this age, early speed is still a key factor and we must focus on the probable front runner, Magoo's Magic, who lived up to his breeding with an impressive gate to wire victory in the $82k Huntington Stakes over the likes of Storm Creek Rising and Tani Maru. This Awesome Again colt gets the Classic distance from his sire and he is following the pattern of progeny of his damsire, Seattle Slew, by lacking precociousness as a juvenile but developing steadily into a strong professional runner. Joining Magoo's Magic on the front end will be High Fly, a William White trainee who has a perfect record through two starts, with winning margins of 9 1/4 and 3 lengths. Jockey Eddie Castro, leading rider at the Tropical meet at Calder, is still looking for his first victory this year at Gulfstream. Vinotech was no match for High Fly when the Smoke Glacken colt returned from a summer layoff in late November and then barely held on as 6-5 favorite in an entry level allowance heat. Regally bred Deputy Indy (A.P. Indy - Pemaquid, Deputy Minister) exploded onto the scene in his debut at Aqueduct with a stalking victory at 5-1 odds. Trainer Stanley Hough has been working this blue blood at Palm Meadows for a month in preparation for his Florida debut and he looks to be the one to catch the two speedsters in the stretch. Jockey Javier Castellano jumps over from Wahran, whose tendency to break poorly will hurt him today. The most experienced of the bunch is Hal's Image, who, after 11 races, is still eligible for one other than... conditions. Magna Graduate looked good finishing second in the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Juvenile at Turfway Park, but couldn't build on that performance and looked dull at Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. This front running type will need to find more speed. We have to use Rey de Cafe on the bottom of the exotics tickets based on his string of fine performances on the grass in the fall at Keeneland and Churchill. Jerry Bailey gets the mount, adding intrigue to this Kingmambo colt who might get a fair price today. Cherokee Chase couldn't keep up with Better Than Bonds in the $100k What a Pleasure and we feel the winner today would have won that race. Pat Day replaces John Velasquez in the irons aboard D'Court's Speed who hasn't been able to catch Cherokee Chase in two tries, including the Huntington, at which he went off at ridiculous 7-5 odds. Drum Major might lose contact with the field without a major improvement. With two wins at a mile at Calder, Ginger's Fella might be worth more than a glance if the price is right. The Rizzi colt has attracted John Velasquez and his running style indicates that he may be the one to pick up the pieces in the stretch. SELECTIONS #1. Deputy Indy #8. Magoo's Magic #6. High Fly WIN 8.20 5.60 4.00 #2. Rey de Cafe Eddie Castro kept High Fly (3-1) close to the pace and Florida's newest phenomenon did the rest, winning his third straight start in high style, pulling away in the stretch to a 9 length victory in a sharp 1:35.88. Magna Graduate (8-1) had taken the lead on the turn before being passed by the winner and was beaten for the place prize by longshot, Drum Major (33-1), both of whom came out of the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club stakes at Churchill Downs. The exacta paid $86.10 and the trifecta returned $645.20. January 7, 2005. 8th Aqueduct - Alw 60000s - 1mile & 70y - 3 year olds This unusual allowance race, an entry level for 3 year olds who broke their maiden in the claiming ranks, features a 7 horse field full of early speed. Jennifer Pedersen, who trains exclusively for Paraneck Stable, has entered into a fruitful association with former "bad boy" jockey, Norberto Arroyo Jr, who has returned to the New York racing scene with vigor. Today they team up with inside colt, Need to Please, who won at a mile on the main track and came right back to just miss against $60k claimers in a sprint. The Fortunate Prospect progeny was bounced around after the start in his last outing, but should be the one to catch today. Dropping from a disappointing showing in the $50k City Zip stakes here last month, We Love Rocky tries two turns for the second time after fading quickly at a mile at the Meadowlands. Bill Mott trainee, Rikman, threatens to go off as a heavy underlay due to the big Beyer he earned out of his maiden win here in early December. This distance is the limit to which his pedigree suggests and a gate to wire trip is going to be much tougher today than it was a month ago. Old Trieste colt, General Thomas, gives up a lot of class against this field and seems to want a little more distance than this. Our value play today is Phone in the Money, a Michael Hushion trainee making his second career start after overcoming a wide trip at a mile over the main track in late November. Bleacher Creature is another coming to this out of his maiden win. The Yankee Victor colt stretches out from a dominating 6 furlong romp here last month. Top jockey, Rafael Bejarano, retains the mount. Shipping from Pimlico is Crack the Sky, who will really have to step it up on the rise in class. SELECTIONS #3. Phone in the Money SHOW 3.90 #1. Need to Please PLACE 4.20 3.80 #6. Rikman After 6 of the previous 7 races on the card had been won by front runners, we were surprised that Need to Please (5-2), after setting atrociously slow fractions of 23.71 & 49.30, was so easily collared in the stretch by longshot, General Thomas (32-1). The win vindicated trainer James Ferraro's decision to jump the colt up from a $25k claim, nearly earning back his tag price in his first outing with the new connections. Our top choice, Phone in the Money (4-1), struggled through a troubled trip to finish a well beaten third. As we expected, Rikman (1-1) went off at unrealistically low odds and was outmatched. The exacta paid $206.50 and the trifecta returned $914.00. January 6, 2005. 1st Fair Grounds - Cl 15k N2L - 6f - 3+ There is a lot of suspect speed in today's opener at Fair Grounds, a claiming race for 3 year old non-winners of two races. Less Talk was shipped from Texas to Louisiana in early November after a tough maiden win over $12.5k claimers at Lone Star Park. The Crafty Friend colt makes his first start in over 2 months and attracts Gerard Melancon to ride. We would like to watch one before we invest. Oddball Alyde had run hot and cold all over Kentucky before showing very little in his Fair Grounds debut in mid-December. A race like his maiden win at Ellis Park over 7 furlongs would put him in the mix today, but as close as he has come to that performance was a second at Churchill Downs in a slow $20k claiming heat. Another Kentucky bred colt who has not lived up to his maiden breaker is outside starter, Lindstrom, who went gate to wire at Mountaineer Park in September. The Joyeux Danseur colt ran into traffic problems at Churchill in November and has been on the bench since then. Also shipping from Texas, Virgin Run should get a strong trip from jockey Eddie Martin Jr as they break from the inside post. Despite losing ground late in the mud at Sam Houston in his last start, the Cherokee Run progeny has the class to compete with these. Leading jockey at the meet, Robby Albarado, and trainer Neil Howard team up with Pip, who is the obvious choice to put away the pace setters on the turn. Competitive at 5 different tracks to start his career the gelded son of Valid Expectations was beaten in his Fair Grounds debut after setting a pace which no horse in this field could keep up with. Pops Return won a 5 1/2 furlong stakes race here last month for Alabama bred juveniles which came up very slow. The rise in class today is substantial. Likewise, Louisiana bred Shecky Punch will have to improve off his win over state-breds in the mud. Our choice to close well for a piece of the action is Ruling Rascal (Ven), who makes his second career start after dominating a 7 furlong maiden claiming field at Churchill in November. SELECTIONS #4. Pip WIN 2.80 2.20 2.20 #1. Virgin Run PLACE 4.00 3.00 #7. Ruling Rascal (Ven) Pip (2-5) offered up a thoroughly professional performance, sticking close to front runner, Virgin Run (8-1), before taking charge out of the turn and getting clear with a furlong to spare. Pip completed the race in 1:11.61 and was claimed, ending his association with breeder/owner, Hugh Fitzimmons, for whom he hit the board in 4 of 6 races with earnings of over $33k. Add that to the $15k claiming price and Fitzimmons made a tidy sum upon investing $17.5k originally for the stud fee for stallion, Valid Expectations. Our second choice, Virgin Run, held tough for place and Alabama colt, Pops Return (36-1), added some value to the trifecta, which paid $98.20. The exacta returned $10.80. Congratulations! January 5, 2005. 6th Pimlico - Alw 7500s - 5f - f&m 4+ The backstretch will be crowded going into the turn during this 5 furlong starters allowance as all the serious early speed will break from the outside. The likely favorite and obvious class of the field, Canby Dancer, is the outside starterand enters this out of two consecutive victories here, the last coming in a 4 1/2 furlong dash against entry level allowance company. Jockey Ryan Fogelsonger, who picked up the late riding double here Sunday, stays with the 6 year old mare in her second start for trainer, Janice Nini, who made a clever $5k claim in early December. Sultry Prospect, another potential pacesetter, tries this condition for the fourth time in a row after having been beaten by three of the field and facing the most talented bunch yet. This veteran 6 year old tends to win when she can get a clear lead but will be useful on the bottom of exotics tickets. After over a year on the bench, Maimara (Arg) showed speed at Monmouth Park before fading then was shipped to Maryland where the lightly raced 6 year old has had success when carrying a bug but has struggled as highweight, as she is today. On her best, she is still a length or two slow against this field. Stuck between speedsters out of the gate won't help. Well past her best days, 9 year old For Lili returns to the track where she has a win and show out of two lifetime starts. Although she was showing late interest in a couple of sprints at Charles Town recently, her lack of speed is too glaring to overlook. Dee I Do was competitive with allowance runners on the turf this past summer and fall and will have some pace to run at today where she won't be pinned on the rail as she was in her last try under these conditions. We like her at a price. Likely to go off as an underlay, Spanish Castle lasted after a lengthy speed duel against some of these a month ago. The 7 year old, owned by Michael Gill and trained by Ken Cox, tends to lose ground when she has speed to chase as will be the case today. Trainer Phil Schoenthal has had success cutting horses back in distance but Jamilah will be in tough trying to race back to her 2003 form while carrying 8lbs more than she has yet in this cycle. The closer with the best potential to upset Canby Dancer will be Aly's Leader, who rung up 8 victories last season racing mostly at Suffolk downs. The 8 year old knows how to win, with 24 trips to the photographer and over $300k in earnings to her credit. SELECTIONS #8. Canby Dancer WIN 4.00 3.20 2.10 #4. Aly's Leader SHOW 2.20 #3. Dee I Do SCRATCHED #6. Sultry Prospect Canby Dancer (1-1), a deserving even money favorite, got away with rating a moderate pace in tight 3-wide before edging to the lead on the turn and then loping away through the mud to an easy win, her 15th career victory, in a dull 1:00.33, the slowest time for this series of 5 furlong starters allowance sprints. Impressive on the inside was Jamilah (17-1), who showed tenacity hanging on for the place. Dyn Panell was once again slow getting Aly's Leader (2-1) in gear and they had too much to do late, finishing for the show. The exacta paid $39.20 and the trifecta returned $98.00. January 2, 2005. 1st Fair Grounds - Cl (20-15)N2L - 6f - f&m 4+ Today's opener at Fair Grounds, featuring older fillies and mares without 2 wins, lacks pace and Photographic will once again find herself at the front, as was the case when she was racing at longer distances at Lone Star Park. Gerard Melancon will repeat as rider as the Siphon filly steps down in price after fading badly in the stretch after a pacesetting trip here a month ago. Also exiting that heat is Martha Martha, whose only strong finish came in the mud at Mountaineer Park in her maiden win when she went off at 4-5 odds. Trainer Merrill Scherrer goes again to Robby Alabarado as they try to improve on the timid run they offered chasing Photographic. With the most earnings in the field, Rebel Lil makes her Fair Grounds debut after making appearances in three minor stakes races, coming up with a closing fourth at Oaklawn Park a year ago. Out since a very exciting miss for place at 29-1 against allowance runners at Arlington Park, new trainer, Rebecca Maker, goes back to Carlos Marquez Jr, who has ridden the filly 7 times already. Boundary filly, Sister Carolina, ships in from Sam Houston and switches from turf to dirt. Making her first start with a price tag, jockey Corey Lanerie should have this one close in the stretch. Lady Livey Bodgit had some good races at Remington Park on the turf but makes a big jump up in class today. Charade won a $15k maiden claimer in October after routing on the turf in the North East over the summer. The route to sprint angle hasn't delivered much profit for trainer Angel Montayo. The big threat late will come from Breathe, a 5 year old mare with only 3 races under her saddle. SELECTIONS #1. Rebel Lil PLACE 3.60 2.60 #3. Sister Carolina SHOW 3.20 #4. Breathe SCRATCHED As we expected, Photographic (9-5) took control of the early pace, setting reasonably fast fractions of 22.00 & 45.85, but was caught at the top of the stretch and spit the bit. Rebel Lil (8-5) got her second place prize in a row as she couldn't hold off the late charging, Charade (8-1), who raced to her pedigree on the cut back in distance today, finishing the 6 furlongs in 1:10.52, easily the best. Our second choice, Sister Carolina (5-1), finished a well-beaten third. The exacta paid $87.20 and the trifecta returned $263.20. January 1, 2005. 8th Aqueduct - The Interborough Handicap $75k - 1 1/16 miles - 3 year olds High Peaks returns to stakes action in today's Interborough Handicap, the feature at Aqueduct, facing older fillies and mares, after racing in the allowance ranks most of last season. The 4 year old filly, trained by Tom Bush, started 2004 with a second in the $78k Ruthless stakes over this surface and a return to her summer Saratoga form would get her the top prize today. Jockey Aaron Gryder will have her on or near the lead early. Sweet Vision raced only 5 times as a sophomore and faces older horses for the third time in her career. This step up looks to be a tough spot for the Southern Halo filly. Rafael Bejarano, who took the 2004 jockey title, jumps from Sweet Vision to inside starter, Lavender Lass, a veteran 5 year old mare who has become a dependable bridesmaid at this point in her career. Following the "horse for the course" angle, she is a must-use based on a runner up finish in last season's $59k Carson Hollow stakes and another second place finish a month ago, both over this oval. Trainer Gregory Martin made an astute claim in July, picking up today's likely favorite, Bank Audit, for $65k. He got away with dropping the Wild Rush filly into a $35k claiming race for 3 year olds for a dominating 7 panel victory at 4-1 odds, then watched as she flew past a second-level allowance field here in early December. She will be the main threat to High Peaks at the top of the stretch. Lightly raced 5 year old mare, Belong to Sea, winner of the 2003 Grade 3 Miss Preakness stakes, returns from a 5 month layoff and, while she can beat these on her best day, we prefer to just watch today. After campaigning primarily on the turf last season, Candybedandy seemed to come out of nowhere for a huge win over N3X company here 2 weeks ago. That race was a career best performance and we suspect a bounce today. In last month's $80k Garland of Roses, Mariakel came from 17 lengths back at the first call to nearly catch Forest Music. Today's pace doesn't set up as well for the Carlos Martin trainee. SELECTIONS #5. High Peaks #7. Bank Audit WIN 4.90 3.00 2.40 #1. Lavender Lass Bank Audit (7-5) was able to stay with front runner, High Peaks (6-1), through dull fractions of 23.71 & 47.30, then took over at the 1/8 pole and accelerated away for an easy 5 1/2 length victory in 1:10.55. Mariakel (10-1) once again delivered a last to first trip, but finished a well beaten second. Belong to Sea (5-1) attended the pace the whole way and picked up the show prize for her effort. The exacta paid $48.80 and the trifecta returned $245.50.