August 31, 2005. 6th Monmouth Park - Claiming (8-7) - 1 mile - 3+ Tough 8 year old gelding, Baryshnikov's Song, claimed for $12.5k last month by David Vance, has found a claiming level at which he should be able to dominate after getting off to a bad start out of the far outside post in his last here, racing with a tag of $16k. Today his price is halved and he will get control of the rail under the guidance of high percentage rider, Jose Lezcano. Florida bred Excellent Job, a 4 year old gelding trained by Patricia Farro, has 3 wins at the distance and was a winner of 5 as a sophomore. Rajiv Maragh sticks with this mount as the Halo's Image progeny is dropped in price from $11.5k earlier in the month. If Maragh can work out a ground saving trip, they could find themselves closing on a tiring front runner in the stretch. Wild Again colt, 4 year old Wild Champion, has failed to live up to high expectations and was claimed for a mere $5k last month. He has not shown the speed necessary to compete seriously today. Inside starter, Parthenon, a 4 year old gelding by Tactical Cat, has failed to win in 6 starts over this oval and has never won at the distance and races for trainer Joe Buchko, who is winless in 2005. Nonetheless, he has posted three consecutive third place finishes and has hit the board at a better than 50% rate over the course of his career. Beaten 4 3/4 lengths by Excellent Job last month, Gideon, a 7 year old gelding racing first off the claim for Willard Thompson, generally races for the lead in routes but may find the going too quick on the rise in class today. Owner/trainer Edwin Broome was quick to reclaim Dr Gold for $5k from Thompson and moves the 6 year old gelding up in class, hoping he can recapture some of the form from earlier in his career which helped him earn nearly $175k in purse money. The most legitimate threat from off the pace is Cypress Cove, who has been facing much better company and should have a rapid pace at which to aim his closing bid. SELECTIONS #3. Baryshnikov's Song #5. Cypress Cove SCRATCHED #6. Excellent Job WIN 6.60 4.60 2.80 With our top choice going off at 7-5 and Cypress Cove scratched, focusing on Excellent Job (2-1) became a more realistic betting option and he responded by tracking Parthenon (6-1) through the slop, taking over late in the stretch and holding that one off for a half length victory in 1:40.73. Gideon (10-1) stayed close throughout and got the show prize. The exacta paid $29.00 and the trifecta returned $237.60. August 27, 2005. 8th - 11th Saratoga Race Course Today's star-studded card at Saratoga Race Course promises to showcase the best collection of thoroughbreds on one day until the Breeders' Cup. A tantalizing Pick 4 runs starts on the 8th race and concludes with the $1 million Grade 1 Travers stakes. The opener of this quartet, The Fourstardave, a Grade 2 handicap for 3 year olds and upward at 1 1/16 miles on the turf features the East coast debut of a monster grass specialist from California, Brazilian bred Leroidesanimaux, who comes in riding a 6 race winning streak (including two Grade 3 and two Grade 1 events) and has been beaten only once since coming to America in January of 2004. Trainer Bobby Frankel, who bypassed last year's BC turf events with this one, is aiming at the BC mile this season and this is the first in a series of prep races for that. If the 5 month layoff scares you, try last year's Fourstardave winner, Silver Tree, breaking from the inside with Jerry Bailey in the irons. The 5 year old Hennessy progeny was just caught by Artie Schiller here at 9 furlongs in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch Handicap 4 weeks ago. Five years ago, Bailey took both these events with Hap, who also happened to have won the B Baruch Hdcp twice. Another son of Hennessy, Henny Hughes, will be the likely favorite in the Grade 1 Hopeful, a 7 panel sprint for 2 year olds. We love this juvenile, who coasted home in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special after hitting the top of the stretch with a 7 length advantage. His main rival, another live Jerry Bailey mount, is Giant's Causeway colt, First Samurai, whose time in his allowance victory here 3 weeks ago matches up with the favorite. Don't be too quick to dismiss Ohio bred Rubiano colt, Too Much Bling, who has been transferred to the Bob Baffert stable.We simply can not look past unbeaten Lost in the Fog, who once again takes on a less than stellar group of sophomores in the Grade 1 King's Bishop, a 7 furlong event for 3 year olds. Despite all the press and nationwide attention and over $680k in earnings, today marks the first time this star sprinter will compete in a Grade 1 event. This is the horse to key on the Pick 4 ticket. The trickiest read in this parlay comes in Saratoga's racing jewel, the Travers, a 1 1/4 mile event for 3 year olds. This year's event features only one colt, Andromeda's Hero, who hit the board in any one of the Triple Crown races. With the expected hot pace up front, a bet on the place horse in the Belmont Stakes to win here wouldn't be a throwaway. Bellamy Road, who turned the country's collective head with a scintillating performance in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, came out of the Kentucky Derby as an injured favorite. Once again, he will face pressure in the early going from outside starte, Flower Alley, who finally got a chance to show off his speed with a gate to wire in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy here a month ago. Reverberate, who chased that one in the Jim Dandy, should take a step forward in his second start off the bench. Our choice for the win is Roman Ruler, who has matured as a sophomore after becoming beaten chalk on Breeders' Cup day last fall in a race which did not set up well for him and for which he was somewhat underprepared. SELECTIONS Ticket #1: 6 with 4 with 3 with 1,4 $20 = $40 Ticket #2: 1,6 with 1,4 with 3 with 1,4 $ 5 = $40 Ticket #3: 1,6 with 1,2,4 with 3 with 1,2,4,7 $ 2 = $48 WINNERS Race 8 Leroidesanimaux Race 9 First Samurai Race 10 Lost in the Fog Race 11 Flower Alley Two minor upsets resulted in a measly $62.50 return on the Pick 4, which we caught with our saver ticket. Leroidesanimaux (3-5) went gate to wire with ease and Lost in the Fog (1-5) demolished the field but Henny Hughes (3-5) never threatened First Samurai (2-1) and trainer Todd Pletcher finally won a Travers as Flower Alley (3-1) overtook Bellamy Road (2-1) in the upper stretch and pulled away for a win in 2:02.76. August 26, 2005. 1st Monmouth Park - Claiming (10-9) - 6 furlongs - f&m 3+ The opener today at Monmouth Park serves as a rematch between a couple of big earners, 5 year old mare Savvy Girl and 4 year old filly Notimetoquit, at 6 furlongs with claiming tags of $10k down to $9k. The challenge for rider Michael Baze will be to get Savvy Girl clear of the field after breaking from the outside post. This Valid Expectations mare, who picked up 6 wins last season, prefers the inside but has shown courage late and tends to find ways to win. Her main pace rival will be Artax filly, Winlocs Articchill, who rolled through the conditioned claiming ranks at Philadelphia Park in the late winter and early spring before hitting the wall here at Monmouth. Even a side trip back to Philly couldn't pull her out of the doldrums. Based on her current form, we must pass. Cajulena, racing out of the Kirk Ziadie stable with Jose Lezcano aboard, could prove tough on the rail although she has looked outmatched since leaving Florida. Notimetoquit has never missed the board in 8 starts over this track and loves the distance. Kelly Breen, the top trainer at the meet, teams up with high percentage jockey, Aaron Gryder, who should be able to work out a very nice trip behind the dueling pace setters. Claimed for $10k from Michael Gill and Mark Shuman on the first of July, this filly drops back to that level in a race which sets up perfectly for pace pressing style. Solid Demaloot Demashoot mare, Quick Draw Annie, has delivered a game performance every time out this season and gets a class check here after winning two back with a $7.5k tag. In her last start, she was unable to catch Seymour Moves, who went on to win at Mountaineer Park by 6 1/2 lengths two months later. When the front runners begin to falter, look for this one to be picking up the pieces. Unless Modista, a Carnivalay filly out of Philadelphia, can duplicate her shocking career best performance at 31-1 odds in June, she will likely be outrun early by this bunch. Owner/trainer Edwin Broome got away with dropping Worldliness to the $5k claiming level in her return from an 8 week layoff here 3 weeks ago. The talented Suave Prospect filly won by 5 lengths as 4-5 favorite and will be heavily backed today. On her best, she can run these down in the stretch. Enough can go wrong, though, that we will play against her on this occasion. SELECTIONS #4. Notimetoquit PLACE 2.60 2.40 #5. Quick Draw Annie #7. Savvy Girl The 11 pound advantage made all the difference for Worldliness (4-1) as she was able to prevail after a prolonged stretch duel with our top choice, Notimetoquit (1-1), edging that one by a nose in a sluggish time of 1:12.36. The value in this race lay with longshot, Winlocs Articchill (42-1), who ran back to her spring form staying on for third and helping produce a $440.40 trifecta. The exacta returned $26.80. August 25, 2005. 5th Monmouth Park - Claiming (10-9)B - 1 mile & 70 yards - f&m 3 years old or 4+ N3L Today's 5th at Monmouth Park, with only one 3 year old running, plays out as a straight claiming heat for non-winners of three lifetime races. The lone sophomore, Sayhellowavegoodby, was beaten 7 lengths by Peppy Candy here a month ago and will likely be sacrificed to the pace again racing on the outside. Can't You See, a 7 year old veteran, appears to be nearing the end of the road after earning only $14k last season and being unplaced in 5 starts in 2005. Inside starter, Bamboo Belle, will be tough on the rail and gets a 7 pound advantage over main rival, Peppy Candy. The 5 year old professional bridesmaid finally collected her second career victory in start number 29 here 2 weeks ago after being stretched out to a two turn event against lesser competition than this. Although we like this Kentucky bred, whose grandsires are Storm Bird and Ogygian, she races first off the claim for trainer Juan Serey, who is holding an ice cold hand at this meet. Lady Krew, a 5 year old daughter of Montbrook, has flashed an ability to close over her career but, more often than not, fires a blank. Candy Stripes filly, Peppy Candy, needs a smart ride from Edwin King Jr, tucked in behind the front runners, to mount a late move as she did at the Meadowlands in her maiden breaking victory last fall. At this distance, we expect her pedigree to outshine the rest of the field. A sneaky entry here is outside starter, One Perfect Fit, who was being groomed as an allowance racer last year as a 4 year old. Injuries derailed her 2004 season, but, after 3 tuneups as a 5 year old, we wouldn't be surprised to see this daughter of Abaginone get up for a piece. Lightly raced New Jersey native, 8 year old Bold Josh Sally, will be outclassed by these. SELECTIONS #3. Peppy Candy #1. Bamboo Belle WIN 6.80 4.60 2.60 #7. One Perfect Fit PLACE 14.20 4.80 Our top choice, Peppy Candy (2-1), adopted the lead through a soft first half mile and was used up by the far turn, overtaken by Bamboo Belle (2-1), who pulled away for a ridiculously easy 14 3/4 length victory in a time of 1:45.17. We were thrilled to watch our live longshot, One Perfect Fit (27-1) ramble along outside for the place prize. Post-time favorite, Sayhellowavegoodby (2-1), made a move on the second turn but was no match for the winner and weakened late, settling for the show money. The exacta paid $111.60 and the trifecta, with two of our top choices and the public's choice, returned $425.00. August 12, 2005. 3rd Calder - Claiming 25000B - 5 1/2 furlongs - 3 year olds or 4+ N3L Thoroughbred owner, Peter Fuller, named his World Stage progeny after himself and the now 3 year old colt, Fuller, a speedy Florida bred sprinter makes his second start off the bench following a turf outing in which he ran into a lot of trouble. Back to his preferred surface, and at a distance at which he has never missed, this speed of the speed entry will be the one to haul down in the stretch and may be worth a play at a price. Agent Won, dropping in from the allowance ranks, will be heavily bet and needs a quick getaway to keep up with Fuller to his immediate left in the gate. Eventfull, a 4 year old gelding, enters this after walloping a group of non-winners of two races with claiming tags of $10k. Jose Ferrer retains the mount aboard the Wild Event progeny who gets a challenging rise in class today. Lightly raced Argentine native, Re Luhuk, hasn't shown much speed since arriving from Panama and races first off the claim form low percentage trainer, Eduardo Maver. Forest Gazelle colt, Painter Gabe, breaking from the inside, has the potential for a perfect trip under rider Cecilio Penalba, who has guided the 3 year old to 3 second place finishes in his last 5 starts.  We will be taking a "hands off" attitude with Ski Lodge, who was a promising juvenile in 2003 but sputtered last season as a sophomore and enters this after a 6 month layoff, dropping in for a tag for the first time since his maiden win. Our choice for the win, Seventhavenuegolda, is the top winner and leads this field in career earnings. Trainer David Vivian claimed this Appealing Skier colt for $32k from the Peter Walder stable in the spring and the sophomore has a win since then at this level, outfinishing Painter Gabe after a similar pace set up to the one we anticipate today. Capitol Panic was beaten 4 1/2 lengths by Seventhavenuegolda last out and will be hung wide once again today, after breaking from the outside post. SELECTIONS #5. Seventhavenuegolda SHOW 2.20 #6. Fuller WIN 9.20 5.40 2.60 #1. Painter Gabe A glance at the post time odds reaffirmed our contention that Fuller (7-2) was the value play in the field. He had no trouble turning away Eventfull after moderated opening fractions and then held off Agent Won (3-1) in the deep stretch, hitting the wire in 1:05.56. Our top choice, Seventhavenuegolda (6-5), went off as the underlay of the day and didn't have much of a pace to track, winding up a well beaten third. The exacta paid $44.40 and the trifecta returned $89.80. August 11, 2005. 2nd Arlington Park - Claiming (14-12) - 1 mile - f&m 3+ Claimed twice this season for $10k, Warbond will be the controlling speed in the 2nd race at Arlington Park today, a 1 turn mile for claimers with prices from $14k down to $12k. The 4 year old Quiet American filly loves the distance and has beaten allowance company at Mountaineer Park and Hawthorne Race Course this season. Racing first off the claim for the Justin Johns stable, she should be able to get loose on the front and will be tough to catch. Candy Glide beat conditioned claimers here a year ago at the distance but has had trouble staying on in the late going. Leading rider Sean Bridgmohan gets the call aboard the Florida bred Notebook mare who drops in price for this start. Veteran 7 year old, Forever Regal, switches from the turf to her preferred surface for her 70th start. Claimed for $10k out of a win here last month, the rise in class will be a problem. Spanish Surprise chased Forever Regal in that same start after failing to clear the N2X condition for Illinois bred fillies and mares. The 5 year old mare, with James Graham up, will have the first crack at the pace setters. Orphan's Wager caught Forever Regal in June but never got involved when she was moved up in class for her following start. Lightly raced filly, Solaratee, gets a serious class check after putting away conditioned claimers following her win over $10k maidens in March. Buba's Caper is a specialist at the distance and normally gives a good account of herself in the claiming ranks. Racing first off the claim for Michael Reavis, the 8 year old mare can catch Warbond with her top effort. We suspect we haven't seen the best of Dyna Girl, the inside starter. The 4 year old daughter of Dynaformer was a $90k purchase at auction in 2002 and was claimed last fall by her current connections for $25k before embarking on a dismal 2005 campaign. SELECTIONS #2. Warbond WIN 4.60 2.60 2.20 #6. Buba's Caper PLACE 3.00 2.40 #4. Candy Glide Our top choice, Warbond (6-5), left no doubt she was the best horse today, grabbing the rail and sailing away from the field to a 6 length lead at the top of the stretch, hitting the wire in 1:37.56. Our second choice, Buba's Caper (2-1), raced from well off the pace to pick up the place prize for her 11th top three finish in 13 starts this season. It was another 4 lengths back to Dyna Girl (7-1) in third. The exacta paid $12.20 and the trifecta returned $45.40. Congratulations! August 10, 2005. 6th Monmouth Park - Alw N1X - 6 furlongs - 3+ Trainer Juan Serey, off to a slow start at this meet, has an excellent shot at making it to the winner's circle with Dancing Warren, a veteran 6 year old still eligible for the entry level allowance conditions of the 6th race at Monmouth Park. The Hennessey progeny has a propensity for delivering top notch performances after a layoff and will prove to be the speed of the speed in this field. Inside starter, All the Wile, one of two 3 year olds in the group, will be a pace factor but lacks the class to move up from the state-bred allowance ranks. Uncledannysbrother gets a class check today after failing against non-winners of two claimers for the past year. After an impressive sophomore season in 2004, Coup de Grace has been a disappointment, claimed 3 times, this year. The 4 year old Smoke Glacken gelding has won only once in 12 starts over this track and will be chasing the pace again today. Hot Finance enters this out of a win over $20k claimers but could prove to be an underlay against a much more talented field than the 4 year old gelding faced here last month. Claimed for $10k by William Anderson, Perimeter is a veteran 5 year old with upside potential and is spotted where he can swoop in past fading pace setters. Likely favorite,Mr. Umphrey, makes just his third career start and enters this out of a gate to wire victory at Belmont Park over maiden allowance company. Racing out of the Richard Dutrow Jr barn, the 3 year old Jules colt gets a softer spot here than he would at Saratoga but is still in tough against seasoned veterans. A closer worth a look at a price is professional bridesmaid, Best Chum, a 4 year old gelding with 7 second place finishes in 20 career starts who just got up for his maiden breaker here in June at odds of 27-1. SELECTIONS #5. Dancing Warren #6. Perimeter SHOW 3.20 #2. Best Chum The Monmouth faithful backed the Belmont shipper, Mr. Umphrey (1-2), betting him down to impossible odds and watched as he continued to improve as a late starting sophomore, getting the distance in 1:10.32 without any challengers for the final furlong. Coup de Grace (9-1) put away Perimeter (4-1) after a stretch duel, getting the place prize. The exacta paid $16.20 and the trifecta returned $42.00. August 5, 2005. 2nd Monmouth Park - Claiming (12.5-10.5) N3L - 1 mile - 3+ Inside starter, Classic Relative, and rider Chuck Lopez are looking to take advantage of the glib Monmouth track and go gate to wire against a field on non-winners of three in the second race today. The gelded 5 year old son of Conquistador Cielo will be in tough, pressured by our top choice for the win, Stretchin' North, who outfinished that one before being entered in a couple of sprints. Another 5 year old gelding, this Northern Idol progeny is well suited for the distance and retains his regular rider, Michael Baze, for the trip. New York bred Mr. Cliveden, a 3 year old gelding, was being pointed to the Kentucky Derby but stumbled in some minor stakes at Laurel Park over the winter and is now down to conditioned claiming events after winning two back at Colonial Downs against sophomores with a $30k tag. This Louis Quatorze gelding gets Aaron Gryder for the trip but usually prefers to be well clear and today's pace scenario suggests there will be a bit of a crowd up front on the backstretch. Baze is replaced by Rajiv Maragh aboard 4 year old colt, Traz, who came up with a huge performance a month ago at 14-1 odds when racing with a $6.5k tag. Inconsistency has been the trademark of this Tamayaz colt and we hesitate to recommend him today. If Golden Victory can race back to his 2004 form, this race will be no contest. The 7 year old has, however, looked badly outmatched this season in allowance company and facing open claimers. The drop in class is the only angle to play. A closer with some upside potential is Ben Perkins Jr trainee, Rich Max, a 5 year old gelding who appears to be perfectly placed for the win if he can get a smart ride from Elvis Trujillo. Richard Dutrow Jr has finished his suspension and saddles 3 year old colt, Shadowmon, who faces older company for the first time today. The modestly bred Florida native has not progressed from his maiden win in the mud at Aqueduct in March. Outside starter, Forgotten Cat, gets a class break and could be picking up pieces late. The 4 year old gelding surprised $20k claimers last out by closing from 14 lengths off the pace at odds of 11-1. SELECTIONS #5. Stretchin' North #3. Rich Max WIN 8.00 4.20 2.60 #8. Forgotten Cat PLACE 4.80 3.20 Our second choice, Rich Max (3-1), got an expertly timed ride from Trujillo and was up in the later stages to engage Forgotten Cat (4-1), who had made a middle move, putting away the front runners going into the turn. Rich Max had more in the tank and prevailed by a nose in 1:39.87. Underlay betting favorite, Shadowmon (2-1), was an non-threatening third. The exacta, with two of our top choices, paid $37.40 and the trifecta returned $143.60. August 4, 2005. 2nd Monmouth Park - *S* Claiming 5000 - 6 furlongs - f&m 3+ Laura's Prospect, a 4 year old Frank Russo trainer gets her claiming price chopped in half today as she faces a suspect group of bottom rung New Jersey bred claimers. Two weeks ago, the Allen's Prospect filly tried a move up in class following a solid victory against better than these but got stuck on the outside and spit the bit early. Today, she finds herself on the inside and rider Felix Ortiz should be able to work out a rail skimming trip for the top prize.Stinky Twinkie, a 6 year old mare hit the board at 17-1 here in June at twice the price and is capable of producing a winning bid once in a while. Charles Town shipper, Dear Prospector, has seen her form drop off the table after a couple of wins at 4 1/2 furlongs to start her 8 year old season. Unable to compete with $7.5k claimers in West Virginia, the drop in class does not bode well for the veteran of 44 starts. Slavic Wind has flashed speed as a 5 year old but would need to improve greatly to hit the board today. Trainer Charles Harvatt is still winless at the meet and his prospects for a win aren't grand with his entry, Pink Dusty, who is stuck breaking from the outside post. All Ablaze passed a few tiring horses (including Laura's Prospect) last out but hasn't been contentious for almost a year. Stewart Elliot gets the call from trainer Kathleen DeMasi aboard Vicky's Verse, who needs to be able to capitalize on a complete pace breakdown to have a chance at the win. Her 2005 season began with decisive defeats at the hands of Laura's Prospect and Stinky Twinkie. Inside starter, Lady Wardley, gets blinkers and an apprentice weight allowance but still appears to be badly outmatched today. Interesting, at a price, is dead closer Alannadontstop, who races out of the red hot Frank Costa stable. SELECTIONS #2. Laura's Prospect #3. Alannadontstop #7. Stinky Twinkie SHOW 4.60 Charles Town shipper, Dear Prospector (2-1) took advantage of a bed step by Laura's Prospect (9-5) but was unable to shake Slavic Wind (25-1), who pulled clear through the stretch to win by 4 1/4 lengths in a shocker. Stinky Twinkie (10-1) stayed up for the show. The exacta paid $170.40 and the trifecta returned $2,573.40. August 3, 2005. 1st Monmouth Park - Claiming 5000 - 6 furlongs - 3+ A field of veteran claimers opens today's card at Monmouth Park in a bottom rung claiming event at 6 furlongs in which there is very little speed and a lot of back class. Outside starter, Not Acclaim, an Awesome Again gelding who debuted for the Allen Iwinski stable last spring in Florida with a $62.5k tag, rattled off a couple of impressive victories at Calder Race Course before being shut down for nearly a year. He flashed some speed against conditioned claimers at Delaware Park and will likely be a pace factor today but still needs to improve his stamina in the late going to get the top prize. Two Sparks, owned and trained by Michael Sparks, had been campaigned primarily as a router in allowance company before being claimed last fall from the Leah Gyarmati stable. The gelded 5 year old son of Smoke Glacken shocked the faithful here in June, closing sharply for the place money at 38-1, racing first off the bench after a 7 month break. The question today is whether that performance against claimers with a $12.5 tag can be repeated today. The horse in the best form today is Prince Silverrod, a Gilded Time colt shipping in from Philadelphia Park. The Ramon Preciado trainee prefers an extra furlong but should be close enough to the faltering front runners to capitalize on the pace breakdown and pull away in the stretch. Making the 50th start of his career, Ran South wouldn't need much of an improvement to hit the board against this field. New trainer, Juan Serey, calls on apprentice rider Melvin Perez to help return the 6 year old to the form that got him a win against $16k claimers as recently as late January at Tampa Bay Downs. Stewart Elliot, who will be atop the rider standings soon due to the Joe Bravo injury, gets the call aboard Northend, a 7 year old gelding who also ships in from Philadelphia and has a high percentage of "on the board" finishes. This closer could offer value in the gimmicks. Atomic Energy has proved hopeless at this distance. Owner/trainer John Tammaro has been sending out winners at this meet and enters Charles Town shipper, Capt. Career, into a spot which looks to be tough for the 5 year old Cat's Career horse. SELECTIONS #4. Prince Silverrod SHOW 2.20 #1. Northend #6. Ran South Not Acclaim (5-1) ran to his Calder form, clearing the field quickly en route to a gate to wire victory in 1:11.78. Two Sparks (2-1) chased the winner the whole way but couldn't close in the final yards and Prince Silverrod (7-5), sent off as the favorite, left himself with too much to do in the stretch and settled for third. The exacta paid $60.40 and the trifecta returned $140.20.