November 28, 2004. The $100k Fall Highweight sprint serves as the final stakes over the main track at Aqueduct before racing switches to the winterized inner oval. Don Six, a 4 year old Wild Escapade colt, looked to be ready for the big leagues at the very beginning of the season as he was keeping pace with the likes of Gator 'n Bears and Peeping Tom. After a couple of wins at Delaware in stakes races over the summer, his form went south and he enters this off a 2 month break. One of the likely favorites will be Friendly Island, a Todd Pletcher trainee coming out of a win in the Hudson Handicap, a $125k race for New York breds. The 3 year old Crafty Friend colt is a perfect 4 for 4 at the distance and has only been beaten once in 6 career starts, but the front runner will have plenty more company than he's been accustomed to racing against restricted fields. A horse we like for value is Hennessey progeny, Primary Suspect, trained by Mark Hennig, a 3 year old who put up gaudy speed figures over this surface last month in a second level allowance heat. The lightly raced colt has shown the ability to win from off the pace and rider, Pablo Fragoso, will have to utilize that tactical speed as they will break from the 8 post. Starting from the inside post, Uncle Camie will be chasing again as he did in the Hudson Handicap. Max's Buddy is clearly a few grades below this class. Another horse we assume will take a lot of action is former Allen Jerkens star sophomore, Medallist, winner of the Grade 3 Withers Stakes at a flat mile over this track and the Dwyer Stakes at Belmont over The Cliff's Edge and Eddington. Not really being a sprinter, and obviously being pointed to another, higher profile event, the three month layoff and the big drop from a Grade 1 race makes us want to try to beat this guy. One of our favorites, the veteran Papua, is a horse we never leave out. Despite not having a great season, it's wise to remember that this 5 year finished second in the 2003 edition of this race at odds of 5-1. Thunder Touch, unraced as a juvenile, was a little behind schedule to get onto the Triple Crown trail, but Kiaran McLaughlin has brought the Gulch colt along brilliantly and his measured improvement in each start suggests that the jump to stakes company isn't that much of a stretch. Eavesdropper came up with a few big performances over the summer, but he will be outclassed again today. SELECTIONS #8. Primary Suspect #3. Thunder Touch WIN 15.80 7.90 5.10 #9. Medallist #7. Papua PLACE 6.80 5.20 As we expected, underlay Friendly Island (9-2) wasn't happy contending the early pace 3-wide and faded going into the stretch, leaving a vulnerable Uncle Camie (24-1) alone in front after setting hot fractions of 21.45 & 44.36. The early pace duel left the race wide open for a game closer, and our second choice, Thunder Touch (6-1), angled out and blew past the tiring front runner to win in 1:09.83, a time he has bettered at the distance 3 times in the past 5 months. Our old friend, Papua (6-1), zig-zagged through the stretch looking for racing room and got up for the place prize for the second straight year. Longshot, Eavesdropper (33-1), was up late for show, getting trainer Kiaran McLaughlin the honors for the win and show horses today. The exacta paid only $94.50 but the trifecta returned $1,202.00. Congratulations! November 27, 2004. A fourth Grade 1 victory in 2004 for Pico Central would undoubtedly guarantee the 5 year old Brazilian phenomenon Top Sprinter honors over Speightstown, whom he ducked by not running in the Breeders' Cup. His only try at a flat mile resulted in a big win at Belmont Park in late May in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap over Bowman's Band. Victory Espinoza, who was aboard for the Grade 1 Vosburgh win, flies in from California for the ride. This is clearly the horse to catch in the stretch. Keeping him company in the early going will be lightly raced 4 year old Silver Deputy colt, Badge of Silver, who was being pointed to the Kentucky Derby last year after winning the Grade 3 Risen Star Stakes by 10 lengths. He hit the bench with injury after losing to Peace Rules and Funny Cide in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby. Jerry Bailey has won this race 5 of the past 7 years (twice with Congaree) and rides this one for Bobby Frankel over Breeders' Cup runner-up, Kela. During is a talented 4 year old colt who has endured a tough year racing against stakes company in Californian after returning from Dubai, where he finished 6th in the Godolphin Mile. A year ago, we would have said he could steal a spot on the board, but today, based on his post Arabia form, we can't give him an endorsement. The first of two Todd Pletcher trainees running in this one is Lion Tamer, whose only win since the spring has come at 1-5 odds in a minor two-turn stakes race at Monmouth Park over a very weak field, compared to this. The second Pletcher charge, Purge, is more likely to get a share today, entering this out of a fourth in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes. The only 3 year old in the field is shortening up and may find the distance more palatable than he's been going lately. John Velasquez stays with this one over Lion Tamer and Badge of Silver. Unforgettable Max, a 4 year old Northern Afleet colt, has repeatedly failed in graded stakes company this season and Potrisunrise, an Argentine bred 7 year old gelding, tries to make the jump out of a career best performance over $50k claimers at 7 furlongs at Belmont. Backers of Voodoo can point to the Vosburgh, in which, while beaten 4 lengths by Pico Central, he bested Speightstown by a half length. On his very best, he has a shot. We doubt we'll see his very best. Our choice in the Breeders' Cup Sprint was Kela, and though he arrived late, we were still impressed by the big closing kick from the rejuvenated California resident. He went off at 4-1 in the Breeders' Cup and, with Pico Central taking a lot of action, we might get a fair price on a very hot commodity. SELECTIONS #8. Kela SCRATCHED #1. Pico Central (Brz) SHOW 2.20 #6. Badge of Silver PLACE 5.80 3.10 #4. Purge Our top choice, Kela, came down with a fever yesterday and was scratched, leaving Pico Central (4-1) as a prohibitive favorite. Rather than Badge of Silver (3-1), it was Purge (7-2) who softened up the top dog in the early going, pressing very fast fractions of 22.47 & 44.29 over a track which had been producing quick times all day. Taking advantage of the pace duel up front, Jose Santos, who had patiently rated Lion Tamer (12-1) at the back of the pack, swept up with the overlooked 4 year old and blew past the leaders to win by a length and a quarter in 1:33.46 over Badge of Silver, who muscled past Pico Central to grab the place money for his biggest paycheck of the year. The exacta paid $110.50 and the trifecta returned $358.50. November 26, 2004. This season's crop of juvenile runners are getting in their final outings as 2 year olds, and 7 disparate colts and geldings will try 6 1/2 furlongs with a price tag of $50k down to $45k. Our wise guy choice for the win today is outside starter, Simply Super, who raced well at 7 furlongs here in his debut, broke his maiden two races later when dropped from the allowance ranks, hit the bench and returned with a deceptively strong fourth place finish on the turf in his first try at two turns. Elias Peltroche gets the mount again and we expect another game effort against a mediocre field. Michaelistheone will be tough for a while on the front, but the gelded son of Eltish tries winner for the first time and his claiming price is doubled. More likely to hang around for a minor award is Painter Gabe, who moves up from conditioned claiming company and usually gives a good account of himself. Last out, he stayed close to My Buddy Richie, who went on to face stakes competition last weekend. Trainer, William White, who won a couple yesterday, drops Do Run Run way down in class after entering the $25k maiden claiming winner into four straight stakes races. This might be the right price for the Running Stag colt, but we note he lost by 3 1/2 lengths to Painter Gabe in June. Fit Faze, starting from the inside post, just got the nod against $40k maiden claimers at a flat mile last out. Unremarkable trainer, Candy Courtemanche, shifts Regal Humor colt, Coyoteshighestcall, from the turf and shortens him back to sprinting as well as dropping him from allowance company. One horse we like exiting his maiden victory is Just Add Rum, who ships south from Pimlico, where he put up an impressive pace pressing win. Calder's leading rider, Eddie Castro, gets a leg up. SELECTIONS #7. Simply Super #6. Just Add Rum #4. Painter Gabe PLACE 5.00 2.80 New Jersey shipper, Fit Faze (19-1), put the locals to shame, sweeping past the field to pull away from Painter Gabe (4-1) for a clear 2 length victory in 1:19.53. Underlay of the day, Do Run Run (1-1) was a well-beaten third. The exacta paid $221.20 and the trifecta returned $469.00. November 25, 2004. This entry level allowance field of juvenile fillies is loaded with outside speed, starting with Swither, a daughter of the late Anees, who himself was a champion 2 year old. Sheik Mohammed al Maktoum's Darley Stable paid $350k for this girl at auction in February and, so far, the big payoff has been a 10 length win in the NATC Sorority Futurity $200k stakes at Delaware Park in early September. She faded at Belmont Park a month later, losing to Megascape (who is now a graded stakes winner) at 7 furlongs. The new rider is none other than John Velasquez, who brought Carminooch home expertly yesterday in our feature race. Kiki B returns to sprinting after some tough races on the turf against open allowance company and on the dirt in the $100k Maid Of The Mist. The Williamstown filly caught a soft field in her win at 5 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga in August. A big player in this one is outside starter, Good Edition, a John Kimmel trainee who demolished a tough field in her debut at Belmont last month, winning by 7 3/4 lengths in 1:10.72 from the 11 post. She got caught in a brisk pace duel in a short field of open competitors 3 weeks ago. A performance even close to her debut easily gets her the top prize today. Carlow ships in from Suffolk Downs after breaking her maiden in her 7th career start. She has twice raced at Belmont, beaten both times by 4 3/4 lengths by state breds. Speed Bag improved with every start, culminating in an impressive gate to wire maiden victory at Belmont in September. Trainer Jeff Odintz was a little reckless moving her up next out to face stakes foes while also stretching her out to a mile. Shoot the Bugler was able to pick up the pieces after the pace fell apart at 7 furlongs at Belmont in September, and we're willing to bet that was more of an unusual situation than the norm for this unheralded filly trained by Joe Aquilino. Starting from the inside post, Stormin Alyse tries to make the jump from beating $12.5k maidens at Suffolk. It's a tough spot. Similarly, One O'Clock spotted Finger Lakes maidens 10 lengths in her debut, then closed well to get the victory two months ago and will be in tough today. SELECTIONS #8. Good Edition #7. Swither #3. Speed Bag Racing at Aqueduct was suspended after the 2nd race due to unsafe conditions. November 24, 2004. A humdinger of a field of 8 state-bred colts race a one-turn mile at the entry level allowance tier. The likely favorite, Carminooch, has a sprinter's pedigree and one his debut impressively at 5 1/2 furlongs in August at the Saratoga meet. Todd Pletcher and John Velasquez, both off to uncharacteristically slow starts, team up with this Tomorrows Cat colt who showed brief speed in losing to phenom, Up Like Thunder, in the B.F. Bongard and stuck around a little longer in the Sleepy Hollow but still finished nearly 10 lengths back. We are pegging this one as an underlay to play against. More likely to survive the early speed duel is Cherokee Chief, who stayed on well when stretched out to this distance, then wired a strong field of maiden allowance runners at 7 panels at Belmont Park. Quite simply, the Cherokee Run colt, bred and owned by Chester & Mary Broman, has been a different horse since the blinkers have been added. On the inside, No Allegiance, draws leading jockey, Edgar Prado, and enters this off his maiden victory at 6 furlongs in which he cruised home, under no pressure, in 1:14. He faces a severe class check today. Our choice for the win is Thunderprince, a son of Indian Charlie, who has been producing progeny who excel at the middle distances. Jose Santos leaves Ramon Hernandez and Cherokee Chief to replace Richard Migliore aboard this highly touted Kiaran McLaughlin trainee, and should give him a strong stalking trip at the head of the second flight. Starting form the outside post, Big Apple Daddy should rebound from a disappointing trip in the B.F. Bongard, after being bumped at the start and being strung out 4-wide on the backstretch. Trained by James Picou, he showed durability at Finger Lakes in the late summer. Precision Perfect is the type of tough competitor who is wise to leave on the exotics tickets. Trainer, Michael Gorham, might have been a bit overly ambitious when he entered this one in the Sleepy Hollow off his maiden win. Hot rider, Javier Castellano, replaces Migliore in the irons. Trainer, Allen Iwinski, has been hot, so we're loathe to leave out any of his entries, but Sort It Out doesn't seem to have the necessary speed to be competitive today. Everythings Groovy has mirrored Thunderprince to start his career but lacks the tactical speed and the pedigree of our top choice. Trainer, Carlos Martin, does have 4 wins at this meet, already. SELECTIONS #7. Thunderprince #2. Cherokee Chief #3. Precision Perfect SHOW 4.60 #8. Big Apple Daddy PLACE 7.20 4.70 Carminooch (1-1) made a nifty move to fill a hole on the rail in the stretch, accelerating quickly to catch the tiring front runners in the slop, then pulled away to win in 1:38.29, finishing 5 lengths ahead of Big Apple Daddy (10-1), who had come 5-wide to challenge then overtake the pacesetters. Precision Perfect (8-1) got the show prize for the third time in 7 career starts. The exacta paid $28.80 and the trifecta returned a generous $97.00. November 21, 2004. This field running a mile at the entry level allowance condition features an overflow of early speed, the best of which is New Jersey shipper, Santa Croce, who actually broke her maiden here a year ago. The Saint Ballado filly, purchased at auction for $500k, has raced only twice as a 4 year old but is clearly the class of this bunch. Esther's Star, once a star of the New York allowance division, returned from a 4 month layoff in August and had clearly lost a few steps. Awesomeness, owned by the Stronach Stable and trained by Barclay Tagg, hasn't yet duplicated the style she showed in her maiden victory at Belmont Park in May. Georgetown Gal, a Silver Charm filly, would need a big reversal in form to compete with these today. Watch the price on Gold Like U, starting from the outside post after a 7 month layoff. She was an up and comer against state-breds over the inner track last winter, won impressively at 7 panels over this strip then hit the bench. Well-bred, Wild Holly (Wild Rush - Holly North, Alysheba), another New Jersey shipper will have a tough time getting the lead under jockey Cornelio Velasquez. Butterface should be able to get a ground saving trip and we would use her underneath at a price. The 6 year old veteran has stamina, if anything. With all the front speed beating themselves up before the turn, the pace scenario sets up nicely for My Girl Natalie, the only true closer in the bunch. SELECTIONS #4. Santa Croce PLACE 3.50 2.60 #1. Butterface SHOW 3.00 #5. My Girl Natalie Another in a string of upsets which saw not a single favorite win in any of the Pick 6 races, resulting in a carryover of $131,338. Our second choice, Butterface (3-1), set a comfortable pace and was overtaken on the outside by Awesomeness (6-1), who raced back to her spring form, winning by 3 lengths over our top choice and betting favorite, Santa Croce (9-5) in a time of 1:37.86. Butterface held third. The exacta paid $47.00 and the trifecta returned $199.50. November 20, 2004. This season's crop of 3 year old fillies has been a division we have followed with great interest and as the year winds down, there are only a handful of opportunities left for some of the lesser lights to pick up a decent paycheck competing against their peers. Today's overnight stakes for non-winners of $50k in a race in 2004 has drawn a strong field of 10 sprinters, led by Then She Laughs, who drops down after a strong showing in the Grade 3 Safely Kept sprint at Pimlico, in which she wasn't able to catch the talented Bending Strings, and a disappointing showing at 7 furlongs at Belmont when she ran into the monster, Sugar Punch. This field is akin to a better than average group of allowance runners and if the Distorted Humor filly can run back to her midsummer form (winner of a similar stakes race at Monmout) she can take home the top prize under jockey Jorge Chavez. On the inside, Ambition Unbridled switches from turf to dirt after picking up a couple of wins in minor stakes on the lawn in New Jersey this fall. Jockey Jeremy Beasley replaces Sean Bridgmohan aboard this live entry from the Mark Shuman stable who has missed the board only once, in the same Pimlico Grade 3 event won by Bending Strings. With the easier turn at this course, the Unbridled's Song filly should be one of the ones to catch in the stretch. Annika Lass hasn't shown the speed or durability to catch the front runners. Humor Me Molly hasn't looked like the same filly since she was utterly outclassed in the Grade 1 Test by the likes of Society Selection, Bending Strings and Forest Music. We are wavering with regard to Gilded Time filly, Gilded Gold, whose only poor performance came in the Safely Kept at Pimlico. Conditioned for that one by Tom Amoss, she is now trained by Alan Goldberg and enters this out of a 6 week layoff. Short on experience but long on talent, Sweet Vision beat Smokey Glacken in February in the $100k Old Hat at Gulfstream Park. Benched after a tough run as a 30-1 longshot in the Grade 2 Beaumont, she returned with a strong second to Habiboo at 7 furlongs at Belmont. The outside post sets her up for a late run. Virginia bred, Storm Minstrel beat Ambition Unbridled in August at Saratoga and the well-traveled Storm Cat filly, trained by Mark Hennig, will get a nice set-up for her strong closing move. Trainer James Jerkens is dangerous in stakes races and today sends out undefeated Exploit filly, Mayfield, who overcame a bad start in her first against winners to win by 2 1/2 lengths over this surface two weeks ago. Shipping from Philadelphia (where 3 of her 4 wins in 2004 have come) is Dreamadreamforme, who hasn't been racing against this level of competition in her career. Miler Adriatic Sea shortens up after a third place finish against N2X foes in the mud. Trainer Jennifer Pederson is off to another strong start at this meet but it's hard for us to endorse this Polish Numbers filly based on one strong race against inferior winners in which she couldn't beat a couple. SELECTIONS #4. Then She Laughs PLACE 5.80 4.70 #1. Ambition Unbridled #10. Sweet Vision SCRATCHED #2. Storm Minstrel WIN 11.80 5.40 4.00 Our top choice, The She Laughs (9-2), produced a tough performance while outdueling Ambition Unbridled (9-1) through fractions of 22.43 & 46.04 but was unable to hold off Storm Minstrel (9-2), who got the perfect trip from Pablo Fragoso along the rail and prevailed by a nose in 1:11.13 for her fourth victory of the season, pushing her earnings above the $150k mark for 2004. Longshot Dreamadreamforme (42-1) was along late for third, adding extra value to the trifecta, which returned $1,185.00. The exacta paid $61.50 as the bettors oddly made Mayfield the 2-1 favorite, earning her "underlay of the day" honors. November 19, 2004. The only 4 year old in this field, Love in Your Eyes, will be the filly to catch in this field. And she is certainly catchable. The Forest Wildcat filly returns to the conditioned claiming ranks after abruptly fading in allowance company. A repeat of her win here in October will give her a chance but improvement is still necessary to take home the top prize. Say Yeah, a daughter of Shadeed, apparently likes the short going but needs more speed to keep up from the outside post. A first-crop filly of Charismatic, Saratoga Spring, enters this out of her maiden win over $12.5k claimers followed by a 7 week layoff. Magic Line has been competitive at this level, with two wins and a close third at the distance since June. The closer will head the second flight of horses and will be very prominent late. Demaloot Demashoot filly, Killing Frost, has a chance against these on her best effort but enters this after 2 months on the shelf. Our choice for the win, although she is thin on value, is Bailey's Reprized, a Dan Hurtak trainee coming off an impressive victory at this level in the slop two weeks ago. A bargain $4k purchase at auction last spring, the Reprized filly is approaching the $50k mark in earnings this year and has a shot at $100k lifetime before 2004 is out. Trainer William Cesare appears to be tuning up Flo Rose 'n Net for a longer race after a 4 month layoff. SELECTIONS #1. Bailey's Reprized SHOW 2.10 #3. Magic Line WIN 7.80 4.40 2.10 #4. Love in Your Eyes PLACE 7.20 2.20 As we expected, the only front runner left standing in the stretch was Love in Your Eyes (7-1), who put away the pretenders leaving the turn and was caught in the final yards by our second choice, Magic Line (5-2), who finally got the better of Bailey's Reprized (4-5), who ran into traffic after rider Gary Boulanger brought her along the inside following a sluggish start. She ran up on Love in Your Eyes and had to settle for the place prize, disappointing many bettors who were pounding her in the place pool. The exacta paid $49.00 and the trifecta, using all three of our picks returned $102.00. Congratulations! November 18, 2004. The first of two starters allowance sprints at 5 furlongs on today's Pimlico card features a field with a predominance of veteran fillies and mares with a lot of early speed. One of the front runners, and our choice for the win at a fair price, is Ivars Ms Mayhem, a 4 year old filly who had been racing very consistently on the turf at this distance over the summer. She was dropped to a conditioned claiming race with a price tag of $7.5k by former trainer Vincent Blengs and was quickly snapped up by her current conditioner/owner, Joseph Eff. She immediately paid dividends, wiring an "off the turf" entry level allowance sprint here, before tiring in her last at N2X (again, "off the turf"). Keeping in mind her latest is probably a bounce from her outstanding performance in early October, we like the Concorde's Tune filly to race back to her breeding today. She will have to put away Amongtheprivileged, who ships here from a long summer facing New Jersey bred allowance foes at Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands, as well as winning a couple of conditioned claiming races at Philadelphia Park. Trainer Patricia Farro doesn't seem to have worked the 5 year old over the oval and the tight turns might compromise the speedster's Pimlico debut. Queen Daisy was claimed by her current connections for $3.5k out of a Charles Town loss a year ago. The 5 year old Prenup mare looks to be a few nothches below these. Tres Linda makes just her second start as a 3 year old and, despite some good performances over this strip as a juvenile, she would need a huge leap in form to seriously compete for the win against older horses. Starting from the inside is another making the turf to dirt move and the big drop in class should help Dee I Do, a closing type runner who knows the oval and gets top jockey Ryan Fogelsonger. Spanish Castle is a 6 year old "needs the lead" sprinter who is in a good form cycle at the moment, prompting trainer Ken Cox to move her up in class off the claim from the Howard Wolfendale stable. One of the betting favorites will be Tailgator, trained by Scott MacKinnon, who holds a hot hand at this meet. Also claimed recently from the Wolfendale barn, this 5 year old mare goes for her third consecutive victory and fourth on the year. She has a class edge over many of these, but at the shorter distance, will have to break more alertly than she is prone to do. Veteran 6 year old mare, Royalmissglitter, will break from the outside post. She beat Ivars Ms Mayhem in August but was outfinished by Tailgator by 10 1/2 lengths a few weeks ago. SELECTIONS #7. Ivars Ms Mayhem #1. Dee I Do #4. Spanish Castle PLACE 4.80 3.20 #3. Tailgator WIN 6.40 4.00 2.80 Tailgator (2-1) made it three in a row at Pimlico with her best performance yet over this oval, disputing the pace on the inside and pulling away in the stretch to hit the wire in 59.02. Spanish Castle (7-2) got caught in the speed duel but managed to hang around for the place and Royalmissglitter (14-1) was a well beaten third. The exacta paid $20.80 and the trifecta returned $152.40. November 17, 2004. A $105k pick 6 carryover includes a claiming race at 6 furlongs for 3 year olds whose experience on the track ranges from 4 to 23 races. Most of the speed in this field is situated outside and the closers will be inside getting ground saving trips. The likely pacesetter, Tour d'Or colt Por Favor, is trained by Allen Iwinski, who is in the process of trimming his stable. The well-bred colt was claimed from WinStar Farm and trainer Elliot Walden in the spring for $62.5k out of his maiden win at Gulfstream Park. Since then, he has managed only one win, against entry level allowance company in the slop at Monmouth Park. He has flashed speed, but wasn't even able to gain the lead when dropped to the $40k claiming level at the Meadowlands last month. Today, he and rider Edgar Prado will run into Raw General, a tough California-bred out of the Michael Gill/Mark Shuman stable. Shuman claimed the $100k General Meeting colt in April as he was climbing the Cal-bred allowance ladder and shipped him to Delaware Park, where he promptly jumped way up in class and defeated open N2X foes after a 5 month layoff at 12-1 odds. Still eligible against N2X competition, he faced the same conditions at the Meadowlands, where he flattened out chasing a torrid pace. The winner of that one, Choose, returned to win a $60k stakes for sophomores a week and a half ago. An unknown quantity today is outside horse, Acreditado (Brz), making his second North American start after tiring at Keeneland in a money earned allowance, losing to the likes of stakes winner, Coach Jimi Lee, and Deer Lake. It's difficult to ascertain exactly where Grade 3 stakes winner fits in American racing, but he's hard to dismiss with top conditioner Steven Asmussen and New York's finest jockey, John Velasquez, on board. Exploit Lad has hit the board in over half of his 23 starts, but will be hard pressed to crack the lineup today on the rise from a career best performance against $25k claimers. Norberto Arroyo retains the mount for trainer Michael Brice, who seems to want to move this Exploit colt to the grass. Starting from the inside post will be gelding Seneca Summer, who was being pointed towards the Triple Crown trail at the beginning of the year, first by Asmussen, then by current trainer, Steve Klesaris. The Texan has a strong closing kick and beat better at Saratoga this summer, putting away stakes placed Charming Jim and Crafty Player. Another entering this off a victory is My Husband, a Richard Dutrow trainee, who has won a couple of turf races over the past 3 months and doesn't seem particularly well suited to sprints on the dirt. A closer we do like is Saint Ballado colt, Stacie's Ballado, out of the potent Bruce Levine stable. Lightly raced, the sophomore has shown a distinct affinity to this distance, as her pedigree suggests. Cutting Points loses points for lack of experience as he makes only his 5th career start and has beaten only $30k maiden claimers. SELECTIONS #5. Raw General #1. Seneca Summer PLACE 5.50 3.60 #4. Stacie's Ballado SHOW 4.90 #8. Acreditado (Brz) It appears that trainer Michael Brice has performed a miraculous transformation of Exploit Lad from a sophomoer struggling with $35k claimers at Saratoga in the summer into a soon-to-be 4 year old gelding who will be getting a shot at allowance company in the near future. The 5-2 betting favorite pressed a fast pace, took over at the half mile and was all alone in the stretch, winning in a great time of 1:09.39 by a 3 1/4 length margin over our second choice, Seneca Summer (5-1), who appears to have regained his form after a disastrous try at the Meadowlands. Our third choice, Stacie's Ballado (Brz)(8-1), closed very quickly outside for the show prize. The exacta paid $37.00 and the trifecta returned $169.50. November 14, 2004. Today's feature at Aqueduct, a $75k overnight stakes for 2 year olds, appears to be a highly competitve sprint for a field of lightly raced juveniles. Trainer Allen Jerkens ambitiously placed Magoo's Magic in the $79k Cowdin stakes at Belmont Park a month ago and the Awesome Again colt tired quickly on the inside. Out of a key race at Calder Race Course in October, the speedster should rebound against a weaker field, but there is still a lot of other speed to contend with early today. Lieutenant Danz was a bargain in October, claimed by Sharon Huston for a mere $20k out of his 10 1/4 length maiden win. The Gold Fever colt (damsire is Danzig) promptly wired an entry level allowance field at the Meadowlands and will be tough on the front end here. Home bred Schiloh has endured a couple of rough trips, hitting the wire first both times (disqualified in his debut) and is entered here off a 4 month lay up. Jorge Chavez replaces Fernando Jara in the irons. Storm Creek Rising ran into Proud Accolade (6th in the BC Juvenile) in his first race against winners and hung tough until the deep stretch at 6 1/2 furlongs. The Storm Creek colt, trained by Christophe Clement, couldn't hold on against Get Wild at Belmont in late September but we expect an improved effort third off the bench. Trainer Tom Bush has had a big meet so far, and enters another live one here with Tani Maru starting from the outside post. The Cherokee Run colt, purchased at auction for $160k a year ago and then picked up for $75k out of a maiden claiming race in September, was an impressive winner from an outside post after a rough start here a few weeks ago. Get Wild, a son of Forest Wildcat, should show more speed than he has thus far in his career and has drawn the tough inside post. This one could be a big underlay today. Suny's Boy was beaten nearly 3 lengths by Tani Maru and this race doesn't shape up well for a win by a maiden. Malheur, a $475k purchase at auction in the spring, conditioned by Todd Pletcher, could take a lot of betting support but we feel the Saint Ballado colt is better suited for 7 furlongs or a mile. The one clear closer in the field is Mr. Cold Call, conditioned by Nick Zito, with Cornelio Velasquez aboard, and will be flying in the deep stretch. SELECTIONS #5. Storm Creek Rising PLACE 8.90 6.60 #4. Mr. Cold Call #9. Tani Maru SHOW 6.10 #7. Malheur Apparently, Allen Jerkens wasn't being overly ambitious when he entered Magoo's Magic (10-1) against Flamenco. A performance like he delivered today would have won him the Cowdin stakes as well. The front running colt broke sharply under Javier Castellano and didn't look back, setting brisk fractions of 22.35 & 45.87 and winning, going away, in 1:10.17. Our top choice, Storm Creek Rising (6-1) ran a career best race but couldn't catch the winner early and finished a well-beaten second, 3 1/2 lengths back. Oddly ignored at the windows, Tani Maru (7-1) started slowly, then closed quickly on the inside to get the show prize. The exacta paid $168.50 and the trifecta returned $1,354.00. November 13, 2004. Today's Florida Million card kicks off it's eight stakes for state breds with this 7 panel sprint for juvenile fillies, which will be a major test for Aclassysassylassy, a 2 year old with earnings of just under $400k already. Setting the table will be Lady in Pink, owned by Michael Sherman and trained by Angel Salinas, a Double Honor filly who has not finished worse than second in 5 career starts. After completely dominating the competition in 3 starts here, winning by by no less than 8 3/4 lengths, she was caught along the rail by Running Bobcats in the $75k Cassidy stakes, a 6 furlong sprint for open company. Running Bobcats, our choice to win, was a $6k bargain at auction in March who suddenly improved by leaps and bounds after trainer Rodolfo Garcia shortened her up from a couple of two turn tries. Jockey Julio Garcia has been able to win with this one on the lead and after rating off the pace and we get the feeling he had an awful lot more horse in the stretch in that last win. Another Double Honor filly, Cut the Mustard, lost a duel to Aclassysassylassy in the $125k Susan's Girl, finishing second in the both the first and second legs of the Florida Stallion series. Top New York jockey, John Velasquez replaces Garcia aboard Lady Ana L, a Montbrook filly who apparently gained some experience in the Susan's Girl and used it to pick up a couple of wins in allowance company after fading to Lady In Pink in early October. With the jockey change and the added experience, we'll be using her underneath. Starting from the inside post will be Aclassysassylassy, the probable favorite, who will be cutting back in distance after a win in the $400k My Dear Girl, her fourth victory in five career starts. Manny Aguilar is in the irons once again. Jerry Bailey gets a leg up on the outside horse, Peace Offering, who will have to improve a great deal to seriously compete for the top spot today. Trainer Henry Collazo moves Frosty Royalty from routes to a sprint and turf to dirt in an effort to pick up her second career win. She's in a tough spot. SELECTIONS #6. Running Bobcats PLACE 2.60 2.10 #1. Aclassysassylassy WIN 3.80 2.40 2.10 #4. Lady Ana L The top two choices stayed close to the pace and both moved on the turn, with Running Bobcats (8-5) emerging with the lead. She was no match for Aclassysassylassy (4-5), who cruised by to a 4 1/2 length victory in 1:25.52. With the win, her fifth in six career starts, the Wild Event filly has earned nearly $500k, a remarkable amount for a juvenile who hasn't competed in a graded stakes event. The chalky exacta paid $8.00 and the trifecta returned $46.00. Congratulations! November 12, 2004. A nine horse field of juvenile fillies tries the tough 1 mile distance today. Most of the 2 year olds have never tried two turns and there aren't any standouts with regard to breeding. The likely pacesetters will be the two outside horses, Theoneilove & Pastel Light, who dueled at 6 furlongs here a few weeks ago. Trainer Fred Warren has struggled at this meet and goes to apprentice jockey Chris Creary, in only his fourth career ride over this oval, to get a 10lb allowance for Pastel Light. Top bug, Luis Medina, defected from that one and has opted to ride for William White's I'm Just Sayin, leading us further away from the likely favorite. Daniel Hurtak leads all trainers in wins at this meet and conditions Theoneilove, who beat colts in late September. She wasn't able to gain on Pastel Light in their last matchup, but her improvement has been steady and she should be a major player today. Jockey Gary Boulanger has been out of this world lately and will try to move Wolf Power filly, Dawn Power, forward after a solid victory at 7 furlongs. Belle of Claxton hasn't significantly improved since her debut and could find herself chasing the field once again today. White wheels I'm Just Sayin back a week after a flop in her first race against winners. That kind of confidence is something to take to the bank and her maiden victory at 7 furlongs with a higher price tag, was impressive. Inside filly, Rita's Prayer, has not finished first yet in her career, having been awarded a win through disqualification in the summer. Stephs White Tower appears to be outmatched. Greenwood Lake filly, Klassy Lake, picked up a lot of ground on a slow field in her last and is a useful type of runner to use in the gimmicks. Angel Salinas trainee, Miss Starlight, has won at the distance but will have to improve her speed to repeat. SELECTIONS #4. I'm Just Sayin #8. Theoneilove SHOW 3.60 #9. Pastel Light PLACE 3.60 3.20 #6. Klassy Lake WIN 40.20 10.80 5.80 We hope you jumped on the bettors' blunder at letting Greenwood Lake filly, Klassy Lake go off at 19-1. She simply repeated the form she showed in winning her maiden race here two weeks, closing with a rush from dead last to get the win after very sluggish fractions. Favorite, Pastel Light (2-1), survived a tepid speed duel but couldn't hold on in the final yards. The extra 8lbs showed on Theoneilove (3-1), as she hung in the stretch and settled for third. The exactapaid $123.00 and the trifecta returned $504.00. Congratulations! November 11, 2004. The second leg of the early double at Aqueduct is a curious coming together of mostly sophomore maidens, some of whom are bred for sprinting, who have all shown little aptitude for the 6 furlong distance. Trainer Edward Plesa Jr continues to campaign Florida bred gelded progeny of Montbrook, Cursitor, in New York rather than at Calder. He has enlisted Jose Santos to take the reins today and the expensive 3 year old will be one of the early leaders. Half brother to that one, another Montbrook offspring, Shake You Up, makes his first start in exactly one year and has been slotted in a pretty easy situation. There is virtually no speed to pressure the Stanley Hough trainee and, if he gets loose, jockey Norberto Arroyo Jr could be all alone in the deep stretch. This is one of the rare occasions when we might back a young horse off such a long break. Trainer Patrick Kelly drops Smoke Glacken colt, Alton Bay, back down to the claiming ranks after a disastrous try in allowance company out of an 11 month layoff. Over the years he's come close and has 5 second place results to his credit. Pedro Monterrey Jr is still an apprentice, getting a 5lb allowance. Our upset choice is Regal Model, trained by John Quiles (winless on the year), with one of the unheralded jockeys, Alan Garcia, aboard. Unable to hit the board in 22 lifetime starts, we wonder if he's ever faced as weak a field as this. Likely favorite, Greylock, starts from the outside post and will be coming hard in the stretch as trainer Michael Hushion switches from turf to dirt and shortens him from 5 routes in a row. We fear that Wild Geese, with Javier Castellano up, will be the underlay of the day. Formerly in the Christophe Clement stable, the expensive Is It True colt has yet to be anywhere near the lead in two career starts. The only horse moving up in class, Luke's Flash has shown a good late kick. I'llfindmywayhome is clearly outmatched. SELECTIONS #7. Regal Model #8. Greylock WIN 6.20 3.20 2.60 #1. Shake You Up #6. Alton Bay SHOW 3.20 Alton Bay (6-1) ended up with the lead all the way through to the deep stretch and, while the time wasn't overstrenuous for him, he did use a lot of energy in the early going and lacked a reserve to fight off the challenge from the favorite, Greylock (2-1), on the inside. Wild Geese (5-2) had a rough trip and raced very wide to catch the place prize, dropping the pacesetter to third. The exacta paid $17.40 and the trifecta returned $74.50. November 10, 2004. An eclectic group of 9 fillies and one 6 year old mare comprise the field in this entry level allowance late tonight in East Rutherford. The lack of a real "needs the lead" type might mean that sprinter Key to Love is the frontrunner after the first quarter mile. Joe Bravo takes the reins on this Faustino Ramos trainee who stretches to two turns for the first time in her 4 year old season. She's usually within striking distance at the top of the stretch but rarely finds another gear. Also, the Key Contender filly is still eligible for non-winners of one other than... against state breds. Today's race is a couple of steps up in class. Even though every winner yesterday was no further back than third at the first call, we'll have to throw away this key to love, at least on Win tickets. Also vying for the early lead will be Thong, who is going to be seriously comprised by starting from the far outside post. The Tale of the Cat filly has been a winner more than once as a claiming horse and her 7 furlong victory at Gulfstream Park in April is as strong a performance as has been delivered by any of these. Trainer Mark Fusco has yet to really get going at this Big M meet. Talespin, the veteran of the bunch, has found many ways to lose races after 41 starts and was outraced by a couple of these 3 weeks ago. An interesting filly is Dark Plume, who is entered here out of a hard fought maiden victory in the mud last month. Both the second and third place horses that day went on to break their maiden next out. The 3 year old daughter of British bred Labeeb has been progressing steadily as a sophomore and certainly seemed to enjoy stretching out to two turns. Will she bounce off that race? We'll be watching closely. Jockey Edwin King Jr sticks with I Dare Billy, who can beat $16k claimers but appears to out of her place today. Yesterday Aaron Gryder rode Snow Eagle, an 18-1 longshot owned by Michael Gill, to victory. Today, he works late after riding at Aqueduct in the afternoon, taking the mount on another Gill horse, Notimetoquit. Gill claimed the filly in March at Fair Grounds for $15k from the Tom Amoss stable and moved her into the allowance ranks and onto the turf. Half a dozen starts later, he lost her for $20k, only to reclaim the filly for $25k at his next opportunity. She just missed at this level at Monmouth in September and her maiden win came at a flat mile in New Orleans. She is our choice for the win. Close Quarters won her maiden race by 7 1/2 lengths but faces a severe class check here. One of our favorite overachievers at the Monmouth meet, I've Got to Win, owned and trained by Edwin Broome, has been racing mostly against her own age group this summer and faces a tough challenge today. The wild card in this deck has to be Roanoke filly Raging Rapids, making just her third career start out of a dominating win at 9 furlongs in her turf debut at Philadelphia Park. Stewart Elliot sticks with another Pennsylvania bred. Pulpit filly, Holy Roller, should be around late as her 5 third place finishes can attest. SELECTIONS #1. Notimetoquit SHOW 3.60 #7. Raging Rapids SCRATCHED #3. Holy Roller #10. Thong WIN 18.40 7.20 5.00 Once again, frontrunners were winning at the Big M, so jockey Joe Rocco hustled Thong (8-1) clear of the field and was able to set comfortable fractions of 22.87 & 45.98, unpressured by Notimetoquit (9-5), who ended up losing a dule for the place prize to Key to Love (4-1). Thong pulled away in the stretch for a 3 length victory in 1:42.24. The exacta paid $80.80 and the trifecta returned $323.80. November 7, 2004. Nine juvenile New Yorkers and one from New Jersey, all from New York stallions, compete for a $125k purse in one of four N.Y. Stallion Series stakes. A.P. Jet colt, Ok Let's Go, whose damsire is Polish Numbers, will be gunned to the lead by Stewart Elliott, who was aboard 3 weeks ago for his maiden win in the mud at the Meadowlands. The Cynthia Reese trainee was flying that day and we suspect a fast track, which he has not seen in competition since his debut in late July, will only help this speedster. Accurate will likely take a lot of betting support and we can't argue, seeing that two of his losses have come at the hands of the freakishly good Up Like Thunder. Trainer Steve Klesaris is strong in stakes competition and he shortens his star 2 year old, who beat Thunderprince, to a distance at which he's won. Frankie Peppers, still a maiden, couldn't beat $25k claimers at Calder. An interesting entry is Summerland, who won impressively in his debut at Belmont Park a month ago. Richard Violette trains and Sean Bridgmohan retains the mount. Ormsby colt, Rob's Boy Mat, doesn't appear to have the stamina to contend, despite the presence of Edgar Prado in the irons. Well-bred Distinctive Trick (Distinctive Pro - Doyourthing, Known Fact) is being campaigned by a very low percentage trainer and has been blown out in two similar stakes races already. Swell has been steady but looks to be a shade below these in class. Trainer Dominic Schettino is having a fine year so it's hard to throw out Western Galaxy, but he just doesn't seem to have the speed to compete yet at this level. Another A.P. Jet colt, Christian X., gets a tough spot in which to make his debut. Jose Santos will ride Pain and Glory for Bruce Levine. The colt was purchased at auction in the spring for $100k and has yet to break his maiden. SELECTIONS #8. Ok Let's Go #9. Accurate WIN 9.40 4.70 3.40 #7. Summerland PLACE 4.80 3.60 #2. Western Galaxy Our third choice, Summerland (7-2), turned out to be interesting, indeed. Sean Bridgmohan hustled the Western Expressions colt out of the gate, survived a duel with Rob's Boy Mat (19-1) after putting away our top choice, Ok Let's Go (10-1), and headed into the stretch drive with a clear shot at the wire and a second consecutive win to begin his career. Accurate (3-1) had been rated well back of the field early by Norberto Arroyo, who brought our second choice along 3-wide on the turn, angled him inside and brought him home just in time for the win in 1:11.22, just a neck up on Summerland. Distinctive Trick (11-1), 4 1/4 lengths back of the winner in the $100k Sleepy Hollow at Belmont last month, finished evenly for the show prize. The exacta paid $42.60 and the trifecta returned $195.00. November 6, 2004. A field of nine 3 year olds, most of whom are dropping from allowance races, carry price tages of $30k down to $25k over 6 1/2 furlongs today. Boston Harbor filly, Secret Crush, returns to the site of her maiden win over $30k claimers in July, out of which she was claimed by Paul McGee. After racing at 4 different tracks against tougher competition, the speedy filly, with Rafael Bejarano up, should be the horse to catch. Another who broke her maiden here is South Magnolia, a Southern Halo filly, who has spent the bulk of her season racing with this claiming price. Fairly solid, with 5 second place finishes here and at Arlington Park, her competition is stiffer today than what she's been used to. Six Rings looked great winning her debut at 5 /2 furlongs on the lawn at Ellis Park. She wired the field that day, then faltered at Kentucky Downs, a track many decent horses have problems with, and makes her 3rd career start and first on the dirt here. A frontrunner, also trained by McGee, the post position is the main stumbling block. Starting from the inside post, Storm Fleet makes her first start in over a year. Martha Martha beat a weak group of maidens at Mountaineer Park in the mud in late August. Since then, she has failed against tougher and trainer Merrill Scherrer tries to find the right level for her. Our choice to win this evenly matched contest is Favorite Girl, who makes her first start since a poor effort at Kentucky Downs at a mile on the grass in late September. Leading Churchill jockey, Robby Albarado, chose to ride this one over South Magnolia and a ride close to her maiden victory here at 7 panels should get her home the winner. A tough nut late, Honour Sid got caught too close to the front in the mud at Mountaineer and drops back to a more appropriate level today. Dean Butler, who nearly rode her to victory at Turfway Park at this condition in September, is back in the irons. Quick Advice has been a turf specialist and there's no reason to bet against this Caller I.D. filly arriving late to fill out the exotics. Dorella, trained by Lynn Whiting, showed a big closing move in her maiden win at Oaklawn Park in the spring but enters here after a 5 month layoff. We'll be watching her closely. SELECTIONS #6. Favorite Girl PLACE 6.20 4.40 #2. Secret Crush #7. Honour Sid #8. Quick Advice WIN 25.00 9.00 5.20 Secret Crush (3-1) and Honour Sid (4-1) tentatively set the pace just in front of a tightly packed field through fractions of 22.65 & 46.01. The field fanned out 7 wide on the turn, with our top choice, Favorite Girl (9-2), emerging with the lead between horses. But it was longshot closer Quick Advice (11-1), flying on the outside, who outfinished our pick, winning by a head in a sluggish final time of 1:19.66. Dorella (6-1) was clear for show. The exacta paid $154.80 and the trifecta returned $1,130.40. Congratulations! November 5, 2004. The second Pick 4 on the Aqueduct card starts with a sprint for 3 year old fillies, most of whom are dropping in class for this one. Garret's Girl tore up the Monmouth Park meet, recording 3 wins, a second and a third in five races there after shipping north from New Orleans for a win at Charles Town and another at Delaware Park. Claimed out of her final Monmouth start by Frank Russo Jr, she drops back down to a division she can compete in after a try at the Meadowlands with a $32k price tag. Felix Ortiz is the new rider and there is plenty of speed in this field, enough to give this 7-time winner a rough time on the lead. Directly to her right in the starting gate will be Western Times, who came to prominence in the spring while in the Nick Zito barn. Among her achievements this year are a 19 1/2 length victory at Belmont at this price and a 6 length victory over better, both at a flat mile. She was vanned off in her latest, the first start for Scott Lake, who now slashes her claiming price in half. Even before the ugly finish in her latest try, we'd be wary as she regularly tosses in some clunkers. Trainer Frank Laboccetta also halves the claiming price of Cookie Crumbs, an extremely well-bred filly whose grandsires are Mr. Prospector and Avenue of Flags. Our choice to win, this filly hasn't missed the board in 10 starts this year, and that includes a move from the West coast and some experiments at routes and on the turf. She should get a good stalking trip behind the two frontrunners. Two Hollys, an underachiever with a strong pedigree, has the ability to contend with these if she is rated as she was at Belmont Park a month ago. Jose Santos retains the mount on Miss Crafty Pal, making her second start for Kathleen DeMasi. She'll have to improve her early speed to remain in touch with a quick field today. Starting from the outside post, with Edgar Prado up, is Forgotten Promise, who won her maiden race here against $50k claimers in the spring. Based on her current form, she is a fringe player at best. Shipping from Suffolk Downs is Virginia Sunset with only 4 races under her belt. She appears to be well out of her league. Ms. Banker has had a very light 2004 campaign and makes her 3rd start off the bench today and second for new trainer Roy Sedlacek. She was developing into a capable closer at Calder in the spring under Julian Canet and showed some late interest in her latest at Belmont. Jean-Luc Samyn rides again and we will be using her underneath. Bruce Levine trainee, High Ratings, returns after a 6 week hiatus. The Grindstone filly drops in price and tries 6 furlongs for the first time she was competing on the Aqudeduct inner track last March. There's a good chance you'll see her late. SELECTIONS #7. Cookie Crumbs SCRATCHED #4. Garrett's Girl PLACE 2.90 2.30 #3. Ms. Banker SHOW 3.10 #8. Two Hollys WIN 8.20 3.90 2.70 Our top choice, Cookie Crumbs, was scratched, leaving Garrett's Girl (7-5) terribly overbet, with only Two Hollys (3-1) to contend with in the early going. Two Hollys got a fine ride from Victor Fernandez after a rough start, pulled away at the top of the stretch and cruised home in 1:12.54. A tired Garrett's Girl barely held on for place, a half length in front of our pick to catch for the trifecta, Ms. Banker (6-1). The exacta paid $19.80 and the trifecta returned $49.00 but the biggest bargain was the $148.00 payout on a very attainable Pick 3. Congratulations! November 4, 2004. The second half of the early Daily Double at Churchill Downs today features a field of veterans and one experienced sophomore going 6 furlongs. Rafael Bejarano, who picked up his first two wins of the meet yesterday, should be able to go gate to wire with Swept Clean for trainer Michael Stidham and Saddle Brook Stable. The gelded son of Broad Brush, a lightly raced 6 year old, won a second tier allowance race at a mile at Arlington Park last fall and, after a sporadic campaign in 2004, lost a speed duel at Keeneland as the 3-2 favorite at this level 3 weeks ago. Another 6 year old, Worland, has run some big races in the past while campaigning at Turfway Park. He returned from a 16 month layoff to record two straight victories at Canterbury Park and River Downs and makes his first start out of a $10k claim by Steven Amshoff. Bejarano defects to Swept Clean and we feel this is one is racing a shade or two above his current form. Libito Point has not hit the board since a win at Hoosier Park over $5k non-winners of 3 over a year ago. Trainer Randy Morse drops the price on Freedom Counts from $25k and moves him from turf to dirt in the hopes of picking up his second win of the season. The 3 year old finished 2nd against $80k claimers here a year ago and won his sophomore debut at Oaklawn Park with a solid stalking victory in a $30k starters allowance in February. With apprentice Brian Hernandez Jr aboard, he gets a weight break and, with some improvement and a clean trip, he could hit the board with a decent price. Starting from the inside post, Ohio-bred Padgett makes his Churchill debut after 3 wins at River Downs at the distance over both state-bred and open company in the summer. It would take a great move forward for this one to compete for the top spot today. My Extolled Honor, a 9-time winner without a victory this season, makes his third start off the bench and switches from turf to dirt, shortening from a brutal flat mile try at Hawthorne Race Course 3 weeks ago. An accomplished closer who prefers more ground, it's still wise to include a runner of this style on the exotics tickets. Also tough in the late going will be Trion Georgia, starting from the outside post, with Calvin Borel in the irons. The 6 year old won a couple of classy allowance races on this circuit last season including a dead heat win with 2004 Marfa stakes winner Private Horde over this track at this distance. The steady drop in class this season is alarming but Borel should have this warrior going well late. SELECTIONS #3. Swept Clean PLACE 2.40 2.10 #7. Trion Georgia WIN 6.80 2.60 2.20 #2. My Extolled Honor Two classy veterans put on a show, leaving the rest of the field in their wake at the quarter pole, then dueling to a tight finish with our second choice, Trion Georgia (2-1), edging in front of top choice, Swept Clean (4-5), for the victory in 1:11.12. The winner got an excellent ride from Calvin Borel, never more than a length and a half back of the leader through reasonably quick fractions over a drying surface. Worland (5-1) finished a distant third. The exacta paid $16.00 and the trifecta returned $36.80. Congratulations! November 3, 2004. The full fields of this Churchill fall meet are creating excellent betting opportunities and today's third race, featuring a dozen non-winners of two, is no exception. The early speed will primarily come from the outside, with lightly raced sophomore gelding, Parker Run, trying to run back to his midsummer debut on the turf at Ellis Park. Jockey Brice Blanc will have a reluctant horse on the lead today, making only his second career start on the dirt. Based on the drop from allowance turf races at Keeneland and Saratoga, we have to consider this $87k purchase at auction last autumn for the exotics. Another 3 year old dropping from allowance company, and with experience on the grass, is William Fires trainee, Pyramid Performer. We suggest you use this 5-time second place finisher at your own risk as he seems to find ways to lose, and he wants more distance than this. The likely favorite, Herecomesbrice, brings a ton of back class to the field. A promising Hennessy colt, former trainer Steven Asmussen, was running him in allowance sprints here last season before abruptly dropping him into a claiming race with a $50k price tag and losing him to the Tom Van Berg stable. Asmussen looks astute in hindsight as the new claim raced once then hit the sidelines for over a year, returning to the track this past August, not looking the least bit formidable now as a 4 year old. Even with hot apprentice jockey, Brian Hernandez Jr, aboard he still looks very beatable to us today. Mossant ships in from Mountaineer Park and drops to the claiming ranks, returning to the site of his maiden victory in May over $30k maiden claimers at this distance. This gelding looks like he peaked last winter and could be in tough chasing a quick pace in this one. A 29 time loser, Revalee, looked good closing in the mud in Indiana a few weeks ago; but, we can't ignore the numerous times this 5 year old has failed miserably in Kentucky at this level. Our choice to win is Eddie Keneally trainee, Kiss the Groom, who should get a ground saving trip from Jose Martinez Jr, who hit the board with his only mount yesterday, a 26-1 longshot. The Runaway Groom colt beat $50k claimers off a 6 week break at Ellis Park at 7 panels then was fourth in an entry level allowance at Turfway Park, out of which the winner, Chachacharlie, repeated with a victory over N2x foes at Keeneland on Breeders' Cup day, going off at 10-1 odds. Another good bet at reasonable odds is Utah Sky, who retains Rafael Bejarano in the irons, and was nosed out after dropping to this level at Turfway a month ago. This looks like the right level for the Salt Lake colt and it's wise to stick with Bejarano these days. Whose Career, trained by Dale Romans, is worth a look as the 3 year old Cat's Career colt makes his fifth lifetime start and first with a price tag. His last betrayed his pedigree and Romans cuts him back from a mile to a more suitable distance. Jockey Mark Guidry defects from Herecomesbrice to Bird Call, but we will have difficulty endorsing the Mt. Livermore colt who appears to be a shade or two inferior to many of these. Starting from the inside and with Robby Albarado aboard, Everybodywantssome can beat these on his best effort. He'll need racing luck and we'll need a big, big price. Salt Raker, starting from the 12 post, makes his first start since March at the site of his maiden win in the slop a year ago. Rusty Trawler sprints for the first time in his career. SELECTIONS #6. Kiss the Groom SHOW 4.20 #2. Utah Sky #5. Parker Run #4. Whose Career WIN 7.80 5.00 3.60 Pyramid Performer (14-1) found a way to lose once again after setting modest fractions, then getting collared by betting favorite, Whose Career (5-2), in the deep stretch after being expertly guided by improving jockey, Rafael Mojica Jr. Our top choice, Kiss the Groom (5-1) arrived late for the show prize and was claimed by Paul McGee. The exacta paid $121.40 and the trifecta returned $715.40.