Editors’ Note: We have added a handicapping section. Rather than try and pick every race on the card, we will select a feature race of the day and give you our thoughts and selections. Heather is more of an exotic player while Ted is more of a straight win/place, exacta kind of bettor so you’ll get some perspective from both angles. We hope you enjoy and, perhaps, profit a little as well!
Today’s Race: Prairie Mile, Prairie Meadows, Race 8
Heather’s View:
Paid Admission (7) – Winner of a $75,000 optional claiming race at Churchill last out, this guy tried to duke it out with American Pharaoh in the Grade 2 Rebel at Oaklawn before packing it in.
Big Big Easy (5) – This three time winner steps back into stakes company off an easy win in a Churchill $50,000 claimer for trainer Steve Asmussen.
Allied Air Raid (4) – Winner of two in a row and working like a monster, he should be sitting just off the pace and ready to roll late.
Hillbilly Royalty (2) – An also ran in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile, he’s stepping back into a listed stake where he could control the pace.
Superfecta Box: 7,5,4,2
Ted’s View:
Hillbilly Royalty is certainly the horse to beat here and, if Luis Quinonez can control the pace with him, it could be all over early. However if a pace battle develops and the Q can’t keep him off it, a horse that has the ability to set behind the pace and make a steady run at him could win at a price.
I see that horse as being Dadtaughtmewell (10). The James DeVito trainee has reeled off three wins in a row going back to last season and ran a very professional race in taking apart a field of $75,000 claimers at Hawthorne. While his figures don’t necessarily match the favorite’s numbers, he hasn’t been pushed to the limit either. A perfect trip could lead to a perfect price.
Win/Place 10; Exacta Box 2,10