Saturday Magna Pick 5 Selections

23 02 2008
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Well, I’m back from California and it looks like I’m just in time for some excellent racing action this weekend.  Obviously Sunday is going to be the BIG day, with the Fountain of Youth and the return of War Pass, but Saturday’s got some excitement stored away for sure.  I figured the Magna Pick 5 was probably the best chance for a “big score’  on Saturday and decided to take a modest stab at the ticket without breaking the bank.

The Magna Pick 5 covers racing action from Laurel Park in Maryland, Santa Anita in California, and Gulfstream Park in Florida.  Today’s sequence has several interesting races, including the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf.  The ticket I felt comfortable with was $72, and features two singles.   That’s a rather risky proposition, but what can I say?  After that ridiculous $3 Million payout someone out there hit in the pick 6 at Santa Anita last week, it just feels like time to roll the dice and play.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Gulfstream Park, Handicapping Selections, Laurel Park, Santa Anita

Magna 5 pool looks interesting with $265,310 carryover

16 02 2008
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Saturday’s betting action probably can’t get much livelier than the enticing $265,310 carryover in the Magna Pick Five pool.  The Magna Pick 5 is a multi-race exotic bet that encompasses races from 3 tracks owned by the Magna Entertainment Corporation:  Satna Anita in California,  Laurel Park in Maryland, and Gulfstream Park in Florida.

The total pool for today’s Magna 5 wagering is expected to reach well over $1,000,000, and there are some interesting races to wager on in the sequence.   Coming hot of the heels of my less than lucrative pick 6 win the other week, I’ve decided to take a modest stab at the pick 5 today and hope for success.   Let’s take a look at each of the races in the sequence and then I’ll share the ticket I”m considering playing.

*denotes a morning line favorite

**denotes a horse I’m using in my Pick Five ticket

1st Leg:  Laurel Park Race 10

  • #8 Control System (8/5*)**
  • #2 Baby Bird (6/1)**
  • #3 For Kisses (10/1)**

The first leg of the Magna Pick Five sequence is the 10th and final race from Laurel Park.  This just so happens to be a rather interesting race for the 55th running of the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap.  The Barbara Fritchie is a $300,000 7 furlong race over the main track at Laurel for fillies and mares 3 years old and upward.   The winner of last year’s edition of the Barbara Fritchie, Oprah Winnie is one of the contenders listed today, but ultimately I sided against the New-York bred mare due to her recent form, which hasn’t been anything near like what she was running when she entered this race in 2007.   She is an accomplished sprinter though, and if the odds are right will be worth a saver win bet.  For the multi-race exotic wager we are playing, I settled on #8 Control System, who really hasn’t run a bad race yet in her career while tallying a 5 for 7 lifetime win record.  The added furlong will be something folks looking to beat her will rightly point out, but I just couldn’t pass on her recent form when coupled with bullet workouts.  #2 Baby Bird came up as my second choice largely due to the switch to Horacio Koramanos (one of my favorite jockeys on the circuit)and the addition of blinkers for today’s race.   This might be a risky play though as the only attempt at 7 furlongs I can see in the past performances was by far her worst effort.  Maybe she’ll relax today though with the blinkers and be able to get out to an early lead.  If so, you’ve always got to consider those types.  #3 For Kisses should be rolling late.  I thought of leaving this one off the ticket to keep it cheaper but the moves from 8th to first 3 races back and 6th to 1st two races back made me think otherwise.  If you’re playing a single race exotic on this one, don’t forget about #4 Golden Dawn who looks pretty darn sharp right now.  I wouldn’t worry too much about shipping in from NY or running over the Laurel track for the first time as she’s given a good account of herself nearly everywhere she’s run.  If the odds are right this one might also be worth a saver win bet.  It was very hard to leave her off the Pick 5 ticket.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Friday Laurel Park Selections – 2/14/2008

14 02 2008
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Friday brings with the prospect of a long 3 day weekend for many of us that get to enjoy President’s day away from the office.  We’re right smack dab in the middle of the exciting Kentucky Derby prep races, but I’m going to step away for a moment and spend a day playing my local Laurel Park on Friday.  I haven’t shown any love and attention to Laurel in a bit and I was starting to feel like a prodigal son.  We’ve got nine races on the card, all of which over the main dirt track.   Let’s et started, shall we?

Race 1

  • #1 Call The Rocket/ #1A Zero Coupon (7/2)
  • #5 Basha’s Commander (3/1)
  • # 4 Seek Peace (5/2*)

We start the day with a 6 furlong $25k maiden claimer for 3 year olds.  #1 Call the Rocket and #1A Zero Coupon make up the coupled entry that I took as my top choice.  The workouts on Call the Rocket in particular looked pretty good to me.  I’m guessing one of these might scratch as Abel Castellano Jr. is listed as the jockey on both mounts.  #5 Basha’s Commander is a Michael Trombetta trained colt that has some nice workouts in the bag.  Julien Pimentel seems to be a go-to jockey for Trombetta and he takes the reins today.   Trombetta, it should be noted, is a ridiculous 30% with 1st time starters.  #4 Seek the Peace is the 5/2 morning line favorite, but I usually try to beat favorites if I can in cheap maiden claimers.  He did have a solid debut  where he relinquished the lead late and has as good a chance as any to move forward today.  To be honest I only chose him in 3rd place because he was the favorite.  I’ve got ersatz heroism in the opening race on a card.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Saturday Laurel Park Selections – 1/12/08

12 01 2008
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It’s been a long week, and thankfully the weekend has arrived!  With all of the uncertainty surrounding the current situation at Santa Anita, I thought it best to stick with the local track at Laurel for Saturday’s selections.   We’ve got 10 races on the card, highlighted by the What a Summer stakes for $80,000.  

Race 1

  • #2 Western Missile (5/1)
  • #5 Ballen Isle (9/5)
  • #1 Anxious (8/5*)

The first race is an open $10k claimer going 7 furlongs over the dirt track.  There seems to be a decent amount of pace on the card,  and even though the surface has seemed to favor inside speed horses (hat tip to Phil J), I thought the horses coming off the pace had the best chance here.   #2 Western Missile could sit a nice stalking trip today behind the pace.  He draws a favorable post position on the rail and is 3 for 4 lifetime at Laurel Park.  Obviously that last race was troublesome for him, but it’s nice to see him sent back right away here.  #5 Ballen Isle is very interesting.  The only winner last time out in the entire field ships in for the Capuano barn and is flattered by Jeremy Rose taking the reins.  A nice workout on 12/28 shows he’s in fine condition.   His last 3 efforts at this distance have looked very good for this field.  #1 Anxious is a worthy favorite at 8/5 largely because he’s shown some guts in the stretch.  Scott Lake drops him from $14k into this event and he should find himself on the lead, but I expect him to get some pressure up front.   Read the rest of this entry »


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Saturday Laurel Park Selections – 1/5/08

4 01 2008
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Race 1

  • #3 Natural Seven (3/1)
  • #5 Smokey Junior (5/2*)
  • #2 Regulation (7/2)

The first race is a $15k  N2L claimer going 5  1/2 furlongs over the  main track.  It looks like we have plenty of zip signed on for this sprint.  I went with #3 Natural Seven as my top choice as I really like the move he made 2 races back to go from 8th to 2nd when it counted.  If he tries for the front today he’s probably toast, but if he rates a bit he has a shot.  #5 Smokey Junior is the fastest of the fast on paper.  Further, he picks up Pino today who is one of the top riders on the grounds.   #2 Regulation has won off a rest before.  Note that he was sandwiched in between repeat winners in that last effort. 

Race 2

  • #6 A Plus Student (5/2*)
  • #5 Orlop (5/1)
  • #1 Irish Colony (3/1)

The second race on the card is arguably the most wide open.  We’ve got a $5000 claimer going 7 furlongs here over the main track and just about anyone entered could win.  I went with #6 A Plus Student tops after forgiving that last effort.   I like the addition of Napravnik and the cut back to 7 furlongs today.  He seemed to have been well on his way to 3 straight victories before stopping last time out.  #5 Orlop exits a victory against N2Y types last out.  Trainer B. Feliciano is hitting at 31% off the claim and already is familiar with this one.   #1 Irish Colony is a bit of a “back class” play here.  He seems to have dropped to the appropriate level to be competitive today.  Still, he needs to show some life in the stretch to have a chance and may be better used as an underneath play on the trifectas.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Friday Laurel Park Selections – 1/4/08

3 01 2008
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Ah sweet Friday!   It’s been a short week at work for me and I’m looking forward to this weekend with eager anticipation.   I’m focusing on Laurel Park for the moment and wanted to share my selections for Friday’s racing action at the Maryland track.  We’ve got 9 races today, mostly of the lower claiming variety.   I haven’t finalized my pick 4 and pick 6 tickets yet, but wanted to get these selections out while time permits.   With any luck we’ll build some bankroll here after having a chronic case of seconditis Thursday over at Santa Anita. 

Race 1:

  • #5 Ferrous (9/5*)
  • #1 Catiolicia (3/1)
  • #4 Cap’ N Jack (8/1)

The first race at Laurel is a $25k maiden claimer going 1 mile over the main track.  I like the favorite #5 Ferrous in here by a slight margin.  He ran second last time out at the same level and has a legitimate shot to wire the field in the opener if he break out to the lead.  #1 Catiolicia adds Nick Santagata after finishing 2nd at the $16k level.   I tend to play horses that have run 2nd in maiden claimers quite frequently.  #4 Cap’ N Jack rounds out my selections after adding blinkers and dropping in from a special weight race last time out.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Laurel Park Selections – Thursday 12/27/07

27 12 2007
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Well, if you were playing along with us yesterday you know all too well that we took a pretty rough beating at Santa Anita on opening day yesterday.  Thankfully a merciful god has granted us one day of respite with which to regroup and make a determined stand on Friday.   In the meantime, I thought today gave me an opportunity to cover my local track at Laurel Park.  As always, make sure to check into late scratches/equipment changes as for whatever reason my horses at Laurel seem to scratch from races with frightening frequency.   Now it’s time for my gratuitous bastardization of a Shakespeare quote within my handicapping selections:  What’s that? Wishest thou less horses would scratch?  Pray thee cousin wish not one horse more!  I would not bet in that horse’s company who fears his fellowship to race with us!!!”

 Okay, that was painfully bad so let’s just jump right into the picks shall we?  I didn’t formulate any multi-race exotics because I noticed a typo in the DRF which claimed the pick 6 was races “6 through 11″ – but there are only 9 races on the card.  I can only assume the pick 6 is races 4 through 9, but I didn’t really have a ton of time this morning to confirm.   Apparently it was much more important that I watch Bearenstein Bears videos with my son this morning.   :-) Read the rest of this entry »


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Laurel Park Pick 6 Selections – Thursday 12/13/07

12 12 2007

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Thursday afternoon brings us a chance at glory thanks to the $.50 Pick 6 pool at Laurel Park.  I typically shy away from Pick 6 plays because I don’t have the stomach to wager such large sums of money.  I’m more of a “bet a little to win a lot” type of player.  It makes things much easier on your checking account and keeps your wife from encouraging you to find a new hobby.  Typically combinations on the pick 6 ticket at many tracks are $1 and even $2 minimums.  Fifty cents helps turn the pick 6 into essentially the same price as our usual pick 4 tickets.   I’ve put together a $48 ticket that starts off 3 deep and then gives us coverage with 2 horses in each of the final 5 legs in the race sequence.   Be sure to check for scratches and other program changes prior to placing any bets, as the weather could get nasty tomorrow and the entire card may change dramatically.  I’ve gone in with the idea that conditions will be something less than ideal tomorrow.   Sleet and freezing rain are in the forecast for Baltimore.  Read the rest of this entry »


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