Monday with some thoughts on the Risen Star, be back on Wednesday for Thursday’s racing…
Great week for TOP RATED horse’s on the JJPP-PLUS, especially if they had a V or a STAR*, earlier in the week Jazz Band Joe rocked the house as a $75.00 win price and then on Saturday, Spartiatis dominated paying a whopping $40.00. The really nice aspect to both of these was they not only had enough to make them TOP Rated, but they also had my fabulous Handicapping Alerts…
TheRisen Star Stakes at The Fair Grounds was run in a slightly slowish clocking — relative to other races — on a track that seemed a little on the faster side. Considering the type of Speed Figures others are running around the country, this race was NOT spectacular. But it really doesn’t have to be, it’s really just a stepping stone in the ongoing development cycle. Gun Runner seems to be a very nice horse, but at this point, based upon his best speed figures is about 12 lengths behind Nyquist and Mohaymen and Mor Spirit, while only a couple of lengths behind a nice colt like Smokey Image. He certainly could develop in the next few weeks to be competitive with them, so we will continue to look him over as he tries to qualify for the KD…
3 year olds that rate!
- Nyquist
- Mohaymen
- Mor Spirit
- Smokey Image
As you all know — I am goo-goo-gah-gah over Nyquist, even though he won the BC JUVY, which has proved to be a real negative in the form cycle of Kentucky Derby hopefuls. But I really don’t care. BUT – and the truth always follows the BUT — we have another monster in Mohaymen. I can’t help but believe this is setting up much like Affirmed and Alydar and then Believe It. Nobody under 50 even remembers Believe It. Woody Stephens describe Believe It as the strongest horse he was ever around! And yet he was always chasing Alydar and then Affirmed and Alydar home — never to catch them…something like a bad dream.
Without any question, as far as I can see, the greatest rivalry by a couple of furlongs was Affirmed and Alydar. To me they were both Triple Crown Winners, by just an inch or so, Affirmed was the better horse.
So here we have the same situation, Nyquist, the more handy horse, should be able to attend any pace scenerio and either Mohaymen or Mor Spirit can play Alydar to Nyquist’s imitation of Affirmed. In this scenerio, can Alydar finally get the nod — maybe — we shall see…
Bias Report for Saturday:
Aqueduct: Again, track seems to have returned to HONEST…
Santa Anita : Horse’s seemed to enjoy all trips, some nice runs wide in the sprints but I think we will go with HONEST
Race Day Plays for Saturday:
Aqueduct: Race #9 — Spartiatis — off at 19/1, broke sharply , ran aggressively to fight for the front, while on the outside,assumed a narrow lead turning for home– then resolutely to maintain his advantage…Winning and paying $40.00
Santa Anita: Race #5 — Family Code – off at 3/1 — alert beginning, attended the pace while tracking Tough But Nice, ran on for 3rd, while never threatening the winner.
ROI = 1.22 Total Plays = 60, —- wins = 14, —– place = 7, —– Total exacta 11/60
Total return $147.00
Total Cost $120.00