Weekend Handicapping at Belmont

SUBURBAN PICKS: 5 ,1 Exacta; 5,1,4 Trifecta and 5 to Win; you gotta like a horse (Rathor) that has won twice on this track and going with the hottest jockey (Coa) at Belmont...solid choice, probably at a short price though so play the exotics with 5 on top.

Bonus Pick: #2 Bushfire to Win the Mother Goose

Hump Day Happenings

Wow, seems like a long week, probably because I have some time off next week with Independance day and some vacation time and also looking forward to a nice week-end of racing and possibly a trip up to Churchill Downs.

I must not have been paying attention but the NTRA website has snuck in some pretty cool content lately. It seems the stories are being updated daily, the race pages have an interactive Fan picks section that I had not noticed before and they are posting more and more race replays and videos....very nice. Has anyone else noticed this stuff or has it been there for a while and it just caught my attention?

Bandini is apparently out of the Suburban because of "filling in his right front leg"--does anyone know what that is? I have not heard that term before. Still looks to be a pretty solid field.

Well, I will be sure to have my picks up by Friday so everyone knows who will place on Saturday! Happy Hump Day, it's downhill the rest of the week!

Suburban Nominations ---WOW!

Wow, this coming Saturday's Suburban Stakes (Gr1 1 1/4 mi ) has got a great field shaping up.
Andromeda's Hero, Sun King, Wilco, Bandini, Noble Causeway. This will make for some serious handicapping this week after goofing off all last week. Plus it looks like ESPN has coverage beginning at 5pm. I believe this may call for a road trip to Churchill, take in some live ponies and play the Suburban as a bonus!

Saratoga, Arlington, Del Mar...which summer circuit do you play?

With June rapidly rolling by and the focus of racing moving out of Kentucky my attention begins to roam and last summer I could never really get focused on trying to follow one particular track. I have never been to Saratoga, Arlington or Del Mar, although they all three look very worthy of a visit, but last summer I did manage to take in some races at Keeneland OTB and on TVG and I tried to focus on Del Mar and I began to learn a little about some of the trainers and idiosyncracies of that meet and had some moderate wagering luck. This summer, I am hoping to be a bit more focused so I am wondering what other handicappers out there do during the dog days of summer? Do you focus on a particular track? If so, which one and why? Also, if you have been to any of the three, I am interested in your recommendations. I am very intrigued and tempted to go up to Saratoga although the easiest track for me to visit may very well be Arlington Park. Thanks again to anyone who takes time to post some info.

"Stephen Foster Super Saturday" at Churchill Downs.

Lots of Grade 2's, lotsa good horses running all day like Private Vow, High Cotton, Oonagh Maccool, Buzzards Bay, Brass Hat and toss in a Grade 1 worth $750,000 and you have a helluva day of racing this Saturday at Churchill Downs!

I understand Perfect Drift has been training great and I like Brass Hat and all of his connections but not sure he is ready to win in his first trip back from Dubai. I have always liked Buzzards Bay but I don't like the #1 post at Churchill in a big field. That said I am going with #7 Perfect Drift (5-1) to Win and toss a couple of dollars chasing the Trifecta:
7-1-9
7-10-9

However you play it, Have some fun!

Which Subscription?

Fellow readers, TBA Bloggers and anyone who might read this and venture an opionion. I would appreciate in hearing comments on which magazine/website do you pay a subscription to that covers Thoroughbred Racing? I currently subscribe to the BloodHorse $99/yr print and $89/yr electronic, which I have enjoyed but I have also found myself reading the DRF online$99/yr and enjoyed the print edition at the track as well. Also, Thoroughbred Times $105/print pluse email newsletter, had been sending me the newsletter free for a couple of months that had a lot of great info. So, those are really the three front-runners but given limited time and not unlimied funds I really want to settle on one subscripion as my BloodHorse is up for renewal soon and I am just wondering what everyone else reads. Maybe there is something else out there that I don't even know about. Thanks for any comments.

Buzzards Bay to run in Stephen Foster this week-end

Always nice to see a horse you made some $$ on (think 2005 Santa Anita Derby and 30-1) make a return to the track. It's also great to see that the competition will include Brass Hat, another sentimental favorite. The article mentions the decision to ship Buzzards Bay included the Louisville weather forecast for Saturday which the NTRA article quoted as being "mild". Uh oh, while the weather in KY has been GREAT lately (80/55 with NO humidity) this Saturday is supposed to be 94 and humid! Ouch. This might be one to watch in the a/c! Finally, from the obscure links department: an unforgettable line in the movie Tombstone featuring Stephen "freaking" Foster.

Belmont Picks

I know I shouldn't but I will play an exotic as I think this is Sunriver's race to lose and he may well be the post time favorite...
so, with that said.....

2(Sunriver)-8(Jazil)-11(Steppenwolfer) Trifecta

6 (Oh So Awesome) Win-Place-Show (just in case)

(Peb's cartoons are great!)

138th running of the Belmont Stakes, June 10th, 2006

The field of 12 is set and post positions drawn. It has the making of an exciting race. I am a bit surprised Jazil is 10-1. SunRiver with Bejarano up at 4-1 may be my favorite and Deputy Glitters at 15-1 with Prado aboard may well be the live longshot, especially the way he is training lately and with Prado due for some good luck. Anyway you slice it, looks like there will be some value in this race too which only adds to the excitement. It is still a little early in the week yet and my analysis has been sparce (althought many who read my site and my selections may note that my analysis is always a bit sparce!) so no ticket worked out just yet. The field and info on the race can be found at the Belmont Stakes site
I think I have it worked out to head out to Keeneland for some simulcast wagering and a fun day checking out the renovations and enjoying the weather and the festivities surrounding the final leg of the Triple Crown.

I will be posting my ticket on Friday....after I check out my fellow TBA handicappers!

Lost in the Fog wins again

You have to like this horse, still running at 4, a crusty owner who is refreshingly not worried about being politically correct when being interviewed, and a helluva bargain at his $48,000 purchase price. The 1 1/4 length win over Kelly's Landing in this past Saturday's Aristedes Breeders Cup Handicap, is his "comback" win that might help catapault him into this coming November's Breeders Cup sprint, right back here at Churchill. Next up, according to his trainer Greg Gilchrist, is the $500,000 Smile Sprint Handicap on the July 15 Summit of Speed program at Calder. So we can look forward to that and any other interviews from owner Harry Aleo!

Horses helping soldiers

I came across this story by Stephen Manning. Apparently, horseback riding is helping soldiers who have lost limbs in Iraq regain their balance and mobiliy. The story says it is a pilot program but that the motion of riding a horse helps the wounded soldiers strengthen hip muscles and forces them to balance to stay on the horse and that eventually helps them regain their ability to walk with their artificial limbs. The full story is here.