01-09-2016

California Chrome returns today at likely odds on in what could be considered a prep. If he wins everyone will say told you so on his class and if he does not excuses will be made that this was a prep race etc etc. Back under the excellent guidance of trainer Sherman after last years fiasco the question is do you want value? Races such as this are ones where I like to take a stand against and shop for price. #5 Hoppertunity always seems to play second fiddle to other horses. Always in the money he is a must use in exotics however, and if a pace battle upfront develops this may be picture day. IF rain hits an absolute bomb to watch is #7 Mystery Train with Smith riding, the reason being in 3 off track races he has two wins and a second. At this distance he has two seconds from 3 starts. Chrome likes the lead and Smith will gun from the outside at the gate on Train. If Chrome gets uncomfortable or jets too fast with Train it could really set the race up for many of the closers in here. #8 Imperative scratched from an easier race yesterday to race in this G2 today. Baltas can do no wrong these days. My ticket set up today looks a little top heavy in a race where 90% of tickets will be singling Chrome and that is the reason why! If we can get out of the 1st leg and survive the last leg of $8k claimers we should be in good shape for either a chalk pay or a monster pay!

Today’s Late Pick 4 will cost $32 with horses listed in preference.

4,7

3,4,6,5

5,8,4,3

4,3

When I have three horses selected in a Pick 4 or Pick 5 consider them for Trifecta boxes and for superfecta boxes use the 3 selections with the highest priced horse with good form or top tier jockeys riding, especially if they give a price. Rolling Pick 3 and doubles using selections.

Irish horse racing saying –

“Bíonn grásta Dé idir an dialait agus an talamh.”

“The grace of God is found between the saddle and the ground.”