02-11-2016

I am also including a more expensive ticket for my next few write-ups using the DRF ticket formulator that Frank Scatoni is tearing it up with lately! I will have my normal cheap ticket along with the matrix ticket for bigger punters.

We start the long racing weekend with a Hillside allowance race. #1 Hundi started slow on her Hill debut last month and rocketed home in the stretch to run second. A clean start today will be needed with the inside post. Prat rides #3 Entrechat who ran 4th behind Hundi last out off an eight month break. 2nd start and good early speed she is a must use. Bejarano rides #5 Whisk who ran 5th on the Hill in the same race as the top 2 choices off a 3 month break after being bumped early.

In race 6 the favorite is #4 Enchanting Lady from Baffert. Off since July the works are decent and her two wins were stakes wins. If she is on form she should dominate in this race. #2 Finest City ran second in a G2 here Jan 23. She cuts back slightly today but you know how I like to see 3 weeks between races. Kulija is helping the cause by putting red hot bug boy Lopez on with the weight break. #3 Codacious looks interesting here to me. A change of tactics for this late runner saw her on the lead early last out and she faltered in the stretch on turf. Prior to that she ran first with a late kick on dirt going 6f. She will have a fast pace to close into today.

We head back to the Hill for race 7 and this one looks wide open per the betting. #6 Perdona is the tepid 3-1 favorite. She finished third on the hill off a break and it was a troubled trip to say the least. #2 Bert’s Melody is coming in off 10 month layoff with solid, consistent works since mid November capped with a sharp workout last week. She is speed and her wins going long came in gate to wire fashion. #8 Wonderful Lie looks really interesting in here off two thirds on dirt recently going longer.

The final leg today is an $8k claimer just to make things interesting! The favorite here is #2 Luckbox Sam from East coast trainer Jacobson who is starting to finally get some action. The problem is Sam raced 12 days ago! Bejarano rides but damn! The second choice here is #1 El Nino Terrible who raced 11 days ago. The third choice is #7 Formally Wild who race last week! #4 Celebrity Status is a front runner who tires in the stretch. Last race he was leading from the gate into the stretch before finishing 3rd. That was going 1 1/16 so the cut back today could be beneficial. Plus the short turnaround from the other speed in here could help. With so many horses in here off short turnarounds #8 Saint Dermot returns to dirt where he has 2 wins, a second and a third. Ordinarily I would not use but he’s a closer into a race with speed and speed that just recently raced and could and should tired in the stretch.

ShowVivor Pick –  Justonemoremeeting Race 1 or The Bench Rules in race 3

Today’s Late Pick 4 will cost $18 with horses listed in preference.

1,3,5

4,3

6,8

4,2,8

Alternative Pick 4 using the DRF matrix costs $83

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.