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Courtesy of Mike Dempsey

Here is today's opening race from Aqueduct to get our day off to a good start:

AQU Race 1 Clm $7,500B (1:00 ET)

#6 Foolish Vow 6/1
#5 King Bo Bo 2/1
#8 New Spirit 5/1
#1 Smarty Karakorum 3/1


Analysis: #6 Foolish Vow makes his first start since last October for the Conway barn. The gelding owns solid early and mid pace numbers and has run well over a wet track with a trio of runner up finishes and a third in four trips on off going. The barn can win off the shelf and with his last three starts coming at Finger Lakes he may get overlooked on the tote today.
#5 King Bo Bo drops out of a $25K non winners of three where he tracked a solid pace and weakened to finish fifth. His form appears to be going in the wrong direction, but he is bred top and bottom for a wet track and has landed in the exacta in three of four trips on off going. The gelding is dropping into a soft spot.


Wagering

WIN: #6 to win at 7/2 or better.
EX: 5,6 / 1,5,6,8
TRI: 5,6 / 1,5,6,8 / 1,3,5,6,8


Today's Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 9 Cicada Stakes G3 (4:50 ET)

#3 Female Drama 9/2
#4 Liam's Dream 4/1
#8 Bickersons 7/5
#6 Seaside Fortune 15/1

Analysis: #3 Female Drama lost all chance last out when getting bumped and pinched back coming out of the gate, spotting the pacesetter about five lengths as she broke dead last and never got involved. She won her first two starts in gate to wire fashion, taking the Wings Jove two back at Belmont Park. She got a break after her last start and put in decent works at Palm Meadows for Pletcher, who has been on fire at the inner meet, hitting at a 38% clip. She broke her maiden in the slop in her debut, and she figures to bounce back with a much better effort here.
#4 Liam's Dream came up the inside with a mild late run to finish third last out in the Forward Gal (G2), no match for #8 Bickersons, who came back with a clunker as the chalk in the Davona Dale (G2). I liked her Alw-1 win two back at Philly and the Tony D. barn thought enough of her to be one of the shippers he sent to Florida. She has a decent off track pedigree

Wagering

WIN: #3 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 3,4 / 3,4,6,8
TRI: 3,4 / 3,4,6,8 / 1,3,4,6,8

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Tampa Bay Downs:

TAM Race 11 Tampa Bay Derby G3 (5:30 ET)


#3 Gleam of Hope 15/1
#7 Odysseus 7/2
#5 Schoolyard Dreams 3/1
#6 Super Saver 2/1

#3 Gleam of Hope came with a five wide rally and finished up well for second in a handicap at Tampa on the turf in his three-year-old debut, not getting much pace to run at. He looks like his real future is on dirt, and he won the Cradle Stakes over a wet track at River Downs last fall. If we ignore the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) non effort this colt looks pretty good. The colt is in a sharp barn and is a half to stakes winner Forest Princess ($303K) who did her best work going long on dirt. The colt popped another bullet drill on March 10 and should be a big price in here.
#7 Odysseus looks better with each outing, rolling over a field of Alw-1 optional claimers last out and earning a career top speed fig in the effort,. His first go around two turns. While the effort looks very good, he really did not beat a very tough group. I am stilt inking this guy still has some upside potential and has posted a couple of good works over at Palm Meadows since his last outing. He looks primed for another good effort in his third start of his current form cycle

Wagering

WIN: #3 to win at 8/1 or better.
EX: 3,7 / 3,5,6,7
TRI: 3,7 / 3,5,6,7 / 1,3,5,6,7

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Oaklawn Park:

OP Race 10 Rebel Stakes G2 (5:47 CT)


#4 Uh Oh Bango 5/1
#7 Dublin 3/1
#2 Lookin At Lucky 7/5
#6 Noble’s Promise 5/2

#4 Uh Oh Bango might really get overlooked in here, and the colt did not run a bad one in five starts as a two year old, capped off with a game second, beaten a neck behind Rule in the Delta Jackpot (G3). Rule came back to win the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs and looks like a serious Derby contender. Our top pick was a good second two back in the Iroquois, beaten just a length, finishing ahead of #7 Dublin in that outing. The colt is a half to stakes winner Ez Dreamer, who was mainly a sprinter but did win going long a couple of times.
#7 Dublin was a good second last out behind the gate to wire winner Conveyance in the Southwest (G3) in his three-year-old debut. The colt has the pedigree to be a nice runner. The $525K purchase is by Afleet Alex out of the multiple stakes winner Classy Mirage ($717K) who also produced stakes winner Mike’s Classic ($328K). The Hopeful (G1) winner popped a couple of bullet works since his last start and has an advantage over “Lucky” and “Promise” by having a race over the surface.

Wagering

WIN: #4 to win at 9/2 or better.
EX: 4,7 / 2,4,6,7
TRI: 4,7 / 2,4,6,7 / 2,4,5,6,7

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Santa Anita:

SA Race 9 San Felipe Stakes G2 (4:36 PT)

#4 American Lion 4/1
#7 Caracortdo 5/2
#5 Sidney’s Candy 3/1
#2 Interactif 4/1

#4 American Lion gets the call to turn the tables today in a tough race with little separating the top four. Last out the colt battled for the early lead and ran out of gas late in a third place finish. The blinkers go on today and he is making his second start off a three month break. #5 Sidney’s Candy looks quick, which should put Leparoux in a good spot tracking the early pace. The colt should move forward second off the layoff and figures to be a decent enough price.
#7 Caracortado is undefeated and I underestimated how good this guy is when he won the Robert B. Lewis last out at 9/2. His earlier efforts are starting to look better. His win two back was flattered when the runner up Alphie’s Bet came back to win the Sham Stakes on March 6. Things set up for him pretty good last out in the Lewis, and I am not sure he is going to offer much value for the top spot unless the Pletcher colt is drilled at the windows.

Wagering

WIN: #4 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 4,7 / 2,4,5,7
TRI: 4,7 / 2,4,5,7 / 2,4,5,6,7

Live Longshots:

These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.

Aqueduct

R2: #2 String and Arrows 12/1
R4: #6 No Questions 10/1
R5: #8 Hurricane Heat 8/1
R6: #3 Afrikaner 8/1
R7: #3 Emblemosophy 20/1
R8: #5 Bowman’s Music 8/1
R9: #6 Seaside Fortune 15/1
R10: #9 Lindsey’s Buck 12/1

Good luck today!

AQU Saturday

8th (4:21)
6 Furlongs | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up Claiming ($7,500) | Purse: $12,000

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 1 Winitback Bocachica O Grusmark Karl M 123 $7,500 L 12-1
2 2 Brendan's Warrior Jara F McGillycuddy K L 120 $7,500 L 15-1
3 3 Love of Life Serpa A Lotruglio Edward 115 5 $7,500 L 12-1
4 4 Crazy Charlie Napravnik A R Aquilino Joseph 120 $7,500 Blk-Off L 5-1
5 5 Bowman's Music Migliore R House Brian S 120 $7,500 L 8-1
6 6 Bold Vindication Cohen D Autrey Cody 120 $7,500 L 3-1
7 7 Fortyninegeorgest. Luzzi M J Dutrow Sydney 120 $7,500 L 4-1
8 8 Carter's Store Chavez J F Contessa Gary C 120 $7,500 L 10-1
9 9 We Get It Bermudez J E Gullo Gary P 120 $7,500 L 6-1
10 10 Lincoln Road Gracia J A Hull Michael D 110 10 $7,500 L 30-1

Exacta, Trifecta, Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (8-10), Daily Double Wagers

Brian Blessing's Pick's 6-5-3

Bold Vindication goes second off the claim for trainer Cody Autrey and Cohen stays aboard. He will be very tough to deny late in this dash

GPX Saturday

3rd (2:12)
1 Mile | Fillies and Mares | 3 Year Olds And Up Claiming ($20,000 - $15,000) | Purse: $18,500

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 1 Rich Marquet Fuentes R D Negrete Javier 122 $20,000 L 12-1
2 2 Loquacious Lil Castanon J L Serpe Philip M 122 $20,000 L 5-2
3 3 Asiatic Pearl Ayarza I Mondol Eduardo 122 $20,000 L 20-1
4 4 Ailbe Cruz M R Doyle Michael J 122 $20,000 Blk-On L 3-1
5 5 Night Pearl Lopez P Plesa Edward Jr 114 $20,000 L 8-1
6 6 Chapel Affair Trujillo E Plesa Edward Jr 122 $20,000 L 6-1
7 7 Longlastinglove Saez L Pilotti Larry 117 5 $20,000 L 6-1
8 8 Street Sign Arguello F A Jr Huffman Pat 122 $20,000 L 20-1
9 9 One Hot Toddy Prado E S Walder Peter R 122 $20,000 L 4-1

Exacta / Trifecta / Superfecta / 10 Cent Superfecta / Daily Double (Races 3&4) Bet 3 (Races 3-4-5)

Battagliaspicks 9-2-7

#9 One Hot Toddy- Has shown vast improvement since adding the blinkers. She was claimed out of her last race and new trainer is haivng his usual stellar meet here. He wins at 30% with his new claims first out. He has given her 2 months off and he will have her at her best today.

Free play for Saturday

SA 5th (2:34)

1 1/16 Miles (All Weather Track) | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up Allowance Optional Claiming ($62,500) | Purse: $52,000

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 1 One Track Mind Baze T C Bernstein David 119 L 8-1
2 2 Tap It Light Rosario J Mitchell Mike 119 L 6-1
3 3 Euroglide Baze M C Eurton Peter 119 $62,500 L 8-1
4 4 Cape Truth Talamo J O'Neill Doug 119 L 15-1
5 5 Joshua's Dream Espinoza V Hollendorfer Jerry 119 L 6-1
6 6 Mr. Big Smith M E Baffert Bob 119 L 6-1
7 7 Glowing Praise (GB) Leparoux J R Harty Eoin 119 L 6-1
8 8 Viscount Garcia M Baffert Bob 119 L 4-1
9 9 Massone Bejarano R McAnally Ronald 119 L 7-2

$1 Exacta / $1 Trifecta $2 Rolling Double / $1 Pick Three (Races 5-6-7) $2 Pick Six Starts (Races 5-10) / $1 Superfecta (.10 Min.)

Battagliaspicks 1-9-8

#1 One Track Mind- loves this distance, is the only speed in here and gets a big jockey change. This track has finally turned to a speed biased one and he will never look back.

Oaklawn Park

10th (5:47)
Rebel S.na D Wayne 117 L 3-1

First Half Late Daily Double / Exacta / 50 Cent Trifecta / 10 Cent Superfecta

Battagliaspicks 7-2-6
#7 Dublin- 500k colt was rank and resented the riders attempt to rate him early last out. He did get into stride on the turn, changed leads and came running to get second just missing in a grade III last out. He gets a big rider change and more distance and could pull the upset on the big 7-5 favorite.

As we approach a great day of racing.na on January 28, 2010, in Houston, Tx. The service will take
place in the Racing Club on the fifth floor at Turfway Park following the races on
Saturday, March 13. Racetrack chaplains Ken Boehm and Tom Farley as well as
Father Frank Niehaus will preside. Pat Day will offer a prayer in Justin's memory.
All friends and family of Justin are invited to attend the service.
Justin's last win was aboard multiple stakes winner Timeless Fashion. The gelding has
been nominated to the Tejano Run Stakes at Turfway Park on the 13th, with jockey
James Lopez to ride. If he enters and wins, owners Judy Miller and Bob Liedel, trainer
Tom Drury and Lopez will donate 10 percent of their winnings to the Bree Vitek
Education Trust Fund. Bree is Justin's six-year-old daughter and only child.
"It's just our way of giving a little back to the guy who gave us everything he had, every
time," said Miller, an owner and friend for whom Justin rode regularly.
Florence mayor Diane Whalen and Kentucky state senator Damon Thayer have both
made official proclamations that March 13 be declared "Justin John Vitek Day" in the
City of Florence and in the Senate.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to The Bree Vitek
Education Trust, 7601 Rialto Blvd. #1717, Austin, TX 78735 or The Don MacBeth
Memorial Jockey Fund, P.O. Box 18470, Encino, CA 91416.

I know Freaks Forum will follow my lead to help this child. Thanks!

Since AQU has cancelled today here's a bonus from ol'Barney

Oaklawn Park from Backstretch Barney

8th HONEYBEE STAKES

#1 No Such Word (5-1) Barney's LongShot Special -- Not sure this Filly Wins, but would put in Exacters, Trifectlys, etc. Trainer's husband has Won this Stakes last two years in a row. But like Barney, he retired last year and handed the reins over to his Top Assistant , his wife, Cindy. She has taken her time with this Filly before trying on the "Big Girls". A couple of nifty works since winning last race, 1st attempt at two turns. And keep in mind, Jones was known for his Training skills with Fillys. Mite be "Out Classed" today...mite not be. Your call...
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