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Mike Dempsey

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

AQU Race 1 Clm $15,000N2L (12:30 ET)
#3 Taxadame 15/1
#8 Stratton's Girl 7/2
#6 Punt's Kitty 8/5
#2 Moon Drop 5/1

#3 Taxadame is going to need to run a career top to win here, but the filly could be ready for some improvement in her second start off a 11 month layoff. Last out she lost all chance when she broke poorly, raced wide down the backstretch and was caught out even wider on the far turn, fading to finish eighth. The third place finisher in the race was Hello Gold, who came back to win at this level in her next outing on Jan. 15. Her maiden score did come on the inner last February and we should catch a generous price and would be a good way to get the day started if she fires.

#8 Stratton's Girl did not fire last out in her first go off a 2 1/2 month break for the Terranova barn. Last fall this gal put in a couple of solid efforts in a second and a third, and note that third two back came against non winners of three. She was claimed out of her last start by the Galluscio barn that is 25% winners (with a +ROI) first off the claim. She gets a jock upgrade to Ramon and catches what looks like a weak group of state breds here.

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

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 3 Correction Hcp (1:26 ET)
#5 Hold That Prospect 2/1
#2 Heaven's Voice 3/1
#3 Fascinatin' Rhythm 5/2
#1 What Time It Is 7/2

#5 Hold That Prospect makes her first start since Dec. 5 where the mare set the early fractions and weakened to finish fifth in the Garland of Roses over a sloppy surface that was playing to outside stalkers and closers. The third place finisher in the race was Distorted Passion, who returned to win the Interborough Handicap in her next outing on Jan. 1. The mare owns a good edge in early and mid pace numbers and will prove tough to catch in this spot as the short priced favorite.

#2 Heaven's Voice finished a neck behind our third choice last out in the Maryland bred Squan Song, but may be able to turn the tables on that foe and complete the exacta. She should have the jump on #3 Fascinatin' Rhythm when they turn for home.

Wagering
WIN: #5 to win at 7/5 or better.
EX: 5 / 2,3
TRI: no play

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

GP Race 8 Sunshine Millions Sprint (4:33 ET)

#6 This One’s for Phil 9/5
#3 Accredit 6/1
#4 Pa****o the Che 8/5
#2 Sneaking Uponyou 8/1

#6 This One’s for Phil returns off a two-month break and is making just his second start since last June. The gelding earned a career top winning the Dash over the main track here last January, popping a 115 Beyer. The gelding was put up in the Swale after getting bumped around and had a tough trip in the Withers where he checked in second, then had more trouble in the Woody Stephens. He came back off the bench last out with a sharp win and look like he is sitting on a big one here as he returns to his favorite surface. Dutrow put a couple of bullet works into this guy, both over the main track here.

#3 Accredit was beaten just a neck and a nose last out at Turfway Park on the poly and will appreciate the returns to conventional dirt here. Two back he was a good second in the Bet On Sunshine at Churchill Downs, a race that produced three next out stakes winners. The winner Custom for Carlos returned to win the Mr. Prospector (G3) with a 103 Beyer.

#4 Pa****o the Che was beaten just a nose last out in the Gravesand Handicap at Aqueduct behind Digger, who came back to win the Fire Plug Stakes in his next outing on Jan. 16 at Laurel Park. The Scott Lake trainee has landed in the exacta in 10 of his 12 career starts, but has now been involved in three straight photos and now starts over the sixth different racing surface over his last six outings. The colt likely goes off as the favorite here and if this guy regresses, he might be in deep waters late against a solid group here.

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

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

SA Race 8 Sunshine Millions Classic (3:38 PT)

#9 Bold Chiefain 6/1
#7 The Usual Q.T. 5/2
#8 Compari 3/1
#4 Palladio 30/1

#9 Bold Chieftain had a three race win streak snapped last out when fourth in the San Pasquel (G2), beaten two lengths for the top spot. The seven year old has lost a step or two from his younger days, but he did look good winning the Cal Cup Classic three back over the Pro Ride and he is making his third start of his current form cycle here. He certainly will offer better value than our second choice in here.

#7 The Usual Q.T. has won six in a row, all on turf, and Cassidy decided to keep the gelding home and try Pro Ride for $500,000 rather than ship top Gulfstream park for the Turf, which has a $300,000 purse. The gelding is 0 for 4 with three seconds on synthetics, all in the maiden ranks. There is no doubt this guy has come a long way since taking six tries to earn his diploma. The gelding is the logical one to beat in here but may get too much attention at the windows.

Wagering
WIN: #9 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 7,9 / 4,7,8,9
TRI: 7,9 / 4,7,8,9 / 4,7,8,9,11

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
R1: #3 Taxadame 15/1
R4: #3 Whateverittakes 10/1
R9: #6 Cathy’s Rascal 20/1

Good luck today!

Aqueduct Saturday

4th (1:55)
1 Mile | Open | 3 Year Olds Maiden Special Weight | Purse: $39,000

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 5 Leatherhead Jara F Ubillo Rodrigo A 120 L 10-1
1A 7 Adirondack Warrior Lezcano A Ubillo Rodrigo A 115 5 L 10-1
2 1 Eire's Run Cohen D Pletcher Todd A 120 L 4-1
3 2 Whateverittakes Hill C Schosberg Richard 120 L 10-1
4 3 Early Argument Napravnik A R Levine Bruce N 120 L 5-2
5 4 Thundering Roar Serpa A Hennig Mark 115 5 L 12-1
6 6 Alltiffedoff Luzzi M J Reynolds Patrick L 120 Blk-On L 8-1
7 8 Castaneda Dominguez R A Contessa Gary C 120 Blk-On L 3-1
8 9 Broadway Philly Lopez C C Bush Thomas M 120 Blk-On L 20-1
9 10 L L Flying Notes DeSouza N DeMola Joseph 120 L 12-1
10 AE Neversaywhen Dominguez R A Weaver George 120 L 5-1

A-Coupled: Leatherhead and Adirondack Warrior

Exacta, Quinella, Trifecta, Pick 3 Races (4-6), Pick 6 Races (4-9) Daily Double Wagers

Brian Blessing's Pick's 7-4-3

Cataneda adds blinkers and gets the services of Ramon Dominguez, two major changes that could put this guy in the winners circle

Gulfstream Park Saturday

7th (3:58)
1 1/16 Miles (Turf) | Fillies and Mares | 4 Year Olds And Up Allowance | Purse: $48,000

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 10 Rosie's Princess Lopez P Pinchin Jose 120 L 15-1
1A AE Ocean Harmony Saez L Alonso Enrique 115 5 L 15-1
2 1 Miss M V P Bravo J Hills Timothy A 120 L 15-1
3 2 Patti's Regal Song Cruz M R Reed Eric R 120 L 10-1
4 3 Eden's Storm Castanon J L Romans Dale 120 L 6-1
5 4 Flying Spur Velazquez J R Mott William I 120 L 3-1
6 5 Loxy Lady Garcia Alan Hennig Mark 120 L 8-1
7 6 Blushing Dixie Prado E S Weaver George 120 L 6-1
8 7 Oakshela Castro E Carroll Josie 120 L 12-1
9 8 Figlia d'Oro Leparoux J R Sheppard Jonathan E 120 L 20-1
10 9 Outstanding Henny Rose J Ritvo Timothy 120 L 20-1
11 11 Speak Easy Gal Trujillo E Wolfson Martin D 120 L 4-1
12 12 Triple Tax Exempt Castellano J J Domino Carl J 120 L 12-1
13 AE Candle Maker Garcia Alan Mott William I 120 L 5-1
14 AE Cruisin'nthebridle Leparoux J R Maker Michael J 120 L 4-1
15 AE Election Day Desormeaux K J Sheppard Jonathan E 120 L 20-1

A-Coupled: Rosie's Princess and Ocean Harmony

Exacta / Trifecta / Superfecta / 10 Cent Superfecta / Daily Double (Races 7&8) Bet 3 (Races 7-8-9) / 50 Cent Pick 4 (Races 7-8-9-10)

Battagliaspicks 5-6-11

#5 Flying Spur- trainer Mott is of to another slow start here and for him, with a barn full of million dollar horses, is becoming all to frequent. However, this filly is bred to be a champ and finished second and third to Rachel Alexandria. Her works here are great and her main competition has been running for a claiming tag. The odds maker here is horrible and 3-1 is a huge overlay.

Santa Anita

2nd (12:00)
1 Mile (Turf) | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up Allowance Optional Claiming ($25,000) | Purse: $48,000

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 1 Soul Candy Solis A Gallagher Patrick 119 L 5-1
2 2 Brushburn Sutherland C Abrams Barry 121 $25,000 L 7-2
3 3 Norvsky Baze T C Warren Donald 119 L 3-1
4 4 Runfortherosesdan Quinonez A Miller Peter 119 $25,000 L 12-1
5 5 Tamarack Smarty Talamo J Puype Mike 119 L 2-1
6 6 Renegade Storm Gomez G K Jones Martin F 119 L 5-1
7 7 Trulymet'smydaddy Smith M E Van Berg Jack C 119 L 30-1
8 8 Just Heat Valdivia J Jr Sherman Art 119 L 20-1

$1 Exacta / $1 Trifecta $2 Rolling Double / $1 Pick Three (Races 2-3-4) $1 Superfecta (.10 min)

Battagliaspicks 5-3-1

#5 Tamarack Smarty- Has drawn into some very tough races and still shows talent. He ran second to the Usual Q.T who then reeled off 5 straight wins and is the favorite in today's 8 race. He also finished second to Red Sun who is the stand out favorite in the 9th race. This one should romp over this weaker bunch.