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Horse Racing Form - December 15, 2008Yesterday at Sunland Park in New Mexico, the mare "Pepper's Pride" won her 19th straight race with ridiculous ease, winning off by just under five lengths. Her connections have indicated that it may have been her final start. This record will probably not be approached again for some time - if ever. Congratulations to everyone connected with her care and training. Aqueduct is now on it's annual short Holiday break and will not resume live action until the day after Christmas. We'll still be offering five races daily with most at and around mid to late afternoon. Today's Newsletter will have five races, two from Philadelphia Park and three from Calder. The Best Bet is #8 Sir James in Race #8 at Calder. Sunday's Results: Aqueduct Race #7 Ex. (3-2) $78.50.  Today's Horse Racing Picks: Top pick: #1 (TIDY UP) - Useful runner on all surfaces seems to like the turf best, and that's where he is today. He's won five of his last nine on the grass and today he'll be going third time back off a three-month break. The choice for the win. 2nd pick: #8 (Mecke Me Free) - Local runner loves this course (four for eight ) and will be dropping slightly off his last win. Hard to see him not being a major force here. 3rd pick: #2 (Highland Cat) - Won at the Meadowlands two back at this distance on the grass and tried the dirt in his latest which he clearly doesn't like. Late factor. PHILADELPHIA PARK Race #7 at 2:55 PM Eastern Top pick: #9 (BALOOBAS) - Filly will be moving from one sharp barn to another (Pete Walder to Scott Lake). On the sidelines since October 20, she will drop in for a tag for the first time since breaking her maiden. Training in fine fashion, Lake does good things with this type of returnee. 2nd pick: #8 (Biddy's Gap) - Well-bred and lightly raced, she was claimed two back by the high profile Mike Gill operation and promptly finished second in a starter allowance first off the buy. Has good speed to use and she's improving at this stage. Dangerous. 3rd pick: #1 (Smartini) - She's had five weeks since her last start and this filly fits "snuggly" with this group. Has both speed and the ability to rate and she's positioned on the rail. She'll run well for a good barn (Tim Ritchey). 4th pick: #7 (Basket Stitch) - Chased the pace in the mud at Delaware last out and tired badly, with "Smartini" going past her late to beat her by almost seven lengths. Pace factor and maybe more. CALDER Race #7 at 3:10 PM Eastern Top pick: #8 (SOUL SPIRIT) - He'll be trying conventional dirt for the first time after spending his entire career at Woodbine. He's with a very sharp trainer (Brian Lynch) and his recent "dirt" drills are encouraging. Takes a drop in class, so this must be where Lynch thinks he belongs on this surface. 2nd pick: #2 (James Wilfred) - "Haltered" out of an easy win last out by a good claiming trainer (Aubrey Maragh), he runs him back at the same tag and he should run well. 3rd pick: #7 (Fly With the Wind) - Stretches-out today after hitting the board in two of three at shorter distances since a claim by Steve Sandridge three back. May sneak away at a square price. CALDER Race #8 at 3:40 PM Eastern Top pick: #8 (SIR JAMES) - Turf try last out may have been nothing more than a conditioning race off a two-month layoff. Drops and moves back to the dirt where he has run well against tougher in all his starts. The choice, but at a short price. 2nd pick: #5 (King's Fleet) - Broke slowly in his debut yet still rallied late to finish second. He's raised in value today and gets blinkers added. Factor, but an alert getaway is imperative. 3rd pick: #7 (Silver Power) - Ran big off a rest two back, but followed that up with a "poor" effort next out. Starts were pretty much back-to-back, so his connections have given him more time between races today. PHILADELPHIA PARK Race #9 at 3:50 PM Eastern Top pick: #6 (DR. BALIN) - Drops back into a claimer after a wide try in the mud at the MSW level on November 25. He finished a strong second two back in a much tougher field than this. The choice with a "clean" trip. 2nd pick: #11 (Fire Chief Casey) - Raced evenly at Aqueduct 11 days ago in a race he may have needed badly off a six-month break. Draws a nice post and has good stalking ability. Quick turnaround for a good barn (Jim Lawrence) should be viewed as a positive. 3rd pick: #5 (Lexington Rae) - Has the most experience and he's finished in the money in four of 14 in mostly Jersey-bred affairs. Possible to crash the exacta party. 4th pick: #8 (Graziano) - Goes second back off a long layoff (six months) and will be cutting back two furlongs off the 1 1/8th mile effort. Blinkers will be added by a sharp barn (Tim Ritchey). 5th pick: #2 (Macho McGrath) - Cutsback in distance after a fine second-place finish going a mile at this tag Nov. 23. Race was his first off a three-month layoff and first for trainer Derek Ryan. Horse Racing Picks Resources:
Check out the last five Horse Racing Picks Newsletters: Horse-Racing-Picks-December-14-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-December-13-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-December-12-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-December-11-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-December-10-2008 |
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