Horse Racing Handicapping - December 16, 2007

Today Aqueduct is closed due to a winter storm, and it will remain dark until Wednesday Dec. 26 for it's annual Christmas break. We have selections from the Fair Grounds and Turfway Park today, and will continue to improvise until Aqueduct reopens. On the days they run, Fair Grounds, Tampa Bay, Calder and Turfway will be part of  the daily menu.

Today's Best Bet is # 10 Rose Blanket in Race 4 at Turfway Park.

Saturday's Results: Aqueduct Race #1 Top Pick winner #6 (Speedball Howie) Paid $7.40. 

Aqueduct Race #2 Top Pick winner #7 Saratoga Russell Paid $3. Daily Double (6-7) Paid $15.40.

Fair Grounds Race #2 Top Pick Winner #5 (Thank's Mr. G) Paid $4. Exacta Top with 3rd pick (5-6) Paid $23.40.

Today's Horse Racing Picks:

TURFWAY PARK Race #ONE (1:10 PM Eastern)

(# 9) BRIDE FOUR A GROOM - Filly makes her first start since a good run on this track at this tag on Sept. 26. Working well for the return and she may have some sharp speed to display today.

(# 11) Buddha Lisa - Blinkers go on for trainer Mike Tammaro. Shortens up in distance and also drops in value. Longer event last out should have her much more fit.

(# 10) Diva At the Top - Nice effort fresh out of the box for trainer Larry Holt. Pressed the pace the whole race and stayed on well for the place. Repeat makes her tough.

(# 4) Greenwood Lady - Daughter of "Greenwood Lake" debuts for Joe Davis off of some better than average works. Trainer is three-for-eight with firsters.

(# 1) CHOSEN WORDS - May be the fastest of these early on and he also has a bit of a class edge. This is the lowest level he has ever raced. Trainer Will Hall is having a fine year.

(# 7) Pa Kettle - Appears to be coming around after being given the late spring and summer off. Latest run here showed some positive signs and he should be tracking from just off the pace.

(# 8) Act the Part - Wide run in last his first in almost two months. Has faced tougher foes most of the year. Distance, post, and price tag all indicate he'll run well.

(# 5) Blake the Man - Doesn't have a lot of speed but is capable, at this tag and distance, of hitting the board.

(# 10) ROSE BLANKET - Won his second race at this tag and distance on opening day. Did so impressively. Returns at the same conditions excepting he will now face multiple winners. Continues to train well and can take another.

(# 3) Hold That Dancer - Just missed in latest after stalking the pace and closing late to finish second. Price and condition fit and a repeat puts him in the mix.

(# 12) Buck Warrior - Drop to this tag in last produced a second-place finish at Hoosier Park. Has faced better most of this year, and has always run well when in for $5000.

(# 9) Serviceable. - Has the most early speed and presume he'll be on top. Takes them as far as he can at a tag he is very familiar with.

(# 6) SEVENTYTIMESSEVEN - Blinkers come off for Samuel Breaux, a move that produces winners at a 31% rate. Excellent try in last, finishing a close second at this condition. Repeat of that race should be good enough.

(# 2) J R Cruiser - Has absolutely no speed, but offers enough late kick to pick up some small slices. Has a shot at the tri, and maybe the exacta bottom.

(# 4) Investiture - Drops after facing tougher in his last pair. Drop should allow him to be much closer to the expected pedestrian pace. Has a shot at the money positions.

(# 1) GOOD OFFER - Goes second off the claim for Bret Calhoun. Showed speed against tougher in first start for the new conditioner. Runs today under the claimed price, and should do much better.

(# 3) Cart'sforme - Trainer Cody Autry claimed this runner almost seven weeks ago and immediately sent him in for a freshening. Barn is winning at around 36% since the meet began. Trainer names Theriot and they are proving a deadly combination here.

(# 4) Trick Lantern - Ships in from Chicago off a fine second-place finish in latest after setting the pace until the final yards.

Horse Racing Picks Resources:

• View our belmont stakes picks here.
• Take a look at our preakness handicappers here.
• Don't forget to read our triple crown kentucky derby here.
• Don't forget to read our horse racing racebook reviews here.
• View horse racing rules here.
• View horse racing theory here.
• View our horse racing 101 here.
• Don't forget to visit our horse racing systems.
• View our horseracing handicapping here.
• View our horse handicapping here.
• Here we show our 2007 horse racing tips.

Check out the last five Horse Racing Picks Newsletters:

Horse-Racing-Picks-December-15-2007
AQUEDUCT Race #ONE (12:30 PM Eastern)(# 6) SPEEDBALL HOWIE - Speed has been king here over the past two weeks when the track has been fast. This colt was beaten to the top in last by a runner on the r...

Horse-Racing-Picks-December-14-2007
FAIR GROUNDS Race #ONE (1:35 PM Eastern)(# 7) HAWAII CALLS - Sharpened on grass Nov. 16 off a layoff and trainer change to a top barn. Tired late after setting pressured, fast pace in debut. Wide trip...

Horse-Racing-Picks-December-13-2007
AQUEDUCT Race #TWO (12:50 PM Eastern)(# 3) HOT ROUTE - Raced between runners in Philly Park debut run against maiden specials. Blinkers go on and drops into a claimer, both good moves for trainer Tony...

Horse-Racing-Picks-December-12-2007
AQUEDUCT Race #FOUR (1:50 PM Eastern)(# 4) CONSTANCE - Heavily backed in a pair of Saratoga races, she showed big speed in both. Drew stakes winner "Irish Smoke" first out, and two-year-old filly cham...

Horse-Racing-Picks-December-11-2007
TAMPA BAY Race #THREE (1:20 PM Eastern)(# 4) KILLARNY TOWNSHIP - Could be the fastest of these early and by the looks of the last pair of works, she likes it here just fine. The drill on Dec. 8 is out...