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Horse Racing Selections - November 08, 2008It was announced yesterday that "Raven's Pass" the winner of this year's $5,000,000 "Breeder's Cup Classic" has been retired to stud. The son of "Elusive Quality" was bred and raced by Stonerside Farms in Kentucky until this past September when he was sold privately to Sheik Mohammed. Colt was trained throughout his career by John Gosden and will stand his first season as a stallion in 2009 at the "Kildangan Stud" in County Kildare Ireland. Today's menu will feature four races from Aqueduct and one from Churchill Downs. Today's Best Bet is #1 Footnote This in Race #2 at Aqueduct. Friday's Results: Churchill Downs Race #2 Ex. (3-1) $12.40.  Today's Horse Racing Picks: Top pick: #1 (FOOTNOTE THIS) - Excellent debut speed shown back at Saratoga on July 27, in a race that has produced several next-out winners. Freshened up by trainer Todd Pletcher for this contest, he has an impressive work tab leading up to this. Pletcher is strong second time out (19%) and this colt is the choice to break his maiden. 2nd pick: #8 (Always on the Move) - Had a nice educational debut last June. Bet down to favoritism from his inside post, he did not break sharply but still offerd a bid and finished evenly. Colt has a pair of nice six furlong works only six days apart. 3rd pick: #5 (Two Decades) - Gelded son of "Catienus" has improved in each of his four starts, all at Suffolk Downs facing open competition. Ships in for a capable barn (Karl Grusmark) and will run against fellow state-breds for the first time. 4th pick: #4 (Gargantua) - Overmatched last out in the "Sleepy Hollow" stakes, colt finished second in his previous try at this level going seven furlongs at Belmont. Trainer Gary Sciacca adds lasix for the first time today. AQUEDUCT Race #3 at 1:25 PM Eastern Top pick: #1 (LIGHTS OF BROADWAY) - Many entered here are coming off of layoffs or dropping down in poor form. This gelding will be running for the third time in three weeks and he finished a sharp second on this course nine days ago. Contessa brings him back quickly to strike while hot. The choice from close range. 2nd pick: #4 (End of an Era) - Veteran hasn't raced since last March, but he has fired off of layoffs many times in the past. Speedy runner will be tough if ready to offer his best. 3rd pick: #9 (Allright Now) - Tired against tougher on Oct. 22, his first race in just over eight months. Good to see a quick return (17 days) for this and trainer Richard Dutrow drops him by over half for his second "off the bench." 4th pick: #5 (Americanus) - Veteran will also be making his second start off a layoff (3 1/2 months). Showed some interest in that one before flattening out late. Trainer Leah Gyarmati adds blinkers for his second back from the break. AQUEDUCT Race #5 at 2:20 PM Eastern Top pick: #5 (SLEUSE) - Son of "Grand Slam" showed some talent last winter when he broke his maiden in his second career outing and did so in impressive fashion. Sent to the sidelines after a failed try in a nine furlong allowance, he's just now beginning to find himself again after coming back from a six-month break. Displayed a "fondness" for the grass last out in his first try on that surface and he runs for a "tag" today in his third off the rest. Very tough to beat. 2nd pick: #3 (Sol a Pino) - Broke his maiden last out in start number seven for the Bill Mott barn. Son of "Dynaformer" had a perfect trip, more or less, and held after reaching the front. Makes his first start against winners and he'll need to try and stay close on this "tight" speed-favoring course. 3rd pick: #8 (E Z Dollar) - Gelding has finished third in four of his last five starts, all on the grass at this level, over various distances. Fits here and is an exotics threat with a late move. 4th pick: #10 (Unity) - Bit of a "head-case" as he's proven a very erratic performer and one that has been a nightmare for his riders. Drops in for a price for the first time and has some speed/stalking ability to use. Special Race Notes: Selections if this race is run on the main-track: #5-Sleuse #6-Trippin Up #10-Unity #16- Fijonnes AQUEDUCT Race #9 at 4:10 PM Eastern Top pick: #5 (CLEMENS) - Speedy, in-shape, and drops for this attempt for the Galluscio barn. That all ads up to a runner that will be very difficult to defeat. Can win this on the front-end or from a stalking position. 2nd pick: #4 (Glackity Glack) - Comes back in three days (if he goes) for the Richard Dutrow barn. He hadn't raced in 17 months prior to his mile race here on Wednesday where he chased the pace and finished evenly at this tag. Trainer has been successful at this move in the past. 3rd pick: #7 (Irish Gentleman) - Returns from a long layoff (nine months) and will make his 1st start for the Iwinski barn. When last seen he was competing against tougher in Florida on both dirt and turf. Trainer is a solid 25% with newcomers to his care and 17% with this type of layoff runner. 4th pick: #2 (MVP Grand) - Takes a big drop after racing against tougher all year. This will be his first race since August 18, when he mis-behaved before the start and flashed some speed. Early pace factor. CHURCHILL DOWNS Race #9 (MRS. REVERE STAKES (G2)) at 4:35 PM Eastern Top pick: #3 (ACOMA) - Daughter of "Empire Maker" has been a solid runner during her career winning four of seven starts and finishing "off the board" only once. She's a stakes winner on the grass (last out in the "Valley View"(G3)) after winning the "Dogwood"(G3) on the dirt surface here earlier this year. She's heading into this at her peak and Leparoux is back aboard. 2nd pick: #1 (My Baby Baby) - She won a race this past summer on this turf-course at today's distance in what was her best effort to date. Overmatched (or just sub-par) last out in the "QEII Cup" she draws the hedge for the dangerous team of Robbie Albarado and Ken McPeek. 3rd pick: #7 (Golden Doc A) - Raced well as a two-year-old on the grass, but hasn't returned to that surface since. Hard-hitter has kept only the best of company over the past year, and has acquitted herself well. Despite all that, she generally sneaks away at square odds. 4th pick: #11 (My Princess Jess) - Improving filly has really blossomed under the care of trainer Barclay Tagg. Graded stakes winner is coming off a pair of strong tries in Grade 1 contests. Needs to avoid a wide trip from this 11 post. Horse Racing Picks Resources:
Check out the last five Horse Racing Picks Newsletters: Horse-Racing-Picks-November-07-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-November-06-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-November-05-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-November-04-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-November-03-2008 |
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