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Free Kentucky Derby Picks - November 15, 2008We have expanded our racing menu! Today is the first Saturday of our new format. Our Racing Newsletter will offer five races daily, two each from Aqueduct and Hollywood, and one from the Fair Grounds. Mondays and Tuesdays with both New York and California tracks generally dark, we'll offer five races from an available track, including one track out west - probably Turf Paradise in Arizona. It was announced yesterday that Grade 1 winner "Zaftig" has been retired due to a torn ligament in her left hind leg. Lightly-raced filly easily defeated "Indian Blessing" in the "Acorn" stakes at a "flat" mile in June at Belmont. Talented runner was trained in her brief career by Jimmy Jerkens. One of our races today at Aqueduct (#9) is scheduled for the turf, but it is very doubtful that it will remain on the grass with heavy rains predicted. The turf races were all switched on both Thursday and Friday and we have handicapped it for the DIRT. The Best Bet is #2b Proud Ruler in Race #9 at Aqueduct. Friday's Results: Fair Grounds Race #7 Best Bet # 2 (Tend) $5.20.  Today's Horse Racing Picks: Top pick: #2 (STUD MUFFIN) - Has improved dramatically since a claim last March by trainer Dave Duggan. He's a double stakes winner(in state-bred company) since, and has placed in several others after being a rather "ordinary" runner before the "buy". Loves this distance (6-3-1-1) and he's only one of two entered with a win on this surface. Takes this with a late move. 2nd pick: #4 (Brilliant Son) - Lightly-raced and fragile, when rested and spotted well by his connections (Kiaran McLaughlin), he's capable of a very big effort. Had a nice prep on the Keeneland turf last out and has some sharp works since. Big speed to utilize and he looks on edge. Win candidate. 3rd pick: #1 (Phil the Power) - Shipper's had a fine season (6-2-2-0) and comes into this in shape, and he's proven that he can "run all day." Draws a great post and attracts Coa for this stakes effort. Has to avoid falling too far back early. 4th pick: #5 (Solar Flare) - Brings some fine speed/stalking ability to the contest. Won the G 1 "Suburban" earlier this year and chased "Commentator" before tiring in the "Whitney". Given some time off, he returned with a good-looking win last out at the Meadowlands. FAIR GROUNDS Race #6 at 3:50 PM Eastern Top pick: #1 (UNO MAS) - Speedy colt will try "real" dirt after "hooking" some very impressive runners in his trio of races on "polytrack". Cuts back from a seven-furlong effort last out where he broke slowly and was rushed into a fast pace before tiring late, Working swiftly here and he draws the inside. Clean break can lead to a win. 2nd pick: #9 (Osage County) - Improved a ton in his second start when he raced on real dirt. Stalked the pace, bid strong late and was beaten less than a length on the wire. Very fast work last Sunday says he's ready to roll. Win contender. 3rd pick: #4 (Whenthedealisdone) - Debut runner is in a barn (Mike Stidham) that always has a good meet here. Son of "Menifee" has been working steadily for two months and has a pair of fast drills on this surface from the gate. 4th pick: #10 (Coast to Coast) - Comes here from Calder where he's been showing speed and tiring in his dirt sprints. Sent long on the grass in his latest and that may give him some much needed "bottom" as he tries sprinting again. HOLLYWOOD PARK Race #2 at 4:00 PM Eastern Top pick: #7 (Rogue Scholar) - Drops back in for a tag after racing wide in a sprint stakes last out at Turf Paradise. Draws a nice post and this tag ($25K) is one he has been very successful at in the past. Takes this at a square price with a stalking trip. 2nd pick: #6 (Make Mine Vodka) - Makes his third start off a seven-week break and he ran better last out than in his return run. Tag is perfect, he has some positional speed ,and he's two for three at this trip. 3rd pick: #5 (Sunshine Ridge) - He's been competitive in all his starts since returning from a 10-month layoff. Lack of speed is a bit of a concern, as the pace here could be ordinary. Working well and the extra furlong should help him out. 4th pick: #1 (Stand Tall ) - Had a win earlier this season on this surface at this distance. He's coming off a seven-week freshening and draws the tricky rail. Working well and he's a late threat. AQUEDUCT Race #9 at 4:10 PM Eastern Top pick: #2b (PROUD RULER) - He's improved in each of his starts and last out finished a close-up fourth after chasing the pace. Race was his first in blinkers and he's comeback to work well since. The choice for the win. 2nd pick: #10 (Precursor) - Beautifully-bred runner (A.P.Indy) has been freshende-up for the past seven weeks by trainer Tom Albertrani. Working steadily for his return, colt showed some ability in his first three starts. Blinkers will be added today to his equipment. 3rd pick: #7 (Masala) - Pletcher-trained colt made his debut sprinting on the turf just over five weeks ago. Not sure if he'll run on the main track, but he's worked well on the dirt. He's eligible to improve for a top barn. 4th pick: #8 (Fair Catch) - Dramatic improvement on view in start number two. Beaten almost 40 lengths in his debut in the Belmont slop, he rallied strong to finish second at the Meadowlands last out in a large field (11). Exotics contender. 5th pick: #3 (Lofty Banner) - He's rallied in his last pair to finish second sprinting against cheaper. Continues to work fast and he could hit the exotics at a square price. HOLLYWOOD PARK Race #7 at 6:35 PM Eastern Top pick: #5 (CUT THE CHECK) - Had a nice debut last May, just missing by a head in his debut. Freshened-up since by trainer Walter Solis, he's been working very sharply for his return. Barn is having a good meet and runner may sneak away at a square price. 2nd pick: #6 (Tevez the Tiger) - Son of "Cuvee" cost $450,000 earlier this year and finished a solid fourth in his debut at Keeneland on October 24. He has two works on this surface since shipping and he's in a top barn (Eoin Harty). 3rd pick: #1 (Fiery Rebel) - "Hit the board" in his pair of starts at Del Mar and was given the next two months off by trainer Steve Knapp. He drew difficult posts (12 & 10) in his return pair at Santa Anita and had wide trips both times. Draws the rail today and should perfprm much better. 4th pick: #8 (Hold Fast) - Had a "uesful" debut at Del mar for a barn (Neil Drysdale) that rarely has them ready first out. Son of "Distorted Humor" recently worked three times in 11 days and most likely will run better. 5th pick: #2 (Back at You) - Colt had traffic woes in his debut on Oct. 26, yet still raced well. Working swiftly since for a trainer (Eddie Truman) who is much better second time out. Horse Racing Picks Resources:
Check out the last five Horse Racing Picks Newsletters: Horse-Racing-Picks-November-14-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-November-13-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-November-12-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-November-11-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-November-10-2008 |
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