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Free Horse Racing Handicapping - November 22, 2008It was announced yesterday that "Curlin" will stand his first season at stud at "Lanes End" farm in Kentucky this spring. Reigning Horse of the Year is winding down from his racing days and will probably be set there in early January. Congratulations to Michael Maker who set a new Churchill Down's fall training record the other day. The trainer of the powerful Ken & Sarah Ramsey stable eclipsed the old mark set by Dale Romans several years ago. Today's newsletter will have five races, two each from Aqueduct and Hollywood Park, with a single contest from the Fair Grounds. Today's Best Bet is #5 Empire House in Race #4 at Hollywood Park. Friday's Results: Aqueduct Race #8 Ex. Box (2-6) $24.80.  Today's Horse Racing Picks: Top pick: #8 (LIEUTENANT RON) - Gets the acid test today to show what kind of runner he really is. Very highly thought of since winning his only start at two, he had a serious injury that kept him off the Triple Crown trail last spring. Working super since a win at Belmont on October 5, this will be his first try in a stakes and his first around two turns. Two of his three career wins have come on this main track, with "Web Gem" being the only other to have won on this surface. This contest will give us an indication what kind of horse he is, and could become. 2nd pick: #4 (Ready Set) - His 13 lifetime starts have come on seven different surfaces, and today he'll make it eight. Winner of the West Virginia Derby (G3) in August, he just missed last out in the Pegasus (G3) last out at the Meadowlands. In shape, consistent, and in a winning barn (Mike Matz). Win threat. 3rd pick: #3 (That's Right Officer) - He's really improved his game as the year has grown late. His last three starts, all stakes, have seen him finish second each time. One of his best races ever came at Saratoga at this difficult two-turn 1 1/8 mile trip. Just missed that day to "Tin Cup Chalice" who was undefeated at the time. Can see him running a big race at a square price. 4th pick: #2 (Web Gem) - Strong finisher has run second in his two tries at this nine-furlong trip. Both of those efforts were in stakes and he only fell a head shy of "Ready Set" in the W.V. Derby at Mountaineer. Needs some pace help to have a shot at the win. HOLLYWOOD PARK Race #2 at 4:00 PM Eastern Top pick: #7 (BLAZING SPIRIT) - Returns from a seven-week freshening from trainer Jeff Mullins and barn is deadly off that type of break. He's exhibited plenty of ability in his four starts and he's worked four times in the last 20 days. Ready to win. 2nd pick: #5 (Massone) - Fields most experienced runner will be making his seventh start today. Only worse than fourth once, and he had trouble in that contest. Has run a distance twice, and in his latest he finished second on this surface. Obvious contender. 3rd pick: #6 (Hi Flyin Indy) - Beautifully-bred Darley stable representative debuted at Keeneland in early October and ran a fine third while very wide at the difficult distance of seven furlongs. Shipped here at the end of that meet, son of "A.P.Indy" will try a distance today for the first time. Trainer Eoin Harty is good on the stretch-out (20%). 4th pick: #1 (Lifeline) - Price possibility for the exotics. Son of "Pulpit" ran well in his debut going two-turns despite not keeping a straight course. Freshened up for two months by the Shirreff's barn, he was away slowly going long on the turf in his return run. Ready for a good effort today. AQUEDUCT Race #9 at 4:10 PM Eastern Top pick: #1 (TREVELYAN) - Much improved run in his second start when trainer Todd Pletcher sent him long on the turf at the Meadowlands. Trailed early in a race that had a "quick" pace for the distance, and this son of "Fusaichi Pegasus" made a nice late rally while closing up the inside. Has a fast work since and he only needs to work out a trip from this outside post to contend. 2nd pick: #5 (Lamar Valley) - Defeated the top pick last out, but by just a little more than a neck. Nice effort came in his racing debut and this son of "El Prado" is an obvious player. 3rd pick: #4 (Quiet Emarati) - Colt by "Quiet American" debuted on the Arlington poly in early August and had a wide trip that day. He was with Todd Pletcher at that time but resurfaced here two months later in the barn of Dave Duggan. Nice dirt effort on Oct. 4, saw him show some speed in a race that has become a "key" contest. Moves to the turf, and that early speed of his makes him a player. 4th pick: #9 (Master) - Stretches-out off a solid try at Belmont going seven furlongs on the turf last out. Race was his first off a two-month layoff and came with blinkers added to his equipment. His speed makes him very dangerous. 5th pick: #8 (Driven By Fear) - Didn't run at all in his debut, but trainer Bruce Levine loves to give them a race before asking them to show what they can do. Lasix is added, he's sent long, and Eddie Castro takes over. Levine wins at a fine 26% second time out, and he and Castro are clicking at almost 40% off a very large sampling. Could impact the exotics at a big price. HOLLYWOOD PARK Race #4 at 5:00 PM Eastern Top pick: #5 (EMPIRE HOUSE) - Race looks to be his to lose. Moves to the turf after a trio of solid races in a row at Del Mar and Santa Anita. Trainer Neil Drysdale adds blinkers for his grass debut and he'll be very tough on this largely inexperienced field. 2nd pick: #4 (Matching Wits) - Another who will make his grass debut in this contest. Son of "Full Mandate" has finished second in two of his three starts and has done so by making one run. Only poor race came when he was in a pace battle. Could complete a "chalky" exacta. 3rd pick: #2 (Stayonit) - Interesting runner. Son of "Unbridled's Song" took some money in his debut at Santa Anita in late September. He had a poor post (11) for a first timer, was wide early and angled in on the turn. Working fast for his return, and his turf debut. "Hall of Famer" Bob Frankel is calling the shots and he's a possible surprise package. FAIR GROUNDS Race #10 at 5:50 PM Eastern Top pick: #1 (POWERCHORD) - He has the best two races showing of this group, a close loss at Belmont in a maiden-claimer and a fine third at the Meadowlands. Draws the rail and can save ground through-out before launching a late rally. Wins this in the last 1/8 of a mile. 2nd pick: #2 (Vintage Dave) - Runner comes here by way of So. California for the fine barn of Doug O'Neill. Finished third in his only grass attempt and looks well-meant off a sharp recent work. 3rd pick: #10 (Union Strike) - His best race by far was on the turf and in his latest ran very poorly on the Keeneland poly. Working well for the nation's leading trainer (Steve Asmussen), and think this son of "Smart Strike" will bounce back today. 4th pick: #3 (Southern Region) - His only race was a mile on the dirt at Delta Downs where he missed by a neck. Expensive yearling ($250,000) by "Stormy Atlantic" is bred for the grass and has a shot here at a square price. Horse Racing Picks Resources:
Check out the last five Horse Racing Picks Newsletters: Horse-Racing-Picks-November-21-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-November-20-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-November-19-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-November-18-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-November-17-2008 |
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