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Free Horse Racing Picks - November 23, 2008Congratulations to trainer Steve Asmussen. Yesterday at the Fair Grounds in race #10, he equalled his North American record of 555 victories in a single season, which he set back in 2004. For those of us who have been involved in this sport for a while, the number is truly staggering. The size and scope of his operation is remarkable, and he's done it with both cheap claimers and horses like "Curlin". The ability to maintain the quality of his stable while winning so many races is a true testament to the people who are employed in this huge enterprise. The others who have approached these numbers, Jack Van Berg and Scott Lake basically ran and run large scale "claiming" outfits. A job well done! Today's menu will "mirror" yesterday's, with a total of five races, two each from Aqueduct and Hollywood, with a single race from the Fair Grounds. Today's Best Bet is #9 Sheik's Serenade in Race #6 at Aqueduct. Saturday's Results: Hollywood Park Race #2 Top Pick # 5 (Massone) $5.00. Fair Grounds Race #10 Exacta box (10-3) $80.40.  Today's Horse Racing Picks: Top pick: #9 (SHEIK'S SERENADE) - Well-bred filly has run strong in her first pair of efforts and will try this "flat" mile distance for the first time. Daughter of "Unbridled's Song" has good tactical speed and finishes with some kick. The choice to break her maiden. 2nd pick: #6 (Treasure Trail) - Well-bred filly closed a lot of ground in her debut to finish fourth. Trainer (Shug McGaughey's) runners usually improve after one or more starts. Looks well intentioned. 3rd pick: #3 (Cades Bay) - Good debut run at Belmont on October 26, travelling six furlongs. She stayed close to the pace and tired just a tad late. Should be involved from start-to-finish. 4th pick: #7 (Onota) - First time starter by "Strong Hope" has some nice drills on view and her breeding suggests that this one-mile distance is well within her reach. She debut's with lasix administered and Alan Garcia aboard. FAIR GROUNDS Race #4 at 2:55 PM Eastern Top pick: #1 (ADMIRAL HALSEY) - Claimed two starts back by the sharp Tom Amoss barn, new connections raced him at a higher level in his first start under their wing. Raced well in spots and finished mid-pack. Drops back to the purchased price today and believe he can beat the favorite. 2nd pick: #3 (Papa Fuse) - Trainer (Cody Autry) is off to his usual big start at this meet, winning with five of his first 10 starters. This runner is entered for just a fraction of what he was claimed for 13 months ago. Drops off his latest when he had a very poor break. 3rd pick: #2 (Espoof) - Very fast runner is making his first start in five months. Working well for the nation's leading trainer (Steve Asmussen), and he will have to be caught. AQUEDUCT Race #9 at 4:10 PM Eastern Top pick: #7 (HANGINGBYATHREAD) - Enters this contest razor sharp and working well. Just missed in a New York-bred stakes last out and in his previous race crushed $30K optional foes. Repeat of either of those efforts gets the job done. 2nd pick: #2 (Different Drummer) - Bargain priced ($90,000) son of "Distorted Humor" is quickly improving for Hall of Famer Allen Jerkens. Broke his maiden last out sprinting on the Belmont lawn, draws the rail and is sent long in his first try against winners. Could sneak away at a square price. 3rd pick: #6 (Titan of Industry) - Freshened-up for the past six weeks, he's a proven turf performer and had been recently claimed before his rest by trainer Rick Violette. Gelded son of "Giant's Causeway" broke his maiden on this course in October of '07. 4th pick: #5 (Blue's Street) - Capable with these, he's returning from a long layoff (17 months). He's run well off of breaks in the past, but none approaching this length. In the barn of Todd Pletcher and gelding is working sharply. 5th pick: #10 (Ea) - One of these days he'll show some of his back class. Post hurts and his no-speed style is a difficult one on this course. Fast recent drill offers some hope. HOLLYWOOD PARK Race #4 at 5:00 PM Eastern Top pick: #3 (STUTTGART) - Filly has finished on the board in all three starts for trainer John Sadler since he claimed her last July. Stalker finished second on this course in her most recent and is the horse to beat. 2nd pick: #1 (Solo Piano) - Well-bet in her first pair, this daughter of "Empire Maker" has been freshened-up for the past 11 weeks by Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel. Trainer is strong off of these breaks (19%) and filly is working well. 3rd pick: #5 (L' Aziza) - Set/presed a strong pace last out in her second start back from a 17-month layoff. She could lead this group until deep-stretch in her third back off the bench. Win threat. 4th pick: #4 (Stormy Alibi) - Blinkers and lasix are both added today for this daughter of "Stormy Atlantic" who will be returning from a nine-month layoff. Works are fast and she looks ready to perform well. HOLLYWOOD PARK Race #6 at 6:05 PM Eastern Top pick: #6 (G's Heavenly Union) - Strong second-place finish in her latest, going "down the hill" at Santa Anita should set her up for her first try around two-turns. That effort was her first on the turf and she took an instant liking to the surface. The choice for the win in a contentious race. 2nd pick: #4 (Spanish Bunny) - Improved the minute she set foot on the grass and that's a common thing for sons and daughters of "Unusual Heat". Filly finished a close-up fourth (beaten by a length) in her last, which came sprinting on this course. Stretches-out and looks well prepared for the attempt. 3rd pick: #11 (Haka) - Claiborne Farm home-bred was probably sent here exclusively to run on the grass. Her lone race to date came in a "switched" contest at Belmont in early October, and filly rallied late in the slop to finish a distant second. Lasix is added today and she looks well-meant. 4th pick: #10 (Malver Spring) - Darley Stable representative broke "slowly" in her debut on the Santa Anita lawn in late September. Freshened-up for the past seven weeks by trainer Eoin Harty, he'll add blinkers to her equipment today. Recent drill (presumably with the hood on) is fast. 5th pick: #1 (The Legal Blonde) - Irish-bred and English-raced, filly will be making her first start in this country off a 3 1/2 month layoff. Works are solid and trainer Tim Yakteen is adding lasix for this contest. Draws the hedge and she could hit the exotics. Horse Racing Picks Resources:
Check out the last five Horse Racing Picks Newsletters: Horse-Racing-Picks-November-22-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-November-21-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-November-20-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-November-19-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-November-18-2008 |
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