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Handicapping The Preakness - October 18, 2008The "Breeder's Cup World Thoroughbred Championships" are now less than a week away. This year event will be held at Santa Anita and the main track races will be contested on an artificial surface (Pro Ride) for the first time. The event has been expanded this year to 14 total races. On Friday, October 24, the five races for fillies and mares will take place and the following day there will be nine contests involving males. Wunderdog Racing will publish two Newsletters, both of which will be available late on Thursday, October 23. We'll have selections and analysis on all five of Friday's races and six on the Saturday card. Don't miss out on all the action. Today's action will be highlighted by three races from Belmont and a pair from this year's "Breeder's Cup" site, Santa Anita. Today's Best Bet is #6 Kiss the Cat in Race #2 at Santa Anita.  Today's Horse Racing Picks: Top pick: #2 (PEGASIAN) - Chased the pace as the chalk last out on Sept. 13, before "hanging" in late stretch. He's been freshened up since that start and he'll move back to the grass for this attempt. Last pair of works are solid. 2nd pick: #5 (Marra Marra) - Raced evenly in his debut going nine furlongs on Sept. 5. Barn (Chris Clement) is very good second time out (22%), and gelding has a sharp work at Saratoga on Oct. 10. Should run much better today. 3rd pick: #6 (Fortissi More) - Stretches-out off a series of sprints on both dirt and turf. Last grass race saw him finish a strong second on this course at six furlongs. Clearly a better runner on the grass, and he's a contender. 4th pick: #1 (Cops Fever) - Speed on the hedge in a race without a lot of visible pace. He's "hit the board" in two of three on this surface and he should be in this from the start. 5th pick: #10 (Coaltown Legend) - Longshot ran a wide race at Sartoga from a poor post (10) two back on the grass. Followed that with a pace-setting third on the main track here. Improving, and an exotics player at a big price. SANTA ANITA Race #1 at 3:00 PM Eastern Top pick: #8 (DIXIE HAWKS) - Claimed out of her debut by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, she has finished "in the money" in both starts for the new connections. Has good stalking ability and moves to a cozy outside slot. The choice to break her maiden. 2nd pick: #4 (O Firefly) - Trainer John Sadler reached in and claimed this filly from Jeff Mullins in her debut at Del Mar. Improved quite a bit in her first start for the new barn and she's been working sharply since. The main contender. 3rd pick: #7 (Plaza Queen) - Rushed up into a fast pace after breaking slowly last out and she draws a nice slot for use of her fine early speed. Looks ready for her best. 4th pick: #2 (Crazy Tricia) - She had some traffic woes in her first pair and both have been at the MSW level. Drops into a claimer and is an exotics threat. SANTA ANITA Race #2 at 3:30 PM Eastern Top pick: #6 (KISS THE CAT) - Good-looking win last out in her second off a two month vacation and second for trainer Mike Mitchell. Figure-wise, effort was the best any of these has run and it was her first in blinkers. Wins this from just off the top. 2nd pick: #5 (Chilliwack) - Fields most experienced runner broke her maiden for $40K at Del mar and then finished second in a stake at Fairplex. Had a wide draw last out and finished an even fourth in a starter allowance. Moves back in for a tag today. 3rd pick: #2 (Trash Master) - Sadler runner has been overmatched in her last pair and drops back in for the price they claimed her for. Draws the rail and has some speed. BELMONT PARK Race #7 (THE TICONDEROGA HDCP.) at 4:10 PM Eastern Top pick: #3 (CHESTORIA) - Filly has been in pretty deep in her last pair, both graded events, and both on courses that had a lot of "give" in them. Daughter of "Chester House" has a fine record in state-bred contests and she'll get the addition of lasix for this stake. Draws a good post, and she is four for seven on this course. 2nd pick: #1 (You Go West Girl) - She's been very competitive since coming here from the mid-west, and she became a stakes winner last out on this course in the "Hey Baba Lulu" overnite stakes. Draws a great post and continues to work well. Very dangerous. 3rd pick: #5 (Love Cove) - The main speed just missed last out, losing by a "nose" to the rail runner. Consistent and competitive, she has an outstanding grass record (10-3-4-2), including (6-1-4-1) on this infield. 4th pick: #4 (Rewrite) - Fits and almost always runs a good race. Veteran grass mare has a great overall mark (19-9-1-5)and is two for three at this nine furlong trip. BELMONT PARK Race #10 (THE EMPIRE CLASSIC) at 5:45 PM Eastern Top pick: #1 (R CLEAR VICTORY) - The clear speed of the contest and he draws the rail. Just missed last out in his first back from a trip to Minnesota and his first in almost two months. Working well for the Asmussen barn and he can take these wire-to-wire. 2nd pick: #2 (Stunt Man) - Highly thought of at one time, he returned at Saratoga from a six month layoff and did not run well in his three starts. Working very fast for this, he's apparently over any problems he has had. Dominguez, who has had success on him in the past is aboard. 3rd pick: #8 (Tommasi) - Won an overnight stake at Saratoga at this distance, but that was around two turns and this is only one. He ran very poorly in this race last year, but he's in the best shape of his career at present. Working sharply and the barn (Jim "007" Bond) has been hot. 4th pick: #12 (That's Right Officer) - He's improved as the year has gone along and he finished second at this distance on this course last out. Could impact this with a nice stalking trip. 5th pick: #11 (Dr. D.F.C.) - Late-on-the-scene type has improved dramatically since coming back from a six month layoff. Deep closer should pick off quite a few late. Horse Racing Picks Resources:
Check out the last five Horse Racing Picks Newsletters: Horse-Racing-Picks-October-17-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-October-16-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-October-15-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-October-14-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-October-13-2008 |
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