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Sports - September 27, 2008NOTE: Yesterday's racing card at Belmont was cancelled due to rain and high winds. All one-day and one-week racing subscriptions will be extended for an additional day. Thanks! An exciting moment will occur today when reigning "Horse of the Year" Curlin attempts to move past "Cigar" and become North America's all time leading money winning thoroughbred. He's scheduled to take on eight rivals in the $750,000 "Jockey Club Gold Cup" (G1) at Belmont Park. He's the defending winner of this race having out-finished a "dead-game" Lawyer Ron in last years running. In all probability this race will be the final start of his illustrious career. Serious opponents would appear to be the course loving (5 for 6) "Merchant Marine", and unlucky "Travers" stakes runner-up "Mambo in Seattle". Race will be on national television with a scheduled post time of 5:50 p.m. (EST). We'll have five races today for selections and analysis, four from Belmont including the "Cup" race and the important "Lady's Secret” stakes from Santa Anita. Today’s Best Bet is the Linda Rice-trained entry, #1 Fort McCoy and #1a It's Goodtobeking in Race #11 at Belmont Park.  Today's Horse Racing Picks: Top pick: #1a (JUST A COINCIDENCE) - Blinkers go on for trainer Nick Zito, a 22% winning move for him. Son of "Forestry" has alredy shown some talent and is working sharply (presumably with the new equipment on). Can win this from just off the lead. 2nd pick: #4 (Cabaret Cowboy) - Excellent debut at Saratoga that saw him battle for the lead thru fast splits and stay on until the last 1/16th. Strong work on September 8, and trainer (Seth Benzel) has won with four of his last nine second-time starters. 3rd pick: #6 (Prince Charming) - Much improved effort in start number two after being given a seven-week freshening by trainer Jimmy Jerkens. He has good stats second off a break (24%). 4th pick: #3 (Mr. Market) - Firster by Mr. Greeley has several big works showing, including his most recent from the gate. Never easy to debut on anything but a fast track. BELMONT PARK Race #8 (THE VOSBURGH) at 4:30 PM Eastern Top pick: #1 (FABULOUS STRIKE) - Won this race last year in easy and impressive fashion. He won his only '08 start at Delaware after scaring away all but two rivals. Working sharply and will be tough to beat from the rail. He's using this as a "prep" for the "Breeder's Cup Sprint," so he could not be fully cranked-up. Think he ready. 2nd pick: #4 (First Defence) - Beautifully-bred colt may just be coming into his own for the very patient Bob Frankel. Tracking style fits the race and runner appears to have settled in as a sprinter after trying various distances during his career. Very dangerous. 3rd pick: #5 (Kodiak Kowboy) - Talented three-year-old likes to come from off the pace and had a ton of trouble in his last start, the (G1) "Kings Bishop" when he commenced his rally. Working well and is a threat. 4th pick: #2 (J Be K) - Tired in the "Kings Bishop" after battling for the lead in his first start in seven weeks. Has the ability, but the projected fast pace may force him into a stalking role. SANTA ANITA(OAK TREE MEET) Race #5 (THE LADY'S SECRET) at 5:30 PM Eastern Top pick: #3 (HYSTERICALADY) - She's been awesome in her last three, all on conventional dirt. Mare by "Distorted Humor" has never won on an artificial track and she, like the others will be running on this new surface for the first time. She's in the best shape of her life and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has been racing her about every five weeks. The horse to catch and beat. 2nd pick: #4 (Zenyatta) - Undefeated daughter of "Sreet Cry" continues to impress as her legend grows. She's won five stakes in a row and has done so with a devastating late kick. Will be flying late, but I think "Lady" will have enough left to hold her safe. BELMONT PARK Race #10 (THE JOCKEY CLUB GOLD CUP) at 5:50 PM Eastern Top pick: #5 (CURLIN) - The "Champ" will try and surpass "Cigar" as the all-time leading money winning thoroughbred in this contest. Undefeated on dirt since winning this race last season, he's drawn a good post for his stalking style. There's speed inside of him and it could be fast/contested, which would aid his cause immensely. Takes this as long as he's trouble free. 2nd pick: #2 (Merchant Marine) - "Horse for the course" is five for six on this dirt and zero for four elsewhere. Last was better than it appears, as although fully extended, he was all business down the stretch and could have gone around again. Lightly raced and in the barn of "giant killer" H.Allen Jerkens. Good exacta play. 3rd pick: #9 (Mambo in Seattle) - Hard luck loser of the $1,000,000 "Travers" Stakes last out as he was in front just before and just after the wire, but not when the picture was taken. He's reaching his full potential at this stage, but his post may pose a problem with this race starting on the clubhouse turn. He may have to drop pretty far back. Difficult, but not impossible. 4th pick: #4 (Wanderin Boy) - Much like his stablemate, "Commentator", he has improved with age. He's a bit more relaxed these days and has developed a rating gear. Working fast and he's done well on this strip (3-2-1-0). BELMONT PARK Race #11 at 6:15 PM Eastern Top pick: #1 (FORT McCOY) - Part of a very tough entry from trainer Linda Rice. We like this one better, but we'll take either one as our top pick. This runner drops and goes turf to dirt in his second start off a nine-month absence. Draws the rail and is the horse to beat. 2nd pick: #1a (It's Goodtobeking) - Coupled with the top pick, he will also drop into a claimer and switch surfaces today. Goes 3rd off the bench and has shown some speed in his appearances. 3rd pick: #7 (Wanna Winna) - Raced evenly while in heavy traffic in his return from a two-month break. Had good position but finished evenly. Should move forward today. 4th pick: #10 (Western Call) - Much like "Wanna" he raced in traffic last out and finished evenly. Race was his first in two months and a move forward should be expected. 5th pick: #5 (After Colin) - Ships back from Finger Lakes after he was unable to win there in a pair of starts. He's hit the board in three of six on this track and they were at this tag. Minor award is possible. Horse Racing Picks Resources:
Check out the last five Horse Racing Picks Newsletters: Horse-Racing-Picks-September-26-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-September-25-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-September-24-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-September-23-2008 Horse-Racing-Picks-September-22-2008 |
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