the card today is tough, but tough in a good way, as i think there may be several vulnerable favorites on the card. here are some spot plays.
r2: resplendency. interesting to note that nakatani and flores swap mounts for this one even though sparkling forest has a huge recency edge over the comebacking resplendency. the baffert duo should dominate here and i'm assuming that we'll get a bit of a price on resplendecy, as 'forest exits an ultra-live maiden affair.
r3: fungee. taking a bit of a flyer with this glenney trainee, who usually delivers a bomb or two each del mar season. 'fungee has been ignored at the windows and now makes a return off a similar layoff to the one resplendency is making in the second. in any event, i'll know fairly quickly if i can rip up my tix as i expect him to show speed with the hood added. 20/1 to find out? sounds like a bargain to me.
r4: skywalker red. i may be crazy, but i think we can beat the scary frankel import (i won't even try to spell his name by memory), and this little cal bred is my pick to do it. one can make a case for a number in here, and the turf course has been a little closer-friendly of late, but this looks like a good spot to take a stand against the frankel as he hasn't been out in since october and the works are no great shakes.
r6: snow report. another 20/1 morning line shot for the kitchingman/steiner combo. this one will be bet down as he has been training forwardly for his debut. would love a better jockey, but jojo steiner will help our price and this cal-bred field looks empty, with the exception of the mcanally, who is bred like a blue-blood and will have to overcome the hall of famer's poor debut stats.
r7: ya lajwaad. i love patriot's pass, but i don't really like the move to turf after the dominating wins on the dirt in his last two. second place finisher lindero returned yesterday to run second in a similar spot, so 'pass will take some beating if he tranfers his form to the grass. i will take a shot with the harty/darley returnee, whom i've always thought would be a serious grass horse down the line. harty does very well with these short layoff types and this one should get a neat trip in the second flight and set to pounce at the top of the lane.
no comment on the pleasantly perfect race, but let's say this, i'm spreading in there and hoping that the heavy heavy favorite doesn't fire his best shot first off the bench. everyone will be treating him like a free bingo square in the pick-6, but i've seen some strange things happen after horses come back from dubai.
r10: forest way and saleek. gonna try to beat the heavy faves, cyclotron and golden souvenir. both have some big question marks in my book and i think thieses two firsters (along with the red-hot ellis charge, datticus) deserve strong consideration. 'way is by the new king of debut sires, forestry and while he draws the rail, he should show enough speed to avoid the dreaded cross over and shuffle back. valdivia has never been my favorite rider on the dirt, but we should see a big price. saleek has been training steadily for harty and this $1.5M son of unbridled obviously has had his share of physical problems, as he's only now making his debut at 4 years old. he'll probably do better with more distance and experience, but i'm using at a price.
hey, lots of price possibilities today, good luck and let's make a ton of money.
r2: resplendency. interesting to note that nakatani and flores swap mounts for this one even though sparkling forest has a huge recency edge over the comebacking resplendency. the baffert duo should dominate here and i'm assuming that we'll get a bit of a price on resplendecy, as 'forest exits an ultra-live maiden affair.
r3: fungee. taking a bit of a flyer with this glenney trainee, who usually delivers a bomb or two each del mar season. 'fungee has been ignored at the windows and now makes a return off a similar layoff to the one resplendency is making in the second. in any event, i'll know fairly quickly if i can rip up my tix as i expect him to show speed with the hood added. 20/1 to find out? sounds like a bargain to me.
r4: skywalker red. i may be crazy, but i think we can beat the scary frankel import (i won't even try to spell his name by memory), and this little cal bred is my pick to do it. one can make a case for a number in here, and the turf course has been a little closer-friendly of late, but this looks like a good spot to take a stand against the frankel as he hasn't been out in since october and the works are no great shakes.
r6: snow report. another 20/1 morning line shot for the kitchingman/steiner combo. this one will be bet down as he has been training forwardly for his debut. would love a better jockey, but jojo steiner will help our price and this cal-bred field looks empty, with the exception of the mcanally, who is bred like a blue-blood and will have to overcome the hall of famer's poor debut stats.
r7: ya lajwaad. i love patriot's pass, but i don't really like the move to turf after the dominating wins on the dirt in his last two. second place finisher lindero returned yesterday to run second in a similar spot, so 'pass will take some beating if he tranfers his form to the grass. i will take a shot with the harty/darley returnee, whom i've always thought would be a serious grass horse down the line. harty does very well with these short layoff types and this one should get a neat trip in the second flight and set to pounce at the top of the lane.
no comment on the pleasantly perfect race, but let's say this, i'm spreading in there and hoping that the heavy heavy favorite doesn't fire his best shot first off the bench. everyone will be treating him like a free bingo square in the pick-6, but i've seen some strange things happen after horses come back from dubai.
r10: forest way and saleek. gonna try to beat the heavy faves, cyclotron and golden souvenir. both have some big question marks in my book and i think thieses two firsters (along with the red-hot ellis charge, datticus) deserve strong consideration. 'way is by the new king of debut sires, forestry and while he draws the rail, he should show enough speed to avoid the dreaded cross over and shuffle back. valdivia has never been my favorite rider on the dirt, but we should see a big price. saleek has been training steadily for harty and this $1.5M son of unbridled obviously has had his share of physical problems, as he's only now making his debut at 4 years old. he'll probably do better with more distance and experience, but i'm using at a price.
hey, lots of price possibilities today, good luck and let's make a ton of money.
