As written by Len Ragozin....
Once again for a fast track and in reverse order:
Little Matth Man: Does have that extra T but is way too slow.
Water Cannon; Another who's too slow and figures to react from top in any case.
Sir Shackleton: Only competitive number is sprinting and is running third race in 5 weeks. Not much pattern to read but I'm looking elsewhere.
Imperialism: Neutral pattern at best and only two weeks rest from an effort that is only borderline competitive. Not much odds value--another that I'd pass on.
Song of the sword: Considerably slower than the fastest in the race, but has a positive condition pattern with the 3/4 point move three races back. Mucho overraced, but at least is coming off an non effort in the slop. At very long odds he usable lightly in the exotics to me with the emphasis on the back end of the tri and super plays.
Eddington: Has borderline competitive numbers but jumpup pair up is not a positive pattern for me. Off race two back in heavy winds is excusable to me but last effort was on the disappointing side. Does have nice timing into the race but the most I could do is use him lightly in exotics.
Smarty Jones: Very strong overall pattern and ability but is trying for a fourth big effort in a row and this time with only two weeks rest. Probably short odds makes him negative value to me but he's hard to throw out of exotics altogether as even a backward move of 3-4 points makes him competitive to hit the board.
Borrego: Strong overall pattern who I thought had a decent chance to go forward in each of his last two races. Since he ran into slop both times, I'm inclined to give him one more chance to go forward and make him a solid use in exotics at least.
Lion Heart: Very strong overall pattern and number power coming off a small backward in the Derby slop. Probable easy ground saving trip makes him the most likely winner to me, but the odds may not be all that atractive unless the fans go wild over Smarty. Anything 3-1 or better makes him value in the win pool and it's a hard choice for me between him and RHT as a key.
Rock Hard Ten: Not much of a pattern to read, but certainly hasn't done anything wrong and has nice timing into the race. Needs to go forward to be strongly competitive, but that appears to me to be more likely than not. If he's more than twice as long as LH, RHT is my key in the race.
Good luck to all for a beautiful weekend of racing and sunshine (hopefully).
Once again for a fast track and in reverse order:
Little Matth Man: Does have that extra T but is way too slow.
Water Cannon; Another who's too slow and figures to react from top in any case.
Sir Shackleton: Only competitive number is sprinting and is running third race in 5 weeks. Not much pattern to read but I'm looking elsewhere.
Imperialism: Neutral pattern at best and only two weeks rest from an effort that is only borderline competitive. Not much odds value--another that I'd pass on.
Song of the sword: Considerably slower than the fastest in the race, but has a positive condition pattern with the 3/4 point move three races back. Mucho overraced, but at least is coming off an non effort in the slop. At very long odds he usable lightly in the exotics to me with the emphasis on the back end of the tri and super plays.
Eddington: Has borderline competitive numbers but jumpup pair up is not a positive pattern for me. Off race two back in heavy winds is excusable to me but last effort was on the disappointing side. Does have nice timing into the race but the most I could do is use him lightly in exotics.
Smarty Jones: Very strong overall pattern and ability but is trying for a fourth big effort in a row and this time with only two weeks rest. Probably short odds makes him negative value to me but he's hard to throw out of exotics altogether as even a backward move of 3-4 points makes him competitive to hit the board.
Borrego: Strong overall pattern who I thought had a decent chance to go forward in each of his last two races. Since he ran into slop both times, I'm inclined to give him one more chance to go forward and make him a solid use in exotics at least.
Lion Heart: Very strong overall pattern and number power coming off a small backward in the Derby slop. Probable easy ground saving trip makes him the most likely winner to me, but the odds may not be all that atractive unless the fans go wild over Smarty. Anything 3-1 or better makes him value in the win pool and it's a hard choice for me between him and RHT as a key.
Rock Hard Ten: Not much of a pattern to read, but certainly hasn't done anything wrong and has nice timing into the race. Needs to go forward to be strongly competitive, but that appears to me to be more likely than not. If he's more than twice as long as LH, RHT is my key in the race.
Good luck to all for a beautiful weekend of racing and sunshine (hopefully).
