Sunshine Millions VII selections

Let’s look at the Gulfstream races first with the Sunshine Millions Dash for three year old colts, race 7 with a field of 11. Florida breds head up the field here with the likely favorite being; You Lucky Mann, who draws the far outside post. In a wide open event, I’ll mix up him with; Backbackbackgone, Kelly Leak and All Saint. Race 8, the filly and mare turf have eight runners entered. My top selection here is the ultra consistent; Wild Promises who is 11 for 16 lifetime and never out-of-the-money. Underneath I’ll be using; the very speedy, Julia Tuttle and Zee Zee who is now being trained by Rick Dutrow from the Bill Mott barn. We’re back sprinting in the 9th race with older filly and mares. In a wide open race with 12 runners entered including the 2007 winner of this race; Mistical Plan coming off a Saratoga layoff, there are many questions between the back class runners and new faces. The known quantity; Mistical Plan, Lovely Isle and Dearski Trickski all have questions off there recent form. I’m taking a shot with the very lightly raced; Flashover with only two career starts. This race is full of speed and her two career starts coming off the pace set up well for her. Underneath I’ll be using; Lovely Isle and the classy Mistical Plan coming off the layoff. The finale at Gulfstream gets a full field of 12 runners including also eligibles for the Sunshine Millions Classic. The morning line favorite; Delightful Kiss draws the tough far outside post, but is a closer so the draw may not hinder him as much as other horses. Once again I’m going with a bit of a longshot in Hey Byrn. Coming off a four and a quarter length victory last time out over the Gulfstream strip (4 wins in five starts) he is a horse for the course and should be a square price. Atoned comes off a Fall layoff for Todd Pletcher where he was victorious in the Pegasus Stakes at Meadowlands in his last start, Dry Martini returns to the Barclay Tagg barn and along with Delightful Kiss will be used underneath in exotics. The picks for the four Gulstream races are; 11 - 2 - 2 - 9

The Santa Anita part of the card starts with the turf for the older males. I’m going with on top Soldiers Dancer who was a runner-up in this race last year and also a sharp second last time out at Calder. Underneath I’ll include; Persious Passion, Icy Atlantic and Mr. Chairman in exotics. In the filly version for three year olds sprinting; the Oaks, Emmy Darling looks like the favorite with her class edge. But, I’m going with the Bob Baffert trained; Ten Churros who has showed speed going longer and now turns back to six furlongs. Along with Emmy Darling, the two invaders should be used underneath; Leigh McLovin & Hooh Why. The Sunshine Millions Sprint sets up a showdown between In Summation and Georgie Boy. The latter thrilled us last three year old season on the west coast before going on the shelf in mid March. Now, Georgie Boy runs his third start off the layoff and should improve with his late kick and get the job done. In Summation is the “class” of the field and the one to beat. Throw in along with exotics; Carnacks Choice now trained by Todd Plecther, the ultra consistent Florida based; Yesbyjimminy and Devoted Magic who ran a huge race last time out first off the claim. The final race at Santa Anita is for the girls in the Distaff. Thirteen are entered, but the one that sticks out is Leah’s Secret who should be the favorite and my top selection. The rest look wide open after that, so throw in underneath; Briecat, the Calder invader; Annabill and Unforgotten who finished a fast closing second behind Leah’s Secret two starts back. The selections for the four Santa Anita races are; 8 -3 -7 -3

A first look at this year's three year olds

The two most talented two year old runners from last year (Midshipman & Vineyard Haven) have been shipped to Dubai by their new owners and are being prepped there for our American classics. With those two now in the desert, the first top "10" list seems wide open. This list of three year olds includes two year old stake winners and contenders and the second group will introduce new “shooters” coming off allowance wins or impressive maiden breakers.
The top spot goes to Old Fashioned; trained by Larry Jones who was an impressive winner of the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct going a mile & a eighth. Pioneer of the Nile ; trained by Bill Mott is listed second because of his Cash Call Futurity victory on Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride surface. Friesan Fire; also trained by Larry Jones won the first major prep this past weekend at the Fairgrounds in the Lecomte Stakes, he is at number three. Beethoven; trained by John Ward comes in at number four off his two year old win at Churchill last Fall in the Kentucky Jockey Club. Break Water Edison; trained by John Kimmel ranks at number five off his break through win going a mile in the Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct last Fall. The N.Y. bred, Haynesfield; trained by Steve Asmussen is at six on the list off his Inner-track victory in the Count Fleet Stakes. Square Eddie; trained by Doug O’Neill who was the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile runner-up and is entered in today’s San Rafael Stakes gets the number seven spot. I Want Revenge; trained by Jeff Mullins and who rallied in the Cash Call Futurity for second comes in at number eight. Hello Broadway; trained by Barclay Tagg and a half brother to Nobiz Like Showbiz is ninth on the list and still looking for that stake win. Rounding out the top ten list of three year olds who have been successful in stakes action is Capt. Candyman Can; trained Ian Wilkes who was upset last time out in the Cash Call Futurity, but was a stake winner as a two year old.
Here’s a list of three year old that haven’t won a stake yet, but may make an impact the next few weeks along the Derby trail; Giant Oak, Danger to Society, Imperial Council, Charitable Man, Indygo Mountain, Well Positioned, Free Country, Atomic Rain, Theregoesjojo and Mr. Fantasy.

My fearless predictions for 2009

First I’ll start with the Triple Crown series for the three year old thoroughbreds. While it’s easy to say that we’ll not have a Triple Crown winner again for the 31st year in a row, my prediction won’t be on any certain one horse. Instead it will be where the contenders for the Triple Crown will come from. It won’t be from the deserts of Dubai, but from Europe. Since we had the one / two finishers in the Breeders’ Cup Classic come from across the pond in Europe, I think we’ll see much more European trainers take a shot at the American Triple Crown races. Even though the Kentucky Derby is run on “natural” dirt at Churchill Downs, the prestige of winning the American classics and future breeding rights with such winner will be very appealing with the Breeders' Cup success.

The hot jockey and trainer for the upcoming year will be from the younger generation. Julien Leparoux set all kinds of records this past year on the Kentucky circuit and this year will be his breakout year nationally. Already one of the top ten jockeys in the nation, Julien will get that one big mount that will catapult him into the national spotlight. The young trainer with local ties will burst on the scene as one of the new upcoming faces on the training circuit. Chad Brown wasn’t really known until this past Saratoga season and his Breeders’ Cup victory last Fall. In 2009, Chad Brown will become a household name.

Two of the thoroughbreds who are on the verge of becoming top handicap horses this year are Court Vision and Cocoa Beach. Once thought as a Triple Crown contender on dirt, Court Vision had a relatively disappointing efforts in those races on dirt. But once switch to grass; he has become a different horse. Reeling victories versus three year old competition last year, as a four year old he’ll only get better as the distances stretch out. To say that Cocoa Beach isn’t a top notch horse now would be an understatement. But in 2009, she could be one of the most talked about runners. Winning on both dirt and grass, the sky is the limit for this five year old mare and may become bigger than the boys.

Things will be looking up for the once beleaguered New York Racing Association (NYRA) in the coming year. The hard times and problems the past several years that have haunted the organization will give way to a banner year and best yet of this decade. But, the same cannot be said for Breeders’ Cup Limited and their World Champion races. Problems internally with the organization and the over extension of the races themselves will mire their product and cause them to have a very rough 2009.

As for myself, I’m looking for another prosperous year at the windows betting like everyone else. I’m looking forward to the long awaited return to the races for our first Dee Tee Stable runner; Sumwonlovesyou who hasn’t raced since August of 2007 and the possible prospect of several new Dee Tee runners in the upcoming year. Also hoping that our own local Capital Off Track Betting (OTB) doesn’t forget about the players and continues to stride for what’s best for all customers. Rumors are about that they could take away something that is vital for drawing customers into their parlors. This would be a major mistake and hurt the company financially in the long run. We shall see if this rumor comes true and more on this possible problem in the weeks to come.