Beat The Host #7

GP #4 [$45k Mdn 4&up 7f]
Siegel Chooses a 2-1 fav Strasbourg who has made only a single start, but it was a strong run while I choose a horse Crack thepat making its 4th start, improving each time, but who has never gone more than 6f and has tried to lead but tired every time. Thus, the stretch to 7f doesn’t look promising, but the 21-1 odds do. Just as advertised, Crack goes to the front, but falters to 4th, while Strasbourg rallies to win by a head at 3/2. A small payout, so still an open contest.

GP #6 [$45k Mdn 3yo 6f]
JS has chalk again with 1-1 Royal Straight who chased Savemyspotimbeting when he posted that eyepopping time. It was his only start and uses Lasix. I go with 1st timer #10 Dark Cove from Medaglia D’oro and his 25-1 payoff. BTW, Eddie Kenneally is on the pre-race show and tabs 1st timer #11 Just Hold On at 6-1 – makes me wonder, but I stay with the #10. Tiznow’s 1st timer Tiz the One wins easily at 7-2. Dark Cove started last and barely improved, while Royal Straight struggles to 3rd, the #11 is 4th.

SA #2 [$20K C 4yo 7f]
JS stays true with favorites with 2-1 Boyoboy. I’ll take Cut the check at 4-1. It’s a 20k claimer at SA, so nobody in this field is too impressive. Boyoboy wires the field to win by 4 lengths as cut the check tries to challenge him for the lead throughout, but can’t handle the pace and floats back to 4th.


GP #7 [$125k F&M 4&up 6.5f] Hurricanne Berrtie Stakes
No fav this time for JS as he takes #9 Turn Away. I take Way with Words returning from 105 days off. She does most all of her running at Monmouth, but twice she’s tackled Aqueduct and done well – of course it is the 15-1 ML that also makes her attractive. Kays and Jays runs well to win at 5/2. Halfway through no big odds have hit, so the window is cracked but closing. It’ll take a good score in the next two races to have any chance to win.

SA #3 [$55K 3yo T 6.5f] Baffle Stakes
JS has 4/5 favorite Macias. With a small 7 horse field, the odds are low, but I’ll go with 5-1 Ace of Aces, an Irish horse. Macias shows his strength to win by 2 lengths over Aces

GP #8 [$48K Alw F&M T 4&up 8f]
Due to the weather, the turf race is moved to dirt. This 12 horse race with 4 also eligible is down to 4 horses. With no scores yet, and only 2 races to go, I shut it down as I know there is no way to win this today.

SA #4 [$250K 3yo F 8f] G1 Las Virgenes Stakes
No Selection

SA #5 [$62K C 3yo F T 6.5f]
No Selection

The qualifiers in this contest are winding down. In a couple of weeks it will be a one day battle in the finals.


“Every person has the power to make others happy. Some do it simply by entering a room -- others by leaving the room.” ~ William Ward
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