April Fools’ Day: No Jokes, Just Horses Bonjour!

April Fools’ Day is here, but I don’t have any jokes to play.I do have some horses to play however, which I think you’d preferanyways. Now that April has arrived, keep in mind we are almost fourweeks away from the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby! I’ll provide plenty of insight on the run for the roses as we draw closer to thebig day. For now, let’s take a look at Gulfstream Park!

Best Bet: Gulfstream Park Race 8 WIN #4 Da’ Tara (2/1 ML). As many ofyou know, Da’ Tara upset last year’s Triple Crown bid by winning theBelmont Stakes. This horse should be able to easily win this one andM/L odds of 2/1 offer enough incentive to place a wager on a horse whotook the third leg of last year’s Triple Crown.

Next Best: Gulfstream Park Race 7 WIN #2 Maccarib Pass (5/2 ML). Thisclaimer is being run at 1 Mile 1/16th on the Turf and features horseswho have never won two races. The #2 horse looks good on paper, verycomparable to the field and should have what it takes to win today.With an 11 horse field, we can hope odds on Maccarib Pass improve oncethe horses reach the gate.

Value Bet: Gulfstream Park Race 4 SHOW #3 She Is Gibson (12/1 ML).This race features a field of 10 who have never run a race in theirlife. At only 2 ½ furlongs, this sounds more like a Quarter Horserace! I decided to include this race in today’s selections becauseanything can happen here and this race should be full of value. Thecoupled entry 1 and 1a look best on paper, but #6 City Wife and #3 SheIs Gibson also stand out. She Is Gibson will be carrying 111 poundsand is marked at 12/1 on the M/L. Coming from a decent sire andbreaking from a nice post position, I’m looking for some value andcan’t ignore odds of 12/1. This filly may not pull off a win, butlooks like a serious contender and could finish in the money.

Bonne Chance! Monsieur Chanceux Contois

BRONCOBUSTER ENDS THE MONTH LOOKING FOR 8TH STRAIGHT WIN.
 
I’m back at Turf Paradise for the last day of the month and looking to extend my best bet win selections to 8 wins in a row.  These will be a far cry from the selections that I gave you on Saturday in the Swale and Florida Derby.  These selections may not be headed for Churchill Downs, but they are still the meat and potatoes in their respective stables and their purses are still needed to help pay the bills.  Let’s see if these check getters can garner the lions share.
 
Best Bet- Race 2 #4 Mr Charlypotatoes, M/L 2-1. Was put on the shelf last summer and was given a tune up race in his last start around one turn. That was not a suitable distance for this guy and now that he has that race out of the way, should move forward in this his second start.  Stretches out to a more suitable distance and is actually 7 for 7 in the top two at todays distance and shows 4 wins from just 6 starts at Turf Paradise. With that record he should show much more today and gets a positive jockey on board.  Should be picture time. 
 
Next Best Bet- Race 4 #10 Big Bad Cat, M/L 5-2. Ran a very credible race last out to be second.  That was off a 3 year layoff after starting his brief career in Northern California in 2006.  Worked modestly at Sunland for the return and was shipped into Turf Paradise for a good effort.  The result produced his highest beyer to date and the highest beyer of todays field. Breaks for an outer post today and will try it with the blinkers on.  A repeat of his last race and it should be graduation day for this 7 yr. old maiden.
 
Value Bet- Race 1- #2 Smithtown Bay, M/L 8-1.  Versatile sort who has raced well on a variety of surfaces, but mostly at longer distances. Had a positive summer at Canterbury including a 45K stake score.  Showed early speed in his latest before fading but that was his first start in 9 months.  Despite the uneventful effort last out in for 16K, the connections show some faith in this guy by reclassifying him to a tag of 20K. He’s possibly going a bit shorter than he’d like.  Those factors bump up the odds on this guy and the price should be juicy.  The Veteran Scott Stevens jumps aboard and that gives him every chance with the right trip and if the distance isn’t too short.  Wager across the board with a chance to cash on all 3 wagers.
 
go gettum- broncobuster

Mountaineer Selections 3/31/09 Bonjour!

The final day of March looks to close on a high note, withsome very playable racing from Mountaineer Park. Let’s get under way,take a look at the field and head to the windows!

Best Bet: Mountaineer Race 5 WIN #1 Three Bullets (7/5 ML). Everythingabout this horse yells “Winner-winner, chicken dinner!” Three Bulletsoutclasses the field, shares the top speed at this distance with #7Wendlar, has plenty of prime power, a great jockey and did quite welllast time out. However, his odds are very low on the morning line.Hopefully the money will be played elsewhere and this horse will loadwith some better incentive. At the finish line, expect to see thishorse in front.

Next Best: Mountaineer Race 3 WIN #3 Rebel Flag (9/5 ML). This racefeatures a larger field with 10 horses running five furlongs in thisclaimer for 3YO+. Two horses catch my attention here, #3 Rebel Flagand #10 Overcast. Either horse could take the race, but with Overcastbreaking on the far outside I’m thinking Rebel Flag will have a bettertrip. Even though the morning line odds are set so low, with anothersolid contender and eight other entries late odds could go up on #3Rebel Flag.

Value Bet: Mountaineer Race 9 SHOW #5 Chase Em (6/1 ML). This horsecould be a blessing to your bankroll, especially if odds go up at posttime. This filly carries very low weight at only 106 pounds and has anice jockey aboard as well. Chase Em may not be able to win today, butI think she has what it takes to finish in the money. Keep an eye onthe pools, this horse should make for an excellent show wager.

Bonne Chance! Monsieur Chanceux Contois

Philly Park
Monday

Best Bet: Race 7 #1A CRAFTY TRICKER (2-1) is part of a powerful entry for owner Michael Gill, who simply wants to win races, hence the class drop. We like both halves of this duo and will bet win and place on this one, as the place payoff may even exceed that of the win if they run one-two.

Second Best Bet: Race 6 #7 SPECIAL STUFF (3-1) didn’t show her best most recently but her efforts two back would put her in the mix on this day. We like the class rise and stretch out to two turns in this one, as she may lead at every call.

Value Play: Race 4 #2 DISORIENTED (9-2) made a nice middle move before fading in debut and should improve in her second career outing.

El Secreto

Jersey Joe takes you to Dover Downs tonight where the 3 y.o. Delaware Standardbred Beeder’s Fund pacing prelims help spice up a super Monday card. Remember, 1st post at DD is 4:30pm EST and the Mile Pro’s first play goes as the value bet in Race 4 at 5:30pm.     
 
3/30/09
Dover Downs
 
Best Bet
Race 7
#2 Ray’s Big Bubba
It’s the 3rd division of the Delaware Standardbred Breeder’s Fund, and Gregoire and Wolfenden appear to have the nuts. Bubba brings a 2 race win streak and impressive 7 wins lifetime from 11 starts to the table. He’s a nice one and should get a trip. Best Bet.
 
Next Best Bet
Race 8
# 5 Al Ibad Spider
Goes as the second choice tonight after winning 1st leg division of the Delaware Standardbred Breeder’s Fund. Top money earner struts his stuff again in this second heat. Great win play at 2-1 or better.
 
Value Play
Race 4
Exacta Box #1 Get Jazzed and #3 A Boy Named Sue
The second division and elimination of the DSBF looks like a barnburner. Tough to split these two on paper with the pair of runner up finishes in their pari-mutuel contests. We don’t have two. Box ‘em up in the exotics for the JJ value play of the day.
 
Regards,
Jersey Joe, Mile Pro

Back to the Track on Sunday Santa Anita Park 3/29

Bonjour! Monsieur Chanceux (Lucky) Contois has some insight to shareregarding today’s lucrative plays. Yesterday was full of excitement,with major Kentucky Derby preps and the Dubai World Cup being run. Butit doesn’t stop there. We’ve got plenty of action this afternoon,including the Grade 3 Santa Paula Stakes for 3YO Fillies at SantaAnita Park.

 Let’s get started! Best Bet: Santa Anita Race 8#4 Carlsbad (2/1 ML)The Santa Paula Stakes presents a somewhat short field, with only 6entries. But Carlsbad looks great and I expect Tyler Baze to ride thishorse to the winner’s circle. This Arizona-Bred filly is 4/4 in herlifetime starts and could turn out to be an amazing horse. I expectthis horse to hit the wire first.

 Next Best: Santa Anita Race 7#8 Medzendeekron (5/2 ML)Another nice race on the card, the Sensational Star Handicap is for4YO+ State-Bred contenders. Being run at 6 ½ Furlongs, I can’t ignore#8 Medzendeekron. This gelding has already beaten some of the field ata Mile, I’m thinking that will also hold true for the shorterdistance. Medzendeekron has won on the Turf and at both distances, sohe should be able to get the job done today.

 Value Bet: Santa Anita Race 9#9 Tamarack Smarty (6/1 ML)Today’s value play features a horse with M/L odds of 6/1, which couldincrease once the handle begins to churn. Joe Talamo is aboard this3YO colt and has a decent chance of finishing in the money. If lateodds are higher than 10/1, a win bet would be hard to avoid. I don’texpect this horse to win, but a place or show bet could return somenice prices on a decent horse.

 Enjoy the races! Bonne Chance! Monsieur Chanceux Contois

Preview for Sunday March 29th.

The feature at Gulfstream is the Rampart S. (G2) (Race 9) over nine furlongs for older fillies and mares. Sabin S. (G3) winner One Caroline will try to extend her unbeaten record to five but will be strongly opposed by Ginger Brew who will be making her first start on conventional dirt in over a year. A close second in last year’s Queen’s Plate, Ginger Brew has a little disappointing in her last two turf efforts and may appreciate the surface switch.

At Santa Anita six fillies are entered for the six and a half furlong Santa Paula S. (G3) (Race 8). Carlsbad, an Arizona-bred who has been awesome in winning her first four starts at Turf Paradise will attempt the class rise. Her opponents include Beltene, a good second in the Sunshine Million Oaks and Empressive Lady who most recently won a decent allowance here in February.

On the Santa Anita undercard the Sensational Star H. (Race 7) is a six and a half furlong sprint on the downhill turf course for Californian-bred older horses. Liberian Freighter has been running well in stakes races and may appreciate this shorter trip and gets a good post. Others entered include Medzendeekron who defeated Liberian Freighter in the Crystal Water H. last month.

Ah, it’s good to be back to my old Kentucky home again. Seeing new places and meeting new people is a kick, but getting there has become a pain in the patooty. Delayed flights, crowds, charges to check luggage and I even got patted down (yeah, I’m scary in my flowered Lucky Brand sweats)! I actually remember a time when air travel was fun. Speaking of fun, racing is always a good time and I’ve never been frisked at the track, so let’s check out some Sunday winners at Hawthorne.

Your BEST BET is 1 SHORE BREEZE ICON in RACE 4 (5-2). This guy ran a nice 2nd here against similar in his last here, decent drills and Thornton’s in the irons. He’s coupled with Chosen Deputy, who looks to have a decent shot at this himself. Nice 2fer bet if they both run.

Your NEXT BEST BET is 1 CALL ME NOW in RACE 3 (4-1 ML). Off to a great start with his new trainer, coming off a win here and a career best Beyer. He’s stepping up a little in his first against winners, but he does have some early kick and winning jockey/trainer angle helps his cause.

Your VALUE BET is 2 PRICELESS BULL in RACE 8 (12-1). It’s kinda tough finding some good longshots in these short fields today, but this Holy Bull boy might surprise. He’s not quite the same horse he was last summer, but if he can recapture that form, he’ll be in the mix early. Barn is having a great meet and Thornton takes the call. The layoff might have done him some good as he’s had some nice recent works. His speed is a concern versus some of these, but be sure to use him underneath in the exotics.

Picks for Saturday March 28th.

BEST BET: Gulfstream Race 10: # 2 QUALITY ROAD (ML 2/1). Looked super impressive in his Fountain of Youth victory and not even team tactics should stop him repeating.

NEXT BEST: Gulfstream Race 9: # 1 THIS ONES FOR PHIL (ML 3/1). Drops back to a more suitable distance after a poor finish in the Fountain of Youth. Was impressive in the Sunshine Million Dash and a repeat of that effort will make him tough here.

VALUE BET: Gulfstream Race 11: # 8 CANNONBALL (ML 12/1). The unusual distance of seven and a half furlongs could be perfect for Cannonball who was last seen finishing well over five furlongs in his first start since last August. Has backclass (third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf) and trainer Wesley Ward is 24 % with runners making their second start off a layoff.

General Bugle

Jersey Joe heads to upstate New York this Saturday night for some live Harness action! The Mile Pro has zeroed in on three hot plays from Saratoga Raceway tonight. Sit back, relax, enjoy, and bet with confidence knowing full well that Jersey Joe has done the work for you….
 
3/28
Saratoga Raceway
 
Best Bet
Race 4
#1 Wall E
Looking for three straight, this one will make 3-5 look like an absolute gift against these. Rubber band comes off as we mortgage house, wife, kids and dog.
 
Next Best Bet
Race 5
#1 Rock N Roadie
Best horse in best post comes off strong win against same class and crew. Right back to the winner’s circle as this pacer looks more like our co-best bet of the night.  
 
Value Bet
Race 9
#6  Tuffofthetoughest
Trainer of the month Schnittnker trains and pilots this one. 8-1 ML is super sweet and likely realistic considering the time off. Ray will have ready to fire.
 
Regards,
Jersey Joe, Mile Pro