BEST BET—SANTA ANITA—RACE 3—# 4 MACIAS.
Broke his maiden last out over this track and goes right into the stakes game today. Move from Delmar to the surface at Santa Anita made him a winner. Back to that same surface today and Gomez stays here so the 2 yr old clearly has talent.
 
NEXT BEST—SANTA ANITA—RACE 6—# 3 WELKEN.
Last 3 grass races were very good, the last one being the best. That one was on this course down the hill. Down the hill experience is key here and the win makes him very, very attractive. Talamo was on for his last 2 and he’s back today.
 
VALUE BET—SANTA ANITA—RACE 7—# 10 DOMONATION.
In a race filled with firsters, his experience points him out here today. Rosario is back for a repeat ride, breaks from the outmost post and will be rolling late.

Picks for Saturday October 31st.

Best bet: Santa Anita race 7: #8 CONVEYANCE (ML 7/2). Baffert is good with first time starters and this ine has been working up a storm.

Next best: Hawthorne race 4: #7 LAKEWAY (ML 9/2). Has been freshened since failed effort on the turf. Working well for this and has good record at Hawthorne.

Value bet: Hawthorne race 3: #4 RIPE TOMATO (ML 6/1). Has seven wins over the track and returns off layoff for good trainer Roger Brueggemann.

General Bugle

The Whisperer spirits his whaaaay doooon to Calder on the night of goblins and devils.
The best performing track for him this year… no trick to it just lots of treats in store.
This could be the dead center of racing…..people just dying to get innnnnnnnn.
 ENOUGH see U thru errrr at the windows.
 
BEST BET …… RACE 12 …… # 2 WYATT’S WOMEN
 
NEXT BEST …..RACE 7 …….. # 3 SAINT JUDE
 
VALUE BET …..RACE 9 ……. # 3 MORE DRAMA
                        # 5 SLIDING IN BOXED EXACTA.
H.W.

Saturday

Best Bet: Race 5 #6 STARSHIP VALOR (3-1) rates as good a chance as any in the field, and the price could be unexpectedly good on the Dwoskin charge.

Next Best Bet: Race 4 #1 HOT HOT MAMA (4-1) should enjoy the added ground against these — and we’ll take the entry mate as well.

Value Play: Race 13 #6 VANISHING BUCK (8-1) ran an even race going shorter against a nice field and is bred to handle the stretch in trip.

el Secreto

HAPPY HOLLOWEEN FROM CALDER- BRONCOBUSTER
 
The R2D Breeder’s Cup drive is on and yours truly will do his best to come up with a couple of winners for the sake of a good charity over at Old Friends.  In the upcoming days, I will be previewing Friday’s Juvenile filly going 8.5 furlongs and Saturday’s Emerits Breeders Cup Turf Classic going 12 furlongs on the Santa Anita Turf course.   Check back with me early next week to see who I’m leaning toward.
 
In the meantime, I would like to wish everyone a happy and safe Holloween and word has that the Horse Whisperer is dressing up this year as an Investment Banker.   Let’s see if these tantalizing picks from Calder can get it done.
 
Best Bet- Race 11 #2 Statley Character, M/L 8-1. WIN WAGER. Clearly needed his last after being on the shelf since May. The five length defeat wasn’t all that bad considering it was not only his first start in 6 months, but also his first ever try on the weeds. This ALW company for N1X is a far cry from the ones he chased earlier this year.  That includes a 4th place finish to Quality Road in the Florida Derby and also raced against the likes Dunkirk and Charitble Man. Takes the blinkers off and if this ones ready to fire second time off the shelf, he will be licking his lips against these.
 
Next Best- Race 9 #3 More Drama, M/L 7-2.  WIN WAGER. Okay this one’s not Big Drama, but he has ben hinting that his maiden score is looming.  In the frame in 3 of his 4 lifetime starts and managed to jump up in a positive way when trying the lawn for the first time in his latest. A repeat of that performance makes him a danger at a fair price.
 
Value Bet- Race 7 #7 Lion Thunder, M/L 6-1. WIN, PLACE, SHOW. Did nothing signigicant in his intital try, but that was expected given the 5 furlong distance.  That was clearly a tune up for the stretch out and now goes 2 turns and gets Coa for the assignment.  Strong distance pedigree on this guy especially with Thunder Gulch on the back end and he fetched 100K at the Keeneland yearling sale. Given the 28 beyer in his debut, this one may get overlooked second time out in this field of 12!! Nice across the board wager with lots of value to be had.
 
go gettum- broncobuster.

Halloween greetings to the R2D community from The Mile Pro! Our Next Best, Southwestern Dream, lived up to billing and blazed home a winner with a huge mile vs. a salty bunch last night at Pocono. Jersey Joe returns to the world’s fastest 5/8th oval today and we’ve got a huge chance to sweep the board as I’ve come to the table with three treats for the JJ faithful….    
 
Best Bet
Race 7
#6 Twocarlane
6 consecutive exacta finishes for this Fusco trainee. He’ll be looking to turn the tables on the one outside of him tonight and move his chances way up over a dry track. Regardless, he gets the better of the draw tonight and G Napolitano will take advantage. Gets Halloween picture taken.
 
Next Best Bet
Race 14
#7 Hesoneinamillion
Fresh Oakes claim gets top pilot to boot. Don’t be to hard on him last time for giving up the ghost late as that quick 2nd quarter did him in. Expect Goodell to get aggressive today and put him into the flow early on. Always right there on the turn for home and likes to win. Public might underestimate.

Value Bet
Race 10
Exacta Box
#5 Workout Star, and #7 Annies Wonder
Team Truitt looking for their first winners here as trainer and driver and here in lies our value. This import owns all the experience, stayed flat last time for a nice 3rd and at a time that makes her a major player. Sylvester’s 2 y.o. is sure to get pounded in here as it appears she’s figured this game out with that latest try. Box ‘em up.
 
Regards,
Jersey Joe, Mile Pro

Boo! Happy Halloween everyone! I came down with a bad case of seconditis yesterday – Ah Choo! Both Best Bet and Next Best came in second. This isn’t horseshoes, it’s horse racing, so close isn’t good enough. I think we’ll do better with these scaaaaaary picks from Santa Anita today.

Your BEST BET is 3 WELKEN in RACE 6 (5/2 ML). Nice 2 1/2 length win in her last here on the grass. Likes Santa Anita, has been working well and has finished in the money in all 7 turf starts. Does some of her best work with Talamo on board.

Your NEXT BEST BET is 1 WARREN’S JITTERBUG in RACE 4 (5/2 ML). Filly has settled for 2nd in 4 of her 5 starts, but her last 2 on the turf have been oh, so close. Takes a big drop today and gets hot Bejarano, who knows how to win for this trainer. Today looks like the day for her long overdue trip to the winner’s circle.

Your VALUE BET is WIN/PLACE on 2 RECESS in RACE 5 (10/1 ML). Filly just scored here at this distance and yeah, she’s facing tougher today, but looks to be up for the challenge. Very sharp on the synthetic. Last two wins were at this distance with Tyler Baze. History could repeat today at a very nice price.

Lady Luck

Bonjour! Saturday at Calder and Hawthorne…

Wednesday recap: Wednesday’s selections certainly could have played out better, but at least the Next Best was able to get the job done. Let’s take a look at today’s racing and try to rebound a bit, in prep for the Breeders’ Cup next week. Hoping for fewer tricks and more treats this Halloween!

Best Bet: Calder Race Course Race 1 WIN #8 Dibs On Debbie (7/5 ML). This 3YO Florida-bred filly has the top dirt speed in here and was the runner-up last time out against comparable competition. She should have what it takes to win this 1 Mile claimer.

Next Best: Hawthorne Race Course Race 3 WIN #6 Secret Kin (5/2 ML). The Powerless Handicap features fillies and mares 3YO+ running 6 furlongs for a $100,000 purse and Secret Kin is my top selection in here. This mare ran second last time out on the Turf and could improve with a return to the dirt today. She could also show some improvement
at the 6 furlong distance and I expect to see her in the winner’s circle.

Value Bet: Hawthorne Race Course Race 5 WIN #2 Pretty Tipsy (6/1 ML). The Showtime Deb Stakes offers a $100,000 purse for juvenile fillies and Pretty Tipsy looks too good to be priced at 6/1. Keep an eye on the tote board as the horses head to post, I wouldn’t pass on this play at 6/1. This grand-daughter of Grand Slam won her last start at
the same distance over the same track earlier this month and I think she’ll do it again.

Bonne Chance! Monsieur Chanceux

FRIDAY SELECTIONS FROM OAKTREE- BRONCOBUSTER
 
Best Bet- Race 6 #4 Monolingual, M/L 3-1. WIN WAGER. Gets re-united with Berjarano who was on board for this ones debut back in February. All systems are on go today as he hits his form cycle and comes in with 2 bullets in his hip pocket! 
 
Next Best- Race 4 #5 I Can Hear, M/L 5-2. WIN WAGER. Plenty legged up after going around 2 turns in back to back races and should be cranked up now that she cuts back to 6.5 furlongs. Hits her 3rd start in the form cycle and Flores is sticking with her, all positive signs in my book. 
 
Value Bet- Race 7 #1 Spinning Yarns, M/L 6-1. Turf is definately this ones game, so it is no surprise she didn’t handle the bull ring at Fairplex.  Has been freshened up since and drops into a more likely spot in this optional claimer.  Her last start over this turf course resulted in win back in January and it came under similar terms off a short layoff.  Wager across the board at a square price and hope you cash all 3 tickets. 
 
go gettum- broncobuster

Oak Tree/Santa Anita
Friday

Best Bet: Race 7 #3 LINDA LOU (3-1) looked awesome last try and could be rounding into a solid runner for Mandella.

Next Best: Race 6 #6 CHARM N CHUCK (7-2) just missed to a god one last out and will be tough for Baffert.

Value Play: Race 8 #6 CIRCLE DRIVE (6-1) is working well for his debut and is from a barn that popped with two winners on Thursday.

el Secreto