Jun
15
Wednesday-Thursday Redux
Filed Under Uncategorized
The weekday cards tend to be pretty quiet out at Hollywood Park, with predictably small fields in the early races. Personally, I almost always pass the first three or four on the card because I rarely find value in wagering on those races. But I try to make up for my lack of early participation by jumping in the last four, including the Pick 4. Although field sizes are up from last year’s meet, the day would be much more interesting and bettable if the racing office could bolster the first half of the card.
On Wednesday: Riding doubles by Isaias Enriquez, Michael Baze and Clinton Potts. Since agent Nick Cosato represents both Baze and Potts, that means he pocketed half the wins on the card. Let’s just say it should be a pretty good Christmas around the Cosato household this year…trainer Jeff Mullins won a pair. As we mentioned in the last posting, the Mullins barn is starting to heat up. The guy is way too high percentage to not get rolling at some point…nice turf win by improving ISIPINGO for Craig Dollase. This gelded son of Horse Chestnut might turn out to be a serious turf marathoner…once again one winning ticket in the Pick Six, worth over $121,000. There sure have been a lot of single-ticket holders during this meet.
On Thursday: Eight different jockeys and trainers won on today’s card. RIVER’S PRAYER overcame a terrible start to win the opening-race stakes. She is now three-for-three this season and is perfect in four lifetime turf sprints…Enriquez nailed his father-in-law (Tommy Town Thoroughbreds) right on the money when MIGHTY FINE WINE ran down debuting I DIG HER in a slow juvenile filly maiden claimer (4th race)…CELTIC DREAMIN remained unbeaten in three starts when getting the best of hard-knocking SCANDALOUS in the 7th…LEAD STEALER returned at the bottom ($8,000) to win again for big-betting owner John Liviakis and trainer Melody Conlon. He ended up going off at a fat 2-1 but won like a 1/5 shot.
Parting shot: I’ve held my tongue (and keyboard) all meet long but I finally snapped when listening to announcer Vic Stauffer call yesterday’s 2nd race. It took 330 races but he finally got to me—and once again confirmed why I can’t take him seriously as a race caller: “He’s [Eagle Ridge] fourth now…but about to get into second if he stays on the rail.” No, Vic, actually he was about to get shut off and shuffled back to last when forced to take up inside tiring Awesome Graf. Why not just call the race as it happens, without (incorrectly) trying to anticipate what is going to happen? Sidenote: There’s a horse running in Sunday’s 7th race named Pick Vic. My newspaper/website comment in graded handicap? “Rather pick Wrona”.
I had a very good day on my Premium Play sheet with 5 top choice winners; 7th race trifecta for $254 on a $54 ticket; and late Pick 4 for $131 on a $36 sheet (after two scratches in 5th race).
To View Free Samples of Wednesday and Thursday Premium Plays, click on the links below: Premium Plays for June 13Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Premium Plays for June 14
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