Holiday Hits & New Years Wins – Results

Well, welcome to winter racing… Laurel Park managed to get in the first 7 races on the Saturday card, but after two horses lost their riders after the finish line in the 5th and 6th races (horses and riders are okay) management decided to cancel the remainder of the card. This meant two of our best best races on the day were shut down. Good news is that those two races, the Thirty Eight Go Go and Dave’s Friend Stakes will now be included on the Friday card (Jan 5th) and we’ll have those races for you in this week’s edition of the Super Screener to be released Friday.

G1 Malibu Stakes

The Super Screener Top Long Shot pick in the G1 Malibu Stakes, City of Light,  came through with a big win going wire-to-wire at odds 0f 7-1.  The Super Screener correctly anticipated that the pace would come up unchallenged and despite the brisk fractions on the day City of Light got that unchallenged lead and showed some quality drawing out at the wire.  Here’s what the Super Screener said about City of Light prior to the race:

 

The Super Screener’s Top Board Hitter pick, Edwards Going Left trained by the often maligned trainer, John Sadler, did not disappoint finishing a game 2nd at odds of 14-1 getting that ground-saving rail trip and successfully holding off Favorable Outcome.

The Screener saw Pavel as a Vulnerable Favorite and that is exactly what happened.  He went off as the favorite in the race but was never a factor in the race and was lucky to finish 4th.  

G1 American Oaks

The top Super Screener win pick, Daddy’s Lil Darling, did not disappoint running closer to the pace as anticipated and getting the 1 ¼ miles distance that this filly requires for her best outcomes.

Madam Dancelot continues to surprise finishing a strong second after sitting last for the first mile.  It is now duly noted that she does not have the distance limitations that both connections and the Super Screener believed she had though her best races will be run at 1 mile and even at 6.5 furlongs on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita.  

 

New Money Honey had no excuses and finished a disappointing 4th indicating that she is not moving forward off her earlier successes while others in her age group are getting better.

 

Beau Recall finished mid-pack and confirmed that he just isn’t good enough to compete at this level despite her fondness for the Santa Anita turf surface.

 

Tropical Park Oaks

The Super Screener’s top win pick, Taperge, was a late scratch so that moved Ghostly Presence up to the number 2 spot and that filly went on to win with relative ease.  Here’s what the Super Screener said about this game filly:

 

“#3 Ghostly Presence became a new filly once blinkers were added and a switch was made to jockey Rafael Hernandez who retains the mount on the ship to GP.  She has rattled off 4 straight Exacta finishes against both Canadian breds and open company.  Needed that 30-day break after a long 2017 campaign and has submitted a series of brilliant works leading up to this.  Would play more at 10-1 or higher.”

The expected pace set up was that it would be swift with strong pressure featuring a duel between Team of Teams and I’m Betty G and while those were the pace leaders in the race, Team of Teams was allowed to open up a clear lead while doling out rather anemic fractions which allowed her to have plenty of energy in reserve for the stretch run resulting in that 2nd place finish.  The Super Screener’s prediction that I’m Betty G would ‘hit the Superfecta but a better play under’ materialized as projected.

The Super Screener Top Long Shot pick, Sister Nation, just missed 4th place at odds of 16-1 finishing best of the six long shots in the race.

 

A top Super Screener contender, Speighgal, fell just after the start and a Super Screener top win pick, #8 Spanish Harlem uncharacteristically dwelt at the start and was dead last in the early running of the race.

 

Tropical Park Derby

Essentially, this race was a complete miss.  While the winner, Durocher, was a must use in the Superfecta, a win was not anticipated.  The turf was playing kinder to speed and the Super Screener said to move Mr Cub up if that was the case, so hopefully you did just that as he finished 2nd at 21-1.  Top win and long shot pick General McGooby went to the lead instead of tracking the pace and ended up finishing mid-pack. Small Bear did not duplicate that late kick of foot here and ended up far back.  Top long shot pick, My Bariley at odds of 63-1 had his head turned at the start then he hit the gate and lost all interest running 12th throughout.

 

THIS WEEK’S ACTION

As we start the new year, Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park take center stage, ensuring shelter from canceled race cards due to inclement weather.  Santa Anita features the G2 San Gabriel and the all important G3 Sham stakes which is an early West Coast Derby prep race worth 10 points to the winner.  Gulfstream Park has carded 5 minor stakes races to choose from with most of those featuring full and competitive fields.  Don’t forget, we’ll also have the Thirty Eight Go Go and Dave’s Friend Stakes from Laurel Park that were canceled on Saturday to be run this Friday…weather permitting.  

 

Here’s to a healthy and prosperous New Year filled with nothing but signers!

 

Until next next week, Go Fast and Win!

 

Mike