Ice Cold Exacta at Del Mar, Saratoga Scores

G2 Eddie Read

Screener hit the Exacta cold based on strong conviction that Hunt would run a big race and defeat the odds-on favorite, Ashleyluvssugar and he did just that at nice odds of 7-2.  He was even stymied a bit from the top of the stretch to halfway down the lane but erupted showing that brilliant turn of foot and he was indeed more focused with those added blinkers.  Here’s what the Super Screener predicted about Hunt:

 

“The Super Screener has landed on #2 Hunt as the top win choice and offering a little value.  Trainer Philip D’Amato has added blinkers to generate more focus for his prized gelding. He has tried this distance twice before but without success though he tossed good numbers in those affairs.  Flavien Prat returns to the saddle and his riding style will be more conducive to success.  With added blinkers look for a cozy position on the rail before unleashing a big run late getting a jump on late closers.  A lifetime top is projected here and look for a better effort than that strong showing in the G2 Seabiscuit.  Would really appreciate odds of 3-1 or higher.”

 

Ashleyluvssugar ran his usual good race as a reliable Exacta hitter.  Combined with the Hunt conviction the suggested Exacta wagers returned a very healthy $617.

 

G1 Diana

Dickinson finally ran a dull race and without any real excuses and that opened the door for the champ, Lady Eli, to once again show the world she’s still the top US mare in training on the turf.  The pace did come up soft with little pressure so her effort coming from 5th to first was even more impressive.  She has returned to top form and will be tough to beat as she points to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare turf race.  

 

The Super Screener top value pick in the race, Quidura really delivered setting the modest pace and then showed tenacity giving Lady Eli fits down the stretch before grudgingly yielding at the wire but having enough in reserve to hold off Chad Brown’s other horse Antonoe (who had to steady just yards before the stretch) to hold on to second at generous odds of nearly 8-1.  This is what the Super Screener had to say about this up and coming turf filly:

 

“#4 Quidura is a Super Screener top value favorite as she fits the winning profile of this race perfectly and offers value to boot.  Screener values the drop back in distance and the very favorable form cycle pattern in play. Work patterns are solid and she ran well against #3 Lady Eli and #6 Dickinson in the G1 Jenny Wiley despite being away for 6 months.  A ton of upside for this lightly raced 4 year-old filly from a top barn.”

Suggested Exacta wagers returned a healthy $444 in the process.

 

G3 Sanford

The Pletcher and Asumussen pairs didn’t run a lick though the Super Screener called out Baffin as the vulnerable favorite in the race.  It also selected Free Drop Billy as the top long shot pick and while he did finish a sharp looking second, the steam was on him and he ended up the favorite in the race.  Firenze Fire proved tough coming in from Monmouth as the second longest shot on the board and it might pay to watch shippers from Monmouth that appeared to run against weaker fields.  Over the last two years, horses having shipped in from Monmouth produced healthy ROI figures.

 

G2 San Clemente

This is the Graded Stakes race we were looking forward to the most this past weekend.  It really had the feel of a race with some upset potential.  Well, that part the Super Screener got right as the second longest shot on the board, Madam Dancelot, exploded from last to first the length of the stretch, beating really good horses in the process.  It is one thing to get a race completely wrong but the Super Screener pegged Lull as the second place finisher and Sircat Sally, a mildly vulnerable odds-on favorite, as the third place finisher with our top long shot play, Storm the Hill finishing a solid 4th…very orderly, indeed.  We went back to see if anything was missed on Madam Dancelot…nothing.  Even the owners and trainer were shocked and the only reason they raced her in here was that they couldn’t find a suitable sprint race for her.  The only haunting memory I had was from watching the replay of her last race and noting how she blew by runners past the wire.  We even made note of that in our notes on Madam Dancelot.

It took awhile to shake that one off but shake if off we did and on to next weekend which is coming up huge!

 

What a weekend of racing ahead!  Saratoga alone will feature 4 Graded Stakes events including the highly anticipated headliner, the G2 Jim Dandy Stakes for 3 year-olds where G1 Kentucky Derby winner, Always Dreaming will face off against the the G2 Preakness winner, Cloud Computing.  In addition, that same card will included the G1 Vanderbilt, G2 Bowling Green and G2 Amsterdam.  Not to be out done, Del Mar will feature the G1 Bing Crosby Stakes which will mark the return of sprint champion veteran Big Macher who will face off against the rising sprint star out of the Baffert barn, Drefong.  This is summer stakes racing at its best!  Don’t miss it.

 

Until next weekend…Go fast and win!

 

Mike

 

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