RECAP: Springboard Mile, Gulfstream CASHES - Super Screener
Super Screener

RECAP: Springboard Mile, Gulfstream CASHES

Photo By: Liz Lamont/Eclipse Sportswire

Rampart (G3)

After a troubled start by Pink Sands due to Bella Ciao knocking her back forcing lost ground, the Super Screener Top Value, Top Board Hitter, Top Win pick, Pink Sands, gathered herself and leveraged that accurately projected fast and pressured pace to run down a very game Cookie Dough in the final jump at the wire. Here’s what the Super Screener had to say about Pink Sands before the race:

There will be 3 horses out on the front competing for the lead which will create a demanding early pace. In addition, there will be two pressers that will ensure a more-than-honest pace. While #4 Pink Sands will be at the back of the field in the early going, she will find the pace pressure to work to her advantage even on on dirt track surface that favors those that are forwardly placed. #4 Pink Sands is sitting on a big race 2nd off the layoff. She fired a very strong work last out indicating a move forward second off the layoff. She offers plenty of value at M/L odds of 8-1.

Our 4th ranked horse, Cairenn, also took advantage of the great pace set up and closed for a clear 3rd place finish at solid odds of 13-1. The Super Screener Trifecta that included Cairenn in the third hole of the Trifecta returned $192.

Ft Lauderdale (G2)

The Super Screener indicated that Instilled Regard was the one to beat and he finally broke through to fulfill on earlier promise. He was trapped a bit behind horses down the stretch but found that seam and found another gear to hold off the late-closing Admission Office who came up short once again as was anticipated by the Super Screener but that 2nd place finish triggered one of the suggested Trifecta tickets to cash for $80. 

Not sure why Luis Saez took our top win pick, Cross Border, to the front from the get go. He looked to be much better served by coming from off the pace.

LA Champions Day Turf

The Super Screener Top Win pick, Ninety One Assault got the job done at odds of 9-2 taking full advantage of the anticipated pressured pace set up. 

There will be a ton of pace pressure here with 7 horses projected to all be forwardly placed led by #4 Afleet Ascent. This race really sets up well for a closer or class-dropping presser. #2 Ninety One Assault meets both of those criteria and more. He does his best work on the FG turf course having never missed the Trifecta in 6 starts. Faced much tougher in his last 5 races out East. Fairy lightly raced this year making just his 4th start since May. Form cycle analysis indicates a big move forward 2nd off the layoff and dropping into easier.  Pressured pace set up really works to his advantage here. Top Win contender and a wagering key.

We missed the Exacta by a neck as the lone “C” horse in the race, Remembermis just caught one of our top “B” horses, Budro Talking as they hit the wire.

LA Champions Day Ladies Turf

The Super Screener Top Board Hitter pick, Room to Finish closed gamely for 2nd but it was the long shot Net a Bear that was just a bit gamer and got the win at odds of 12-1. The Superfecta slots were all take up by closers as the anticipated hot and pressured pace materialized resulting in any horse that was close to that pace to finish in the back half of the field.

Springboard Mile

The Super Screener’s two “A” horses completed the Exacta with Shoplifted getting the best of Answer In by just a head. As the Super Screener anticipated, Shoplifted was the best of the Asmussen trio as he dropped in to find much easier company here. We faded the other favorite Rowdy Yates and that horse ended up finishing 7th at 7-2 odds.

With half of the field making their route debut and many of those being speed types, the pace projects to be quite hot with plenty of pressure. This really sets up well for our two “A” horses including #4 Answer In who ships in from Churchill Downs for the hot Brad Cox barn. This gelding has been away since late October but is training well and that penultimate work was really solid. He laid out energy in that ideal balanced way going 7 furlongs last out which signals the move to 2 turns should not be a problem. Look for an ideal stalking trip on the outside reserving energy throughout before launching a sustained bid to the wire. Strong win contender.

#9 Shoplifted is one of 3 in here for trainer Steve Asmussen and the Super Screener ranks this as the best of the trio. He has faced so much tougher in all 4 of his career starts so this is a major drop into much softer competition. In addition, he has 2-turn experience and the rapid, pressured pace couldn’t work out any better for this colt. As many in the field will be running out of gas as they approach the wire, look for #9 Shoplifted to come flying late. Offers value at 5-1.

Our Top “B” horse, Embolden rounded out the Trifecta and was very game on the return to a dirt surface and trying a route of ground for the first time.

In the end, the Super Screener’s top 3 picks comprised the Trifecta and triggered payoffs of about $240.

The stakes action gets really light on the Saturday before Christmas, but it is back to Fair Grounds as they’ll feature card of minor stakes races that offer those ideal full fields. The G3 Mr. Prospector will be run at GP as well, so we’ll have enough viable stakes action to work with.

Until next weekend go fast and win!

Mike Shutty