Friday Laurel Park Selections - 2/14/2008

Friday brings with the prospect of a long 3 day weekend for many of us that get to enjoy President’s day away from the office.  We’re right smack dab in the middle of the exciting Kentucky Derby prep races, but I’m going to step away for a moment and spend a day playing my local Laurel Park on Friday.  I haven’t shown any love and attention to Laurel in a bit and I was starting to feel like a prodigal son.  We’ve got nine races on the card, all of which over the main dirt track.   Let’s et started, shall we?

Race 1

• #1 Call The Rocket/ #1A Zero Coupon (7/2)
• #5 Basha’s Commander (3/1)
• # 4 Seek Peace (5/2*)

We start the day with a 6 furlong $25k maiden claimer for 3 year olds.  #1 Call the Rocket and #1A Zero Coupon make up the coupled entry that I took as my top choice.  The workouts on Call the Rocket in particular looked pretty good to me.  I’m guessing one of these might scratch as Abel Castellano Jr. is listed as the jockey on both mounts.  #5 Basha’s Commander is a Michael Trombetta trained colt that has some nice workouts in the bag.  Julien Pimentel seems to be a go-to jockey for Trombetta and he takes the reins today.   Trombetta, it should be noted, is a ridiculous 30% with 1st time starters.  #4 Seek the Peace is the 5/2 morning line favorite, but I usually try to beat favorites if I can in cheap maiden claimers.  He did have a solid debut  where he relinquished the lead late and has as good a chance as any to move forward today.  To be honest I only chose him in 3rd place because he was the favorite.  I’ve got ersatz heroism in the opening race on a card. 

Race 2

• #1 Flew by You (2/1)
• #3 Cake (9/5*)
• #4 Zachary Cool Pants (10/1)

The second race of the afternoon is a $10k claimer for 3 year olds going 5 1/2 furlongs over the main track.  #1 Flew by You has the best record of the field at today’s distance (3-2-1-0). He has handled the rail in the past and should be on the gas early today.  Trainer Ben Feliciano is hitting at 36% in his first start off the claim.  If you toss that last race with the obvious trouble (”roughed up at start”) then he’s right there with the morning line favorite.  Speaking of the morning line favorite, that would be #3 Cake at 9/5.  He’s dropping in from the $16k level where he ran a game 2nd last time out.  He’s obviously got the Beyer speed #’s to make a top choice and it’s good to note that Napravnik stays aboard.  He’ll be forwardly placed if not on the lead.  #4 Zachary Cool Pants is a bit of a long-shot at 10/1 in the morning line.  Still, he chased the pace before facing last out and cuts back from a longer distance today.  Perhaps that helps him keep his speed?  I’ll probably use him in the exacta/trifecta plays.

Race 3

• #4 Catlike Move (7/2)
• #2 Undenied (15/1)
• #5 Skycrossing (3/1*)

The third race of the day is an interesting $5k claimer for four year olds and up going 7 furlongs over the main track. #4 Catlike Move was a winner last time out at this level.  He also has some impressive back class ($395k in earnings) and turned in a sharp workout on February 9th for good measure.  #2 Undenied is my long-shot play at 15/1.  He’s dropping in from the Allowance level and the layoff is a big concern to me.  However, the recent workouts hint that he’s in fine shape and it’s encouraging to see Karamanos take the reins today.  #5 Skycrossing is the morning line favorite dropping in from the $7500 level.  My concern here is that 7 furlongs might not be the right distance and to be honest I liked #6 Wanaka equally as much for my 3rd choice.

Race 4

• #7 Untamed Hero (3/1)
• #4 Don’ttrythisathome (2/1*)
• #2 Sir Togo (8/1)

The 4th race is a $25k N2L claimer for four year old’s and upward going 7 furlongs over the main track.  #7 Untamed Hero is a Dave Houghton trained gelding dropping in from the $30k allowance level.   He’s run pretty good at 7 furlongs over his career and was close to beating winners on 12/28/07.  #4 Don’ttrythisathome is a Hamilton Smith trainee that ran very well at the mile distance last time out. The 75 Beyer speed ranking looks mighty formidable in this field if he can repeat.  #2 Sir Togo drops in from the allowance level as well where he was wide and outrun.  He’s got some decent workouts on the tab, and although he didn’t fire last time at this distance, his career best Beyer ws a 67 at this distance when he broke his maiden.

Race 5

• #4 Lisa’s Night Out (7/2)
• #8 Elegant Ellie (9/5*)
• #6 Mary Ann’s Jet (5/1)

The 5th race is an N2l $15k claimer for fillies and mares 3 years old and upward going 5 1/2 furlongs over the main track.  #4 Lisa’s Night Out drops in from the $25k level and may get overlooked at the windows.  Sure, the last few races look pretty bad at first glance, but there were a good deal of repeat winners in those past efforts  and she doesn’t appear to be running into those types today.  She broke her maiden at this distance on 3/29/07 and I like the switch to Luis Garcia.  She could use some pace to run at but at 5 1/2 furlongs hopefully they won’t have her too far back so as not to make her presence felt when it counts.  #8 Elegant Ellie  is the morning line favorite at 9/5 and Mario Pino hops aboard for today’s race.  She looks like the pace setter and someone will have to go get her if she is to be denied   #6 Mary Ann’s Jet has 4 decent races for her career with a win, 2 place efforts, and a show.  I doubt we’ve seen the best of her yet and I think she’s a contender here today.

Race 6

• #2 Queen Hypolita (8/5*)
• #3 Bit Patti (8/1)
• #1 All Bets Down (3/1)

The 6th race is a $25k optional claimer/N2x for fillies and mares four years old and upward sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs over the main track.  #2 Queen Hypolita has been 2nd in her last two efforts at this level.  I like the 6 wins in 13 career starts at the 5 1/2 furlong distance, and you’ve always got to respect Howard Wolfendale trained horses.  #3 Big Patti is a surprise to me at 8/1.  She’s 3 for 4 lifetime and has been sharp lately.  I also love that she “repelled foe” in the stretch last time out.  Trainer Allen Ferris appears to have her in good shape to compete today.  #1 All Bets Down is an interesting Scott Lake runner that is 3 for his last 4.   He’s also got ample Beyer speed figures of 80 or better to be considered a logical contender today.

Race 7

• #1A Chicago Nate (2/1*)
• #2 C.G’s Striker (7/2)
• #4 Frontier Sky (3/1)

The 7yh race is a $30k Allowance N1X sprint for four year olds and upward going 5 1/2 furlongs over the main track.  #1A Chicago Nate looks like the obvious play here as the Scott Lake runner has the most impressive speed figures of the field.  He’s the captain obvious play of the day.  #2 C.G.’s Striker is a John Rigattieri trained gelding that has run well at the 5 1/2 furlong distance, including a career best 77 Beyer figure last out.  Still, he’s probably going to be run for place or show.  #4 Frontier Sky may be my sucker play of the day, but I just can’t resist a Jeremy Rose/Scott Lake combination.  I’ll use this one in the exacta and trifecta for sure. 

Race 8

• #1A Coyoteshighestcall (6/5*)
• #1 Happy Surprise (6/5)
• #4 Donald’s Pride (12/1)

The 8th race of the day is an Optional Claimer for $50k for four year olds and upward going 7 furlongs over the main track.  #1A Coyoteshighestcall is in sharp recent form and may track just behind the other half of the entry, #1 Happy Surprise, in the early goings.  It looks like Happy Surprise has the early speed and should be on the lead.  This might come down to a 1/1A exacta if that plays out.  Still, I thought #4 Donald’s Pride was worth considering at 12/1.  His last 5 races have been sharp and note that he’s got 9 wins in 15 tries at the tricky 7 furlong distance.   Interesting, yes?   I’ll probably also consider using Forest Park in the single race exotics.  I think that one is a bit long in the tooth now at  7 years old but is certainly capable of a minor award.

Race 9

• #1 Prized Conquest (3/2*)
• #3 Agenor (8/5)
• #4 Imperturbable (4/1)

We end the day with a $7500 claimer for four year olds and upward going 1 1/8 miles over the main track.  Finally, a route race for god’s sake! #1 Prized Conquest is a Dale Capuano trained gelding that saddles Jeremy Rose for today’s event.  Rose did well with him before earning place honors on 1/9/08.  He’s also dropping slightly from $10k/N3x territory.  #3 Agenor is a Justin Nixon trained horse that has lost two in a row as the post time favorite.  He is returning to the distance of his maiden score and is quite playable in this field.   #4 Imperturbable has the coolest name in the field.  That’s got to count for something, right?  His last 3 attempts have all been close and when you add Napravnik and blinkers to the equation I could be enticed to make a small wager. 

Best of luck to everyone.  As always be sure to check for late scratches and/or changes to the card.   Hope you all had a wonderful Valentine’s Day.