Here we are, another week of great horse racing, there are seven Grade 1 races scheduled for the weekend. Saratoga with four, Del Mar two and Monmouth with one and a slew of Grade 2 races and Calder is hosting a Saturday of 2YO stake races. Right know I haven’t decided which two races I will handicap for HANA, so if you readers have any suggestions leave a comment. Last weekend, I handicapped the Del Mar Oaks and Sky Classic. Two very interesting races, the Oaks showed us how good Summer Soiree really is holding off Nereid and Star Billing and in the Sky Classic a shocker with Kara’s Orientation just plain ran away from the field. I believe at one time she was 17 lengths in the lead down the back stretch and won by 2+ lengths.
Also, I’m in the last two weeks of Survival At The Shore contest at Monmouth Park. After 120 races I have had 28 winners (24%) and now in the top 20%. It has been a marathon, and like the contest is called, it is a Survival! Now on to harness racing, it is Wednesday Night and that means …
$15,000 Guaranteed Pick 4 at Balmoral Park in Crete IL. Last week we hit a small one of $260 on our $27 budget so we have a bit of profit to play this week. The races are 7-10 and the takeout is a small 14%, so let’s get started with the selections:
Race 7 #2 Mimi McBride ML 10/1 #5 BS Mary’s Delight ML 6/1 #6 Toshie Delight ML 5/2
Like Toshie Delight here, we had her last week and she finished 2nd, real consistent speed and other than Mimi McBride is the fastest currently.
Race 8 #1 Nannah Montana ML 6/1 #3 Kitty O’Brien ML 5/2 #5 No Doubt ML 5/2
This is a tough race, like both the #3 and #5. Leaning to the #5 due to strong speed figures and won last out and Todd Warren is staying in the buggy.
Race 9 #2 Mearl Finn ML 5/2 #7 Perky B Skipalong ML 6/1 #8 Mattjestic Help ML 6/1
The #2 and #8 were part of our winning night last Saturday. The safe bet is with the #2 but going say #8 in this spot. She is dropping down in class, two strong efforts with Leroy Miller driving and knocked off some serious time in her last race. She won’t get off at 30/1 like last Saturday but sitting in the 8th hole she might get overlooked again.
Race 10 #6 Racy Traci Place ML 15/1
This seems like a strange place for the single. But she is dropping down in class, David Fagan has a decent ROI and trains as well as drives. She has consistent speed of late, and while a non winner of 12 here at Balmoral, she just feels right in this spot.
Good luck and “here they come”
