Wednesday card from DiscreetPicks
DiscreetCat
Moderator
Obviously these were both scratched due to the Hollywood cancellation, but I thought they might be of some interest to you guys for future reference.
Hollywood - Race 5
#4 Lodi Red* (9/2 ml)
Improving horse is coming off a couple of better-than-looked efforts, the first of which was a close second to the good prospect Cee's Pryme, a race in which that one had enjoyed a very easy time of it up front. Lodi Red was still almost able to run him down despite the pace disadvantage, then may very well have improved last time out when switching back to grass, moving noticeably well on the turn for home, but being forced to wait for room behind horses and then getting smothered for the entire length of the stretch, never able to extend his stride at all. Was quite possibly best in that race, and returns here vs. much of that same group while offering a very solid price. Also note that he's returning to Hollywood, where he's a just half-length from being 2-for-2 over the course. Should get a solid pace to run at here, and i think this horse rates as a very strong contender with a clean trip today. Good value.
Hollywood - Race 6
#1 Ricketyracketyruss* (5/1 ml)
This horse was claimed by the outstanding trainer John Sadler, right out of his debut, always an extremely positive sign. Was away from the gate slowly in that debut, dropping back to last early,. but started making an eye-catching move towards the end of the backstretch before suddenly getting shifted back very sharply to the inside as the rider recognized he was about to get hung out to dry on the turn. That robbed him of much of his momentum, but he was able to re-rally down the lane to finish close despite having to be steered around another horse in deep stretch. Very much a better-than-looked effort by this Borrego colt who figures to stretch out pretty nicely, and note that Sadler hits at an exceptional 27% going sprint-to-route (not to mention 26% off the claim). Should offer some good value here on the class jump to maiden special weight (further note that Sadler is protecting him here), especially with the 2/1 ml favorite being a Baffert horse who finished second by a neck going a mile last time out. Looks live at what should be a reasonably big price.*****
Hollywood - Race 5
#4 Lodi Red* (9/2 ml)
Improving horse is coming off a couple of better-than-looked efforts, the first of which was a close second to the good prospect Cee's Pryme, a race in which that one had enjoyed a very easy time of it up front. Lodi Red was still almost able to run him down despite the pace disadvantage, then may very well have improved last time out when switching back to grass, moving noticeably well on the turn for home, but being forced to wait for room behind horses and then getting smothered for the entire length of the stretch, never able to extend his stride at all. Was quite possibly best in that race, and returns here vs. much of that same group while offering a very solid price. Also note that he's returning to Hollywood, where he's a just half-length from being 2-for-2 over the course. Should get a solid pace to run at here, and i think this horse rates as a very strong contender with a clean trip today. Good value.
Hollywood - Race 6
#1 Ricketyracketyruss* (5/1 ml)
This horse was claimed by the outstanding trainer John Sadler, right out of his debut, always an extremely positive sign. Was away from the gate slowly in that debut, dropping back to last early,. but started making an eye-catching move towards the end of the backstretch before suddenly getting shifted back very sharply to the inside as the rider recognized he was about to get hung out to dry on the turn. That robbed him of much of his momentum, but he was able to re-rally down the lane to finish close despite having to be steered around another horse in deep stretch. Very much a better-than-looked effort by this Borrego colt who figures to stretch out pretty nicely, and note that Sadler hits at an exceptional 27% going sprint-to-route (not to mention 26% off the claim). Should offer some good value here on the class jump to maiden special weight (further note that Sadler is protecting him here), especially with the 2/1 ml favorite being a Baffert horse who finished second by a neck going a mile last time out. Looks live at what should be a reasonably big price.*****