6.13.2014

Los Alamitos Friday 6-13-14

A solid weekend of racing here at Los Alamitos begins with a competitive 9-race card that begins at 7pm. Saturday night features an 870-yard allowance and Sunday night features the return of the 2013 AQHA World Champion Quarter Horse LAST TO FIRE in the Vessels Maturity trials. Let's take a look at tonight's card.

Keys of The Night:

Race 2: #4 Hez Stellar was also my best bet last out when he finished fourth after a bumpy start. He returns at the same level today and will be tough to beat if he can get away cleanly. He has shown a good late kick but needs to avoid trouble early in the race.

Race 8: #3 Fast Moving Fire was one of my keys on May 25 when he was scratched at post time when breaking through the gate and running off (http://www.losponies.com/2014/05/los-alamitos-5-25-14.html). He returns at the same level and looked strong when winning his first start of 2014.

Race 9: #2 Solid Connection is making her first start as a 3-year-old and brings a sizzling 17.60 workout for 350 yards leading up to this. She showed talent as a 2-year-old and qualified for the GI Golden State Million Futurity. Strong connections of Paul Jones and Cesar De Alba.

Selections:

Race 1:  1-6-2
Race 2:  4-8-2
Race 3:  1-3-4
Race 4:  4-7-5
Race 5:  6-4-2
Race 6:  4-8-5
Race 7:  8-4-3
Race 8:  3-5-2
Race 9:  2-7-5

Bets:

Race 1 - $1 Pick Four:
1,2,6 / 4 / 1,3,4 / 4,5,7
Total $27

Race 6 - $1 Pick Four
4,5,6,8 / 1,2,3,4,7,8 / 3 / 2
Total $27

6.06.2014

Los Alamitos 6-6-14

Keys of the Night for Friday:

Race 1: #7 Dashing Over draws a good outside post for her debut. She posted a nice 12.10 drill on May 17 in preparation for today's effort. Trainer does well with first time starters.

Race 2: #3 Call Rona ran an okay third at higher level in her debut after bumping at the start. Expect her to improve in her second start today. Her main threat will be the horse to her outside.

Race 6: #4 Jess a Valiant Chick posted a nice third in her debut and then followed that with a fifth in the Kindergarten trials. Her racing experience is her main advantage against these.

Selections:

Race 1:  7-4-5
Race 2:  3-4-2
Race 3:  1-5-3
Race 4:  8-6-3
Race 5:  3-4-1
Race 6:  4-5-6
Race 7:  4-3-5
Race 8:  5-3-2
Race 9:  6-5-1

Plays:

Race 1 - $1 Pick Four:
7 / 3 / 1,5 / All
Total $16

Race 6 - $1 Pick Four
4 / 3,4 / 2,3,5,6 / 1,5,6
Total $24


Super Saturday - Triple Crown on The Line


36 years. 

That's how long it's been since the last Triple Crown winner. 

I wasn't even born yet.

What else can I say about California Chrome at this point? He's taken us on an unforgetable ride and now he's only 1 win away from immortality. His high cruising speed fits great in the Belmont Stakes
and I don't have any concerns about the distance. 

In my opinion, California Chrome has looked better than ever since settling in at Belmont Park. His stride looks great, he seems to get over the track effortlessly during his gallops, and his workout was very impressive. Everything is set. Let's get a clean and safe trip for all of the contenders.

I think we will have a new Triple Crown Champion tomorrow: California Chrome.

On the wagering side, there is no value in betting California Chrome to win, but there are other ways to make money with California Chrome. To me, he's a freebie, so he's a single in my pick-3's, pick-4, pick-6, Daily Doubles and more.  

Perfect example: I keyed California Chrome in my Kentucky Derby Pick-4 and got back a nice $394 payout. Same with the $170 Kentucky Derby Exacta. 

He will be a very short price in the Belmont. It will tough to make money with him, but at the end of the day, i'm not really looking to make a lot of money. I like him, I know what his odds will be, and I think he's the best horse in the field.

If you take away what this race means and imagine it was just another race on a Thursday, it would lead me to the same type of wagering strategy: single him in my exotics and look for value in the other races where I think the fields are wide open.

I have not finished building my pick-3/4/6 etc plays for Saturday yet but will tweet them out tomorrow so stay tuned to my twitter. What I do have are some blogs with plays for the Met Mile, and an Exacta and Trifecta on the Belmont. 




Here are my full card selections for Saturday's card at Belmont Park and Santa Anita Park!









6.01.2014

Los Alamitos 6-1-14

Construction of new barns with 200 new stalls
Tonight's 9-race card at Los Alamitos has three Thoroughbred (races 1-3) and six Quarter Horse events with a first post of 5:45pm.

Keys of The Night:

Race 1 - #5 Moonshine Ridge comes off a powerful 7-length win at a lower level. He earned his career-best speed figure in that effort and if the class dropper #6 Nome does not show that speed from three starts ago, Moonshine Ridge might be long gone.


Race 7 - #1 This Captains Klas was an unlucky second by a nose last time out after hesitating at the start and getting bumped multiple times. He was more than a length behind the eventual winner early in the race and then closed ground late to just miss the win. A good start from the rail should be all he needs to land in the winner's circle. He return's at the same race condition and same distance as that last race.

Selections:

Race 1:  5-6-4
Race 2:  3-1-2
Race 3:  1-7-3
Race 4:  8-2-4
Race 5:  5-1-2
Race 6:  2-6-1
Race 7:  1-6-2
Race 8:  5-6-3
Race 9:  1-7-3

Plays:

Race 1 - $1 Pick Four:
5 / 1,2,3 / 1,3,7 / 2,4,8
Total $27

Race 6 - $1 Pick Four:
1,2,3,6 / 1 / 3,5,6 / 1,7
Total $24