First Post: Saturday, August 6, 2011

Up for debate: The first Saturday in August — is it greater than the first Saturday in May?

Prolly not, but there’s some good action to be had during the opening weekend of the Dog Days.

Free ones:

Rundown
Saratoga Race Course 1, 8, 11
Calder 10, 12, 13
Del Mar Thoroughbred Club 5, 9, 10

Yea, verily, one of those legendary Saturday cards this afternoon at the Ancient Spa; enjoy! Crazy-good latter part of the card at the Calder Thoroughbred Racing Society, especially that lucky 13th, which is a Doozie, uppercase D. Somewhat weaksauce this afternoon at the DMTC; too bad.

Pay-side:

Rundown
Monmouth 2, 9, 12
Woodbine 4, 6, 9
Ellis 4, 9, 10
Arlington 2, 8, 9
Louisiana 3, 5, 9
Retama 4, 5

Better today at Rexdale-Etobicoke Int.’l. Good late double on the grass at the Ellis Pea Patch Racing Association & Trust. Retama continues to delight, even with the limited Thoroughbred programming.

WMF Report:

Speed
Arlington 5½f
Arapahoe (!) 5½f
Ellis 6f, 1m
Fairmount 6f
Mountain 6f
Monmouth 6f
Northlands 6f, 6½f
PennNat 6f, 1m
River 6f
Ruidoso 5½f
Woodbine 6f

Rally (Honourable Mention)
Hoosier 6f (WMF 30)

And every once and again, a synthetic track comes up speedy, a la the current trends at both Arlington and Woodbine. PennNat & Ellis look similar, havens for the sacred lone-F ploy of conventional handicapping. The green light blinks! Don’t try it at the Hoosier at 6f right now, however; it’s a little bit riskier there.

Nocturnal Submission: Going to Assiniboia for Race 7 (10:35 p.m. EDT / 7:35 p.m. PDT), where the top two morning-line choices are bogi, making the stab on #8 Marozi much more appealing. …A similar situation presents itself in the second at Evangeline (9:22 / 6:22), and #4 Mr. Porter will be overlooked. …Back to Canada now for Race 3 at Marquis; in that one, #5 Lynn’s Temptress has a shot. …A stakes chaser for the road at Prairie, Race 9 (11:19 / 8:19), where many have high hopes but #10 Rico’s Posse is sure to have high odds. …

Thank you. So long. Best wishes.