First Post: Saturday, April 6, 2013

Ready for action! And there is much!

Free ones: Rundown…

Aqueduct 3, 5, 6, 7, 9
Golden Gate 2, 3, 6
Santa Anita 5, 6, 7

Pay-side: Today…

Keeneland 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9
Tampa 7, 8, 9, 11
Pimlico 2, 5, 6, 9, 10
Hawthorne 5, 8
Oaklawn 3, 4, 5, 8, 9

Today’s Stakes Pageantry: Aqu 9 (Grade III Bay Shore) and SA 5, 6, 7 (Grade I Santa Anita Oaks, Thunder Road, Grade II Potrero Grande) on the free page.

On the pay-side are Kee 9 (Grade I Ashland), Tam 7, 8, 9, Pim 9, OP 9. Jackpot!

Otherwise, it looks good for #7 Discreet Dancer in Aqu 10, the Grade I Carter. Maybe time to play against the odds-on in the Wood, with #5 Vyjack and #2 Normandy Invasion obviously the likeliest spoilers. Only The Shadow Knows!

Calder opens today, and it’s already raining there. #1 Sr. Quisqueyano appears worthy as a low-priced overlay in the eponymous Derby.

Too strong is #7 Ben’s Cat in the Mister Diz at Pimlico.

Stabbing with #5 Birdlover in the Providencia at Santa Anita. Later, it’s the eponymous Derby, and we’re not really feeling too enthusiastic about the favorite. #5 Goldencents and #7 Summer Exclusive could have better chances this time. We’ve been crazier before.

Mild upset in store for Sunland’s Czaria; going with #6 Jaws n’ Paws.

#6 China Holiday can do it in Tam 5.

Prohibitive chalk in TuP 5: #1 Red Zeus.

We’ll see what sticks! Meantime, exhale!

Yesterday’s Activity: Keeneland, thank you!

Five singles (read: live longshots, not dead (dead!)-pipe cinches) listed, three of whom were the champions, two of whom in back-to-back jacks, no less.

Race 7 was the great Chortle, 8-1 morning line and 7-1 at the off. She was a vaunted Triple Threat horsey, for crying out loud, win mutuel of $17.60.

Next race, it was Laugh Track providing the last one by finishing first at 16-1, up from 12-1 on the morning line, $34.80 win mutuel, $321 for the natural cold-punch $2 daily double. Maybe you bet a fin on it.

In the King of The NetCapper Bullies, Ghost Chapel had the goods in a contentious race, 10-1 morning line, 9-1 at the post: straight-up $20 win mutuel there.

When you do good at Keeneland, little else matters, but for the record, in the fifth at Oaklawn, Crookedpathtoglory ($29.40) also won. Honourable mention to 22-1 Sharp Harbour, runner-up in the King of The NetCapper Bullies there.

And, of course, who could forget the 2-1 winner Firewhirl at Fonner.

WMF Report:

Early
Beulah 6f, 1m
Los Alamitos 4½f
Keystone 6f
Santa Anita 6f

Nocturnal Submission: PennNat 6 (8:16 p.m. EDT / 5:16 p.m. PDT) has #9 Horseshoe Lake in not-so-deep. Also in the mix are #8 Jazzking and #4 Hanson Heights. …

Thank you. Best wishes. Goodbye. Bye-bye.