Met Mile

RAC90529.BEL  DIST= 8 f  CLASS=GST
PROGR NUM/NAME   RS Q ODDS  BL1   BL2    BL3    T1   T2    T3    TT    LF    DSL
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(8)YANKEE VICTO  E  8   2.6  1.65  2.22   0.00  45.4  68.6  95.6 56.86 50.20 23
(2)RICHTER SCAL  E  8   6.1  0.00  7.54   2.26  45.0  69.7  96.0 53.64 52.01 43
(3)BIG JAG       S  4   6.9 11.39 12.76   3.21  47.3  70.7  96.2 56.47 53.82 65
(1)WESTERN EXPR  E/P8   9.9  1.34  0.00   4.35  45.3  68.1  96.5 57.81 47.81 22
(7)SIR BEAR      P  2  19.8  5.21  8.81   6.94  46.1  69.9  97.0 55.41 50.64 37
(5)LIBERTY GOLD  E/P6  30.5  5.86 11.37   7.91  46.2  70.4  97.2 54.54 51.27 31
(6)STRAIGHT MAN  E  8 304.4  3.82 11.82  15.46  45.8  70.5  98.7 53.44 48.06 23
(4)HONEST LADY   E/P3 304.4  7.32 15.18  19.04  46.5  71.2  99.4 53.50 47.98 23

(For An Explanation Of The Rankings Used Here, Consult The PA 2000 User's Guide)

Early speed is the name of the game in this renewel of the prestigious Met Mile at Belmont Park on
Memorial Day afternoon.  No less than 4 horses have 8 Quirin Speed points, three of those four are
rated as E8.  It looks like the early lead will most likely go to Richter Scale.   The talented speedball will
be stretching things a bit here at one mile, but his figures obviously put him squarely in the picture come
finish line time.  Plus, Richter Scale has proven to be as tough as they come when the going gets rough,
and his experience at shorter distances will only help his cause here.  Combine that with the fact that he
owns the second best LF (final fraction) number in the field, and you have one very tough likely favorite.

However, I'm not in this game to bet favorites.  That's why I like the fact that Yankee Victor is my top
pick in this race.  He's won his last two wire to wire, which may be a detriment in this race with all the
speed present.  But, you have to bet value in this game, and Richter Scale and Big Jag are likely to be
way overbet.  Yankee Victor will not only offer value, but a very real chance at winning.

With all of the speed present, you might want to look to Big Jag, with his top LF figure, to pick up the
pieces of a protracted early speed duel.  But there is no chance you'll get at least 6-1 on this horse off
his effort in Dubai.

Therefore, the ME² bet will be as follows:  Bet Yankee Victor at anything between 9/2 and 5/1 inclusive.
I know this is a very narrow range, but he is likely to fall into this range, being 9/2 on the morning line.  And
the rules are the rules, and it's never a good idea to go against the ME² rules.