MeSlew
04-04-2013, 10:11 PM
Hello All! Welcome Keeneland. One of the premier race meets in North America. For Friday, April 5th we have the following agenda:
Aqueduct - 2
Gulfstream - 3,4,5,6,9,11,12,13
Santa Anita - 1,2,3,4,5,7
Tampa - 3,6,8
Keeneland - 1,2,3,5,6,8,9,10
Pimlico - 6
Oaklawn - 8
Easy to see where the good horses are concentrated this time of year. Of course, Gulfstream concludes its race meet on Friday with a mandatory payout on the Rainbow 6 wager. Expect a pot the size of the entire GDP of Bulgaria.
Two Key Horses running tomorrow, both at Keeneland.
CURRENT KEY HORSES (< 90 DAYS)
Starsilhouette - KEE ( 2) GP 12/01/12 # 8
Upgrade - KEE ( 5) GP 02/01/13 # 5
Starsilhouette made it to our list from a race back on 12/1 at Gulfstream Park. On Sunday, Jan. 20 in the first of two GP reviews I wrote the following: Starsilhouette ran on December 1st for Michael Maker in a STARTER STAKES for 3 & upward Fillies and Mares on the turf listed that day as firm. The race was not filled with pace as the first 3 splits were run in +24 second times. But she came home in a rush with the last 16th clocked in 5.86 seconds. It must be said that the only other pilot moving with the same degree of purpose was Kendrick Carmouche on the runner up Malibu Yankee. If either one of these horses get some pace and a tiring field next time, they could run over their opponents so be prepared to avert your eyes. But Starsilhouette showed chops when she took off through a seam that opened up when the final turn straightened away and enjoyed a clear path to the winners circle. Watch for these two.
Well, Malibu Yankee has yet to run again, but Starsilhouette (Maker/Garcia) won on 3/8 at the Fairgounds in a Starter Optional Claiming race. That pace was rather pedestrian and I would expect a more lively affair tomorrow. The biggest problem? She is 2/1 on the ML and coupled with Sisterhood (Ward/Rosario).
Upgrade (Nihei/Leparoux) was 9th in the BC sprint back on 11/3/2012, then checked in 3rd in his first race back on 2/1 in Hallandale. Here are my notes from that race: February 1, 2013 Race 5 - An Allowance Optional Claiming with a tag of $100K and a purse of $65K, this race was won by Barclay Tagg's Beau Choix (Saez) from off a fast pace. This one went on to run 3rd with Castellano up behind the accomplished Data Link on Feb. 23rd in the Grade III Canadian Turf. Upgrade ridden by Johnny V. and trained by Michelle Nihei may have needed this one just a bit. Look for him in his next start, especially if Michelle hikes the class ladder to a soft Grade 3. Conversely, Decisive Moment (Arias/Trujillo), the enterprising pace setter who cut impressive fractions on the lead will need a drop to softer company. He was 14-1 in this affair, but won't be half that in his next start if the others are less than stellar.
Well, Michelle doesn't get to a Gr.III but finds a 68K AOC. Now Beau Choix just ran a very good second to Za Approval in the Appleton Gr.III on 3/30 at GP. Decisive Moment ran another enterprising race on 3/3, losing to Big Blue Kitten by a 1/2 length in an AOC. He was a long way back in the Appleton but was outclassed and where he belonged.
I would look at Upgrade carefully in this second race back.
Enjoy the Friday racing and Keeneland opening day. And as always...
good luck and good 'capping! -
Aqueduct - 2
Gulfstream - 3,4,5,6,9,11,12,13
Santa Anita - 1,2,3,4,5,7
Tampa - 3,6,8
Keeneland - 1,2,3,5,6,8,9,10
Pimlico - 6
Oaklawn - 8
Easy to see where the good horses are concentrated this time of year. Of course, Gulfstream concludes its race meet on Friday with a mandatory payout on the Rainbow 6 wager. Expect a pot the size of the entire GDP of Bulgaria.
Two Key Horses running tomorrow, both at Keeneland.
CURRENT KEY HORSES (< 90 DAYS)
Starsilhouette - KEE ( 2) GP 12/01/12 # 8
Upgrade - KEE ( 5) GP 02/01/13 # 5
Starsilhouette made it to our list from a race back on 12/1 at Gulfstream Park. On Sunday, Jan. 20 in the first of two GP reviews I wrote the following: Starsilhouette ran on December 1st for Michael Maker in a STARTER STAKES for 3 & upward Fillies and Mares on the turf listed that day as firm. The race was not filled with pace as the first 3 splits were run in +24 second times. But she came home in a rush with the last 16th clocked in 5.86 seconds. It must be said that the only other pilot moving with the same degree of purpose was Kendrick Carmouche on the runner up Malibu Yankee. If either one of these horses get some pace and a tiring field next time, they could run over their opponents so be prepared to avert your eyes. But Starsilhouette showed chops when she took off through a seam that opened up when the final turn straightened away and enjoyed a clear path to the winners circle. Watch for these two.
Well, Malibu Yankee has yet to run again, but Starsilhouette (Maker/Garcia) won on 3/8 at the Fairgounds in a Starter Optional Claiming race. That pace was rather pedestrian and I would expect a more lively affair tomorrow. The biggest problem? She is 2/1 on the ML and coupled with Sisterhood (Ward/Rosario).
Upgrade (Nihei/Leparoux) was 9th in the BC sprint back on 11/3/2012, then checked in 3rd in his first race back on 2/1 in Hallandale. Here are my notes from that race: February 1, 2013 Race 5 - An Allowance Optional Claiming with a tag of $100K and a purse of $65K, this race was won by Barclay Tagg's Beau Choix (Saez) from off a fast pace. This one went on to run 3rd with Castellano up behind the accomplished Data Link on Feb. 23rd in the Grade III Canadian Turf. Upgrade ridden by Johnny V. and trained by Michelle Nihei may have needed this one just a bit. Look for him in his next start, especially if Michelle hikes the class ladder to a soft Grade 3. Conversely, Decisive Moment (Arias/Trujillo), the enterprising pace setter who cut impressive fractions on the lead will need a drop to softer company. He was 14-1 in this affair, but won't be half that in his next start if the others are less than stellar.
Well, Michelle doesn't get to a Gr.III but finds a 68K AOC. Now Beau Choix just ran a very good second to Za Approval in the Appleton Gr.III on 3/30 at GP. Decisive Moment ran another enterprising race on 3/3, losing to Big Blue Kitten by a 1/2 length in an AOC. He was a long way back in the Appleton but was outclassed and where he belonged.
I would look at Upgrade carefully in this second race back.
Enjoy the Friday racing and Keeneland opening day. And as always...
good luck and good 'capping! -