Mike's Race Analysis May 26, 2007
Race #1
1st - #4 Newton John | 2nd - #6 Just a Country Boy | 3rd - #1 Trouble Shooter
COMMENTARY : The #4 NEWTON JOHN has turned in back-to-back game runner-up efforts and is going to be tough again today, he battled on the pace in his latest and was very tenacious down the lane and with this dash coming up a bit softer than his last he should get the job done. The #6 JUST A COUNTRY BOY looks to be the main danger as he drops down in price after a no-threat run against optional $35,000, this is a significant dip in class so it would be no surprise if he were to win today. The #1 TROUBLE SHOOTER closed out the '06 season in decent form with easier and looks to be the best of the rest.
Race #2
1st - #1 Deadly Zone | 2nd - #5 Pat of Gold | 3rd - #7 Count Your Dreams
COMMENTARY : The #1 DEADLY ZONE was stakes-placed on three different occasions and her best effort was a solid second behind two year filly champ SUVA in the $114,000 Fantasy. She's in with maidens today and just needs to bring her '06 form with her and she should win the money. The #5 PAT OF GOLD was impressive in her debut finishing a close third to a couple of nice fillies, she has a nice draw and might be able to get a positional edge on my top pick, she's only had the one start and is obviously eligible to improve so she's a top threat in here. The #7 COUNT YOUR DREAMS wasn't disgraced in her debut checking in fourth after a tardy beginning, she'll need to be better to win and there's a good chance that she will be. SOLID TRIACTA FILLY !!!
Race #3
1st - #7 Proficiency | 2nd - #2 How Bout Jose | 3rd - #4 Zip The Bright
COMMENTARY : The #7 PROFICIENCY has been working in fine style and could be the controlling speed in this dash which is why I'll lean to him in this very competitive event. The #2 HOW BOUT JOSE is an amazing 10 year old that never seems to run poorly and I'm sure that'll be the case again today, he's making a barn change (re-claim by Tom Longstaff) after his narrow victory but he runs well for whoever leads him over to race. The #4 ZIP THE BRIGHT has been a pleasant surprise so far this spring with two excellent sprint efforts so if the top two get a little too involved with each other early then this guy will be tough to fend off.
Race #4
1st - #4 River Rock Mombo | 2nd - #1 Entry | 3rd - #2 Azkaban
COMMENTARY : The #4 RIVER ROCK MOMBO seemed to be a different horse with blinkers in his final start of '06 and with the barn going very well this spring I'll gamble that this one is ready to fire first time out. The #1 duo of #1 MONEYS DEFENSE and the #1a TONI THE ICEMAN are both taking big dips in price and will be very tough to beat. The #2 AZKABAN was a game fourth place finisher in his first start of the year and if he can maintain position early then he has a great chance as well. TOUGH RACE !!!!
Race #5
1st - #4 Sideline | 2nd - #10 Great Prince | 3rd - #5 Cagey Fox
COMMENTARY : The #4 SIDELINE raced near the pace against a much tougher crew in his '07 debut, he's drawn nicely and gets an easier assignment so I think he'll rebound with a better showing. The #10 GREAT PRINCE is the logical horse on paper but with him drawing the outside things seem to even out a bit. If he can overcome the tricky post then he should win but I don't like backing horses (at a short price) that have had too many tries in these conditional races. VERY 'LIVE' BUT BE CAUTIOUS !! The #5 CAGEY FOX is a talented colt that does too many things wrong in the pre-race proceedings which is why he's only a winner of one. he can certainly win (could be a nice price) if he has grown up mentally over the winter.
Race #6
1st - #6 Patriotic | 2nd - #7 Just Like Dreads | 3rd - #3 Scots Pine
COMMENTARY : The #6 PATRIOTIC has been working very well for a barn that is red-hot then toss in a rider that clicking at 31% and we should have a winning combination. There appears to be plenty of speed to aid his off-the-pace running style so I'll go with the hot connections.The #7 JUST LIKE DREADS ran with some tough three year olds last year and fared quite well so if he's ready to go today he can win as he's better than most of these. The #3 SCOTS PINE gets into an easier spot today after tackling optional $35,000 claimers, he got an uncontested lead that day and hung on reasonably well but I'm a little worried that he's going to get pressure from the #1 BUCKAROO LOU and the #4 CALIFORNIATRUEGRIT.
Race #7
1st - #7 Golden Pursuit | 2nd - #1 Lethal Grande | 3rd - #2 Joyride
COMMENTARY : The #7 GOLDEN PURSUIT has been in good form to start off the '07 season with back-to-back second place finishes in sprints so with him stretching out to his best distance he looks like the one to beat. The #1 LETHAL GRANDE is another that is in excellent form right now and definitely has the fitness edge (raced all winter) on his rivals and his speed makes him a top threat as well. NICE SOLID HORSE !! The #2 JOYRIDE is making his first start of the year off of some decent a.m. trials and has been competitive with the top two in the past.
Race #8
1st - #4 The Visualiser | 2nd - #2 Brass Bard | 3rd - #6 B R Remark
COMMENTARY : The #4 THE VISUALISER was a narrow loser in his comebacker in a good time at this level and even though this race has come up a bit tougher I think he'll be better today and post a win. The #2 BRASS BARD would've certainly been a top contender for the 'most-improved' horse award (if there was one) as he made his way up from the $8,000 maiden ranks to win a marathon race with older horses then captured the Autumn Leaves allowance over a couple of stakes-placed colts. He's probably better going longer but I still like his tenacity and Gutierrez sticks with him. The #6 B R REMARK was very impressive in his score at the $35,000 tag and could pose a threat with these.
Race #9
1st - #2 Monashee | 2nd - #4 Slewpast | 3rd - #1 Starlite Strike
COMMENTARY : The #2 MONASHEE looks unstoppable even at 124 pounds, there's no speed to go with her and it's unlikely that anyone will get near her this afternoon. The #4 SLEWPAST ran very well to be second in the Brighouse Belles and being realistic it looks like second is the best she can do again. The #1 STARLITE STRIKE hit the board at long odds in the Ballerina last fall and has been working very well for her '07 debut. TRIACTA THREAT !!!
Race #10
1st - #7 Mighty Sweet | 2nd - #2 Miss Vicky | 3rd - #3 Kristina Hall
COMMENTARY : The #7 MIGHTY SWEET ran by far the best 'last-race' of anyone in the lineup today and if she repeats that effort she should win the money. The #2 MISS VICKY is dropping down from the top maiden class to the bottom one and has attracted leading rider so even though she showed absolutely nothing two weeks ago she still must be given strong consideration in this spot. The #3 KRISTINA HALL has speed and is another that is getting an easier test so perhaps better is in store for her this afternoon.
THANKS FOR JOINING US ON-LINE AND HAVE A GREAT DAY !!!
