Mike's Race Analysis October 11, 2008
Race #1
1st - #7 Any Sunday | 2nd - #6 Sargent Sally | 3rd - #8 I’m Not Dead Yet
COMMENTARY : The #7 ANY SUNDAY gets into a much easier spot today as she makes her first start in a new barn; she has an outside post but there really isn’t a lot of early speed in the lineup so I think she can get to the front and she should be tough from there. The #6 SARGENT SALLY is gradually improving with each start and if she gets a bit of a pace battle early she could get up for the victory. The #8 I’M NOT DEAD YET ran her best race to date last time out for Seattle’s top trainer and if she can shake loose early she has a big chance in this pretty wide open dash.Race #2
1st - #3 Angel Came Down | 2nd - #6 Service Ribbon | 3rd - #2 Sheisrough
COMMENTARY : The #3 ANGEL CAME DOWN has had a very productive season hitting the board in all six of her starts and winning three of them; she was claimed out of her latest and will take a substantial dip in price for her first start for her new connections. The #6 SERVICE RIBBON tried a very tough group of $15,000 claimers last time and wasn’t a factor at all but at this level she should be a big threat in the late going. The #2 SHEISROUGH is sporting a three-race winning streak at this same price but with this race coming up far tougher it may be difficult for her to keep her streak intact; she’s still a strong TRIACTOR runner.Race #3
1st - #8 Sporty Jones | 2nd - #2 Artic Star | 3rd - #3 Bangalow
COMMENTARY : The #8 SPORTY JONES is down in price today after a couple of no-threat runs with $15,000 types; he actually finds himself in a salty little dash for the level although there appears to be enough early speed in here to aid his cause and I think he’ll get up in the stretch for the win. The #2 ARTIC STAR is another taking almost 50% drop in value and if he can avoid a pace battle he has a big chance in this one as well. The #3 BANGALOW earned a hard fought win at the non-two $8,000 level last time out but with the final time being a little on the slow side I think he’ll need to be better today to beat the top two. Potential is there for a win !!
Race #4
1st - #3 Up Sweep | 2nd - #9 Sunrise Finale | 3rd - #4 Shirleyanne
COMMENTARY : The #3 UP SWEEP looked good in winning her third race of the season going virtually unchallenged throughout in her first try going a mile and a sixteenth; there is more early speed in this one but I don’t think she needs the lead so I look for her to be very tough to beat again this afternoon. The #9 SUNRISE FINALE gave a game chase in her first distance test but had to settle for the runner-up cheque; if she can work out a decent trip from her outside gate then she has a big shot and she could be a good price. The #4 SHIRLEYANNE didn’t fire at all in her latest behind the top two but I know she’s capable of better and I’ll just chalk that one up to ‘having a bad day’ and I’ll give her another chance in this race that does feature more early speed which will help her off-the-pace style.Race #5
1st - #5 Psammead | 2nd - #2 Trinidad Bay | 3rd - #3 Kings Fjord
COMMENTARY : I’ve landed on the #5 PSAMMEAD pretty much by default as I simply don’t care for the other ten maidens in the race who have all had many chances to get their first win. He adds blinkers today and will stretch out and go long for the first time after his being a closing third in his most recent sprint race. The #2 TRINIDAD BAY has had some quick paces to run at and still can’t get up for the win so I have to try and beat him again today; he will be in the TRIACTOR. The #3 KINGS FJORD is another that’ll probably win one soon and his success or lack of will depend on what kind of trip he gets.Race #6
1st - #2 Amazin Blue | 2nd - #5 Tyger Gold | 3rd - #4 Great Prince
COMMENTARY : The #2 AMAZIN BLUE is back (ran in the B.C. Derby last year) at Hastings after a winless campaign in Northern California running with some high end company; he takes a huge drop in price so if he has the slightest bit of run to him he should win the money; although he’s still a risky proposition. The #5 TYGER GOLD is a big threat in this one of his last couple of runs and if he can get the lead without using too much energy then he could prove tough to catch. The #4 GREAT PRINCE is running back in a week but he’s sharp and will likely hit the board.Race #7
1st - #3 Infinite Wealth | 2nd - #1 Diamond Berries | 3rd - #9 Preservata
COMMENTARY : The #3 INFINITE WEALTH is the obvious choice off of her game runner-up effort in the $125,000 B.C. Oaks at long odds; she opted out of the Ballerina in favour of this easier spot and if she repeats her last race she’ll be tough to beat. The #1 DIAMOND BERRIES has run decently in her two starts since the claim and with the rail she should get a good trip close to the pace which will give her a shot to threaten my top pick. The #9 PRESERVATA has had two excellent efforts since arriving at Hastings running against some tough older mares; she gets in with her own age group and stretches out to a distance she’s bred to love but in back in just six days which is the only reason I didn’t rate her a bit higher.
Race #8
1st - #1 Entry | 2nd - #4 Tanika | 3rd - #6 Against The Sky
COMMENTARY : The #1 HOLY NOVA turned in a good effort in the $53,000 Delta Colleen running second behind a slow pace; she will be a better mare today at equal weights (gave 12 pounds to the winner) and I’ll think she’ll get her revenge. The #1a LADY RAJ might be the forgotten one in the lineup but with a livelier pace likely to occur today she’ll be more of a factor than she was last time when she finished a decent third. The #4 TANIKA is a consistent little mare that hasn’t run a bad race in her life and only time she didn’t finish in the top two was in the B.C. Oaks last year when she was a close fourth. She was right with the #1 HOLY NOVA at equal weights in Alberta so if she can be as good here at Hastings then she has a big chance. The #6 AGAINST THE SKY pulled off the minor upset last time out as she got to set a favourable early tempo on a track was carrying speed as well as receiving 12 pounds from HOLY NOVA; she’s big strong mare that will have no problems toting 123 pounds so if the top two aren’t at their best then she’ll have a great shot to win again.
Race #9
1st - #7 Singing Along | 2nd - #3 Notis Me | 3rd - #6 Sweet Sweet Taylor
COMMENTARY : The #7 SINGING ALONG just missed in her last at this level and only a needs a repeat performance to get the money. The #3 NOTIS ME almost carried her speed the entire trip last time and if she can get a break on the pace she could prove tough to catch. The #6 SWEET SWEET TAYLOR gets into a easier spot today after getting a rough trip against non-two $20,000 types; she could be the ‘value’ play.THANKS FOR JOINING US ON-LINE AND HAVE A GOOD DAY !!