FIRST POST — 1:05 P.M.
LEE’S LOCK Street Strategy in the seventh
BEST BET World Elite in the fifth
LONG SHOT Briny Breezes in the fourth
FRIDAY’S RESULTS Races cancelled.
MEET 76-234 (32.5 percent)
*Educated guess
** Things to like
*** Plenty to like
**** Confident choice
1 Purse $22,000, 6 furlongs, 4-year-olds and up, claiming $10,000
**DEFER HEAVEN finished 2014 with consecutive victories at Keeneland and Indiana Downs, and the front-running gelding knows how to win races. SEA OF CHANGE has been beaten less than a length in his past two races while competing at this same $10,000 claiming price. LEE’S SOUTH rallied to third as a beaten odds-on favorite, but he was claimed by a small and winning stable that is putting blinkers on this veteran.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
1 Defer Heaven;Hill;Shorter;6-1
2 Sea of Change;Felix;Mason;3-1
7 Lee’s South;Vazquez;Matthews;8-1
10 Wingate Hall;Santana;Cox;9-2
9 Quality Council;Hamilton;Hartman;6-1
3 Dixie Banner;Laviolette;Smith;8-1
8 Ramblin’ Starr;Loveberry;Hornsby;15-1
5 Insideondoutside;Rocco;Autrey;8-1
4 Launch Light;Birzer;Chleborad;12-1
11 Runstevierun;Canchari;Hellman;15-1
6 Denali Thunder;Mello;Martin;15-1
2 Purse $20,000, 1 1/16 miles, 3-year-olds and up, maiden claiming $12,500
**MAXIMUM HORSEPOWER overcame a slow start in a deceptively good third-place finish at Fair Grounds, and he recorded a sharp local 5-furlong work after a disappointing wet-track effort here Jan. 22. WHOLEDIFFERENTGIG was forwardly placed in a fourth-place route finish, and he receives a 10-pound break in the weights with an apprentice rider aboard. OBAMA’S VOW showed improved early speed while in blinkers in a fourth-place finish, and the lightly raced 5-year-old likely improves with kinder rating.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
1 Maximum Horsepower;Santana;Asmussen;3-1
5 Wholedifferentgig;Kelly;Cox;4-1
9 Obama’s Vow;Johnson;Margolis;7-2
3 Bundler;Rodriguez;Holthus;5-1
4 Wild N Crazy;Canchari;Duncan;12-1
6 Feathers Inthe Sky;Rocco;Brennan;10-1
7 Runnin Away;Berry;Lauer;8-1
2 Oklahoma Warrior;LQuinonez;Von Hemel;10-1
8 Anymore Bling;Corbett;Durham;15-1
10 George’s Blend;Vazquez;Gorder;30-1
3 Purse $28,000, 6 furlongs, 3-year-olds and up who have never won two races, claiming $25,000
***MAHALO ARTURO ships in from Santa Anita following two in-the-money finishes, and he has early speed and has moved to the barn of winning trainer Tim Ritchey. TALE OF HONOR defeated maiden allowance rivals at Churchill, and he is dropping into a conditioned claiming race after a solid fourth-place allowance finish at Keeneland. MR. OBESO easily won a “key” maiden allowance race last May at Canterbury, and he is showing good works for his return and appears to be an attractive overlay.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
11 Mahalo Arturo;Canchari;Ritchey;7-2
7 Tale of Honor;Santana;Moquett;3-1
3 Mr. Obeso;BQuinonez;Riecken;15-1
1 Substitute;Loveberry;Loetscher;10-1
10 Hat of Jacks;Borel;Wiggins;6-1
2 Idebeasuperstar;Berry;Creighton;6-1
8 Private Jonesboro;Vazquez;Cates;10-1
5 Upforwhatever;Mello;Chleborad;12-1
6 The Gorilla Man;Ocampo;Moquett;8-1
4 Beefy;De La Cruz;Puhl;12-1
9 Morluc’s Secret;Court;Ives;30-1
4 Purse $20,500, 6 furlongs, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up who have never won three races, claiming $10,000
**BRINY BREEZES is a bit inconsistent, but she has the speed and class to win at this level, and she does typically fire best when fresh. IMPETUOUS BAY is moving up a claiming condition after easily defeating state-bred claimers by 6 widening lengths. GOODHEARTEDGIRL won both of her races at Remington, and she is wisely back in the conditioned claiming ranks after being overmatched in a sixth-place finish Feb. 12.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
9 Briny Breezes;Ocampo;Milligan;8-1
1 Impetuous Bay;De La Cruz;Martin;3-1
12 Goodheartedgirl;Vazquez;Villafranco;7-2
4 Velvet Zip;Santana;Asmussen;5-1
6 Miss Nightlinger;Laviolette;Turberville;12-1
3 Lacey the Spartan;Thompson;Manley;10-1
2 Sealark;Loveberry;Roberts;12-1
11 Holy Habit;Felix;Puhl;15-1
7 Misty Grove;Hamilton;Witt;12-1
8 Favorite Show;Canchari;Mullins;12-1
10 Denali Inspired;Mello;Martin;15-1
5 Deferred;Birzer;Creighton;20-1
5 Purse $64,000, 6 furlongs, fillies, 3-year-olds, maiden special weight
***WORLD ELITE finished second behind a post-time favorite in an encouraging career debut, and she is bred to be fast and figures difficult to beat with typical second-out improvement. LA CREMA ROUGE dueled for the lead before tiring to third in a promising debut finish, and trainer Donnie Von Hemel is apt to run a “short” horse and bring them back fit and ready in a second start. CHIDE is a first-time starter from the powerful barn of trainer Al Stall Jr., and this filly has a winner’s pedigree and solid works.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
7 World Elite;Berry;Morse;3-1
4 La Crema Rouge;LQuinonez;Von Hemel;5-1
5 Chide;Santana;Stall;4-1
10 I’m Workin On It;Birzer;Chleborad;12-1
6 Abraz;Hill;Peitz;6-1
3 Strong American;Rocco;Autrey;10-1
2 Lamia;Johnson;Lukas;12-1
8 Cheray;De La Cruz;Puhl;12-1
9 Toasha Talifero;Wethey;Van Berg;10-1
1 Remember Lucy;Thompson;Van Meter;12-1
11 Double Nas Baby;Loveberry;Raidt;20-1
6 The Downthedustyroad Breeders’. Purse $75,000, 6 furlongs, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, Arkansas-bred
**EASTER INDY followed a clear career debut victory with a competitive allowance race against “open” rivals, and the lightly raced filly is eligible to improve and is part of a three-horse entry which all have a chance to win. PISTOLPACKINPENNY is a consistent and in form finisher who should be finishing fast behind an honest early pace. JAN’S PERFECT STAR is not the same mare as she was in 2013, but she is still quick and her class must be respected.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
1x Easter Indy;De La Cruz;Martin;4-1
5 Pistolpackinpenny;Court;Fires;5-2
2 Jan’s Perfect Star;Berry;Morse;7-2
1a Faith Rising;Loveberry;Martin;4-1
3 Miss Beautiful;Simington;Adams;9-2
1 Easter Shoes;Thompson;Martin;4-1
8 Miss Addicate;Vazquez;Villafranco;12-1
7 Sugar Run Wild;Borel;Gray;12-1
4 Little Miss Flurry;Hamilton;Broberg;10-1
10 Pink Flash;Santana;Chleborad;12-1
9 Sweet Ruby Kate;BQuinonez;Ashauer;30-1
6 Be My Caroline;Ocampo;Milligan;15-1
7 Purse $67,000, 1 1/16 miles, 4-year-olds and up, allowance optional claiming
****STREET STRATEGY impressively defeated entry-level allowance rivals in his return from 10 months on the sidelines, and he showed promise as a 3-year-old and may be lined up for a big 2015 campaign. FABULOUS KID pressed a moderate pace before drawing off in a convincing allowance victory, and he was stakes-placed last spring at Oaklawn and keeps leading rider Ricardo Santana. SCUBA finished third as a post-time favorite in his 2015 debut, and he switches to a high-percentage rider and drew an improved inside post.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
8 Street Strategy;Borel;Morse;8-5
6 Fabulous Kid;Santana;Ice;5-2
2 Scuba;Bridgmohan;Dutrow;7-2
7 Quiet Man;LQuinonez;Biehler;15-1
1 No Spin;Vazquez;Broberg;10-1
4 Mal Guapo;Landeros;Hartman;12-1
3 Bruvver Max;Thompson;Martin;15-1
9 Lifes Reward;Canchari;Moquett;15-1
5 Awol Adam;De La Cruz;Puhl;20-1
8 The Nodouble Breeders’. Purse $75,000, 6 furlongs, 3-year-olds and up, Arkansas-bred
***ROCK CITY ROADHOG looked good defeating “open” $16,000 claimers in his first start for trainer Chris Richard, and he drew well for a sprinter with speed and runs well over a wet track. MALLARD’S BRO defeated state-bred allowance runners in his return from a layoff, and he switches to the leading rider and figures to be flying inside the final furlong. WE BE STORMIN is a winner of two consecutive races, and the steadily improving 3-year-old is another who delivers a strong late punch.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
12 Rock City Roadhog;Bridgmohan;Richard;3-1
7 Mallard’s Bro;Santana;Cates;4-1
11 We Be Stormin;Vazquez;Cates;7-2
6 Bumpy Cat;Felix;Mason;5-1
4 Proud Image;Berry;Glyshaw;10-1
5 Tour de Rock;Kuntzweiler;Hornsby;15-1
8 Primetime Dreamer;Birzer;Turner;20-1
9 Bud Ro;Hill;Shorter;12-1
10 He Is a Roadster;Court;Dixon;15-1
1x Dancing Stone;Wethey;Page;20-1
3 Best of Birdstone;Simington;Adams;20-1
1a Valid Bull;LQuinonez;Biehler;20-1
2 Cody Law;Thompson;Martin;30-1
1 Command a Bull;Johnson;Ashauer;20-1
9 Purse $64,000, 6 furlongs, 3-year-olds, maiden special weight
**DION contested the pace in a clear second-place finish at Fair Grounds, and he was flattered when the winner came back to finish second in an allowance race Thursday. FIRST SPLASH showed early speed in a competitive third-place debut finish, but the top two finishers have disappointed in subsequent starts so the verdict is still out on how good the field was. NOBLE HUSTLE has not raced since a fourth-place debut finish last summer at Saratoga, and he figures stronger and faster as a 3-year-old, but trainer Dutrow is off to a poor start at this meeting.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
1 Dion;Santana;Asmussen;3-1
2 First Splash;Berry;Morse;7-2
5 Noble Hustle;Rocco;Dutrow;9-2
6 Kenjiislucky;Hamilton;Hartman;5-1
7 Hillbilly Style;Court;Lukas;8-1
3 Corinthian Warrior;Canchari;Brueggemann;12-1
10 Malibu Man;Landeros;Atras;8-1
9 Shanks;De La Cruz;Van Berg;15-1
8 Super Mazz;Bridgmohan;Gowan;15-1
4 Charnocks;Vazquez;Moquett;15-1
Exotic weather possibilities
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette handicapper Rick Lee seeks out horses which make good “key” horses in multi-horse and/or multi-race wagers, commonly called exotic wagers.
The 50-cent Pick 3 starting in Race 3 is enticing because the first leg is a full field and contention isn’t deep. The second leg is another large field and plenty of challengers makes the race difficult, and the final leg is also a large field but three horses may be enough to cover the race. A show wager is far from an exotic play, but I can see a scenario where the three-horse entry in the sixth race could not only produce a winner but perhaps a couple of spots on the board, which would produce a nice show payoff.
story created on Friday 2/27/2015 at 5:33:12 pm by Jeff Halpern
story modified on Friday 2/27/2015 at 7:11:26 pm by Steve Rogers