On Saturday (Jan. 26th), ten potential Triple Crown nominees will
run in the $400k Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream. Run at a distance
of 1 1/16th miles, scheduled Post Time for this Derby point system event is
5:05pm (EST). The 4-5 Morning Line (M/L) favorite is #1 – Shanghai Bobby (Todd Pletcher trained; ridden by Rosie
Napravnik). He’s a perfect 5-for-5 lifetime, including the 2012 Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile which helped him earn the 2012 Eclipse award for 2-year-old champion. Considering this is his 3-year-old debut, and the ultimate goal is the Kentucky Derby, will he be cranked-up for this one?
This contest will be not cake walk for
"Bobby" as the field includes a trio of graded
stakes placed runners... #2 - Frac
Daddy (8-1), second to Uncaptured
in the G2 KY Jockey Club while #6- Dewey
Square (12-1) was third; #4 - Bern
Identity (4-1) second to
Goldencents in the G3 Delta Jackpot. The Holy Bull Stakes
marks the 3-year-old debut for these 3, "Bobby"
and 3 others... #3 - Clearly Now (12-1) in from
Woodbine for first natural dirt outing, #8 – Tulira
Castle (30-1) and #9 -
Fredericksburg (30-1) ran 1-2 in lone dirt efforts
in a $75k N1X.The latter adds blinkers.
HOW I SEE IT:
There is a ton of early speed in here. Bern
Identity is the best of the few who can rate and come off the
pace as he closed ground in the Delta Jackpot on a track that favored speed.
Shanghai Bobby is definitely the most
accomplished, but I doubt he’s cranked up for his 3-year-old debut. The
ultimate goal is the Kentucky Derby, so he’ll probably get a bit weary in the
final 16th of a mile, to salvage a minor share. Those who stand to continue to
improve are Dewey Square and
Itsmyluckyday.
THE PLAY: $10 WPS
#4 and $2 Exacta Box 1-4-6
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Recapping the previously posted selections at Laurel
Park from Saturday, Jan. 19th had 6 winners from 9 races (but
just 1 Top Selection; pay-offs shown in BOLD type)
in part to a very “chalky” day, having $2 WIN pay-offs of $7.20 (1st),
$2.60 (2nd), $3.20 (3rd), $3.80 (4th), $4.60 (7th)
and $28.00 (9th).
The BEST BET of the Day (4 0-0-0)
Classic Wildcat (9-2 PT; 9-2 M/L) simply put, “failed to
menace”, finishing 7th of 8 runners. Enough said.
The LONGSHOT PICK
(4 0-0-0) In God’s Country (7-1
PT; 8-1 M/L) after a slow start, raced 5 wide, could only muster a mild rally
to finish 4th less than 3 lengths behind the winner.
For Saturday races the weather forecast calls for Sunny skies with
no chance of precipitation, meaning the track will be FAST at Laurel Park on Saturday Jan. 26th.
Selections for all races posted were handicapped based on making multi-race
wagers such as DOUBLE’s, Pick-3’s and Pick-4’s using all three (3) listed for
each race in each leg.
1st race – $16,000 Maiden Claiming for 4 y.o. & up – 1 mile
#4 – Backdoor Strike (9-2)
#1 – Roccamo (4-5)
#6 – Top Partner (4-1)
2nd race – $15,000 Claiming for 4 y.o. & up – 5½ furlongs
#3 – Fearsome (2-1)
#7 – Glib (5-2)
#4 – Rio Samba (12-1)
3rd race – $16,000 Maiden Claiming for 3 y.o. fillies – 5½
furlongs
#8 – Avie (5-2)
#9 – Star Holiday (6-1)
#7 – Jersey Zapper (2-1)
4th race – $25,000 Maiden Claiming for fillies 3 y.o. – 6 furlongs
#1 – Awesome and Classy (6-1)
#3 – Tetherball (2-1)
#6 – Perfect Balance
(5-2)
5th race – $5,000 Claiming N2X for 4 y.o. & up – 1 mile
#8 – Mister Dish (8-1) $$$
LONGSHOT $$$
#6 – Summer of Summers (8-1)
#7 – Granted Ruler (9-2)
6th race – $38,000 Maidens for 3 y.o. fillies – about 1 1/16
miles
#2 – Red Hot Tweet (5-2)
#3 – Dontstopmenow (7-2)
#5 – Everything Matters (7-2)
7th race – $5,000 Claiming for 4 y.o. & up – 1 mile
#12 – Gambine Road (5-1)
#10 – Dinos Romance (8-5)
#5 – Silver Endurance (10-1)
8th race – $125,000 Nellie Morse Stakes for F&M 4 y.o. &
up – about 1 1/16 miles
#10 – Ciguaraya (5-1)
*** BEST BET ***
#8 – Tanivan (12-1)
#1 – Moon Philly (9-5)
9th race – $8,000 Maiden Claiming for 4 y.o. & up – 5 furlongs
#7 – Punta Sal (9-2)
#3 (POE) – Silver Prado
(6-1)
#8 – Cinder Cone (5-1)
GOOD LUCK!