YTD: +$56 (based on $10 to win and place)
Three plays today including my first double play of the year which should be wagered at two times the normal amount.
Arlington Park Race 5 Gr. II American Derby Double Play on #2 Simple Exchange
Trainer Dermot Weld ships a major horse in from Ireland in this turf stakes for three year olds. Weld has won two of the last four runnings of this race and has pointed Simple Exchange for this spot for weeks. Got a major Timeform rating in a listed stakes at Royal Ascot last out and ran competitively in an Irish Group I race last year as a two year old. Weld's go-to rider, Patrick Smullen, makes the flight across the ocean to stay on the horse. First time lasix. Breeding to relish the 1 3/16 mile distance. Presence of horses that ran first, third and fourth in Arlington Classic over this track three weeks ago should help us get a fatter price than we deserve, perhaps as high as 2-1.
Belmont Park Race 2 Play #1-1a entry Judge's Case and Mr. Amano
Mr. Amano is the best horse in this $35,000 claimer, just wiring the field in an allowance race at a lesser track last out. 3-for-5 at today's distance. Leading rider Velazquez has many options with this horse who has shown speed when needed and laid off the pace when necessary. Judge's Case is the second best horse. One of them is likely to scratch and Mr. Amanao is the stronger play but the play stands if either scratch or if both run.
Belmont Park Race 4 Play #1-1A entry Arcturus and English Channel
Two year old maidens sprinting on the grass. This entry is trained by Todd Pletcher who has overwhelming dominance in two year old races in New York. Both are likely to go as different riders are named but it's a play even if one scratches as the horses are the top two in the field. The stronger is English Channel, a horse bred for the turf on both the sire and dam sides and ridden by Pletcher's main rider John Velazquez. Arcturus has a long string of solid works and also has a solid shot at winning.
The Arlington race will be rated at $20 to win and place for grading purposes while the two Belmont races will be rated at $10 to win and place apiece for a total wagered today of $80.
Three plays today including my first double play of the year which should be wagered at two times the normal amount.
Arlington Park Race 5 Gr. II American Derby Double Play on #2 Simple Exchange
Trainer Dermot Weld ships a major horse in from Ireland in this turf stakes for three year olds. Weld has won two of the last four runnings of this race and has pointed Simple Exchange for this spot for weeks. Got a major Timeform rating in a listed stakes at Royal Ascot last out and ran competitively in an Irish Group I race last year as a two year old. Weld's go-to rider, Patrick Smullen, makes the flight across the ocean to stay on the horse. First time lasix. Breeding to relish the 1 3/16 mile distance. Presence of horses that ran first, third and fourth in Arlington Classic over this track three weeks ago should help us get a fatter price than we deserve, perhaps as high as 2-1.
Belmont Park Race 2 Play #1-1a entry Judge's Case and Mr. Amano
Mr. Amano is the best horse in this $35,000 claimer, just wiring the field in an allowance race at a lesser track last out. 3-for-5 at today's distance. Leading rider Velazquez has many options with this horse who has shown speed when needed and laid off the pace when necessary. Judge's Case is the second best horse. One of them is likely to scratch and Mr. Amanao is the stronger play but the play stands if either scratch or if both run.
Belmont Park Race 4 Play #1-1A entry Arcturus and English Channel
Two year old maidens sprinting on the grass. This entry is trained by Todd Pletcher who has overwhelming dominance in two year old races in New York. Both are likely to go as different riders are named but it's a play even if one scratches as the horses are the top two in the field. The stronger is English Channel, a horse bred for the turf on both the sire and dam sides and ridden by Pletcher's main rider John Velazquez. Arcturus has a long string of solid works and also has a solid shot at winning.
The Arlington race will be rated at $20 to win and place for grading purposes while the two Belmont races will be rated at $10 to win and place apiece for a total wagered today of $80.
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