Free is for Me

Tweet Today is the last free contest (for BRIS.com users) sponsored by the Brisnet/TwinSpires Club for your chance to qualify for the DRF/NHC in Vegas in January. You may remember my in-person attempt back in September at Sunset Station in Henderson, Nevada. I re-read that post this morning and remembered that one of the longshot plays I had that day was Turaath w/Channing Hill, who I believe won his last outing at the Big A.

Most of today's contest races (they also provide you with free PP's) are at three tracks: Churchill Downs, the Fair Grounds and Calder. One of the races looked very interesting to me last night is a non-graded sprint stakes at Calder (the Radar Love for $55K) featuring Holy Bull (G3) winner Hey Bryn and the morning line fav Golden Spikes who was seen in a few of the Classic prep races in the spring. In addition, there were two decent horses Machismo (Manny Cruz up) and Ikigai that both interested me.

The contest is eight races where you make $2 WP wagers with wins capped at $42 for win and $18 for place. The top bankroll wins $2,500 and the top three finishers qualify for the National Tournament. Good luck!

Saturday in the Park

Tweet It's Saturday in the Park (Belmont Park) and though it's not the fourth of July, we are getting there (and in four weeks we'll be there for the big day). It's Peter Pan Day and there is a lot being made of the North American debut of Casino Drive. I've decided to play against the morning line favorite (other than underneath in exotics) as he's coming off only one maiden race and being shipped in from Japan. I feel he'll be more of a factor on Belmont Day at the longer distance and after his first race over Big Sandy. Instead I'm going with the Pletcher/Velasquez duo and Ready's Echo, as there should be enough speed in the race for him to pick up the pieces. Mint Lane should be out front early with Golden Spikes right behind. Golden Spikes ran a second to fifth-place Derby finisher Recapturetheglory in the Illinois Derby and I will couple him with Ready's Echo on top of my trifecta play. I also am intrigued by Cosmic with Javier up, who had a good work this week and has shown improvement. I'm still not sold on Tomcito, other than for him to maybe catch a piece of the tri or super, like Casino Drive, the extra distance on Belmont Day may help.

So here's my $1 trifecta Peter Pan play: 5,6/5,6,7/1,2,5,7 cost: $11 and a $1 exacta box: 5,6.

Also, of note today is the 19th running of the Jim Murray Handicap at Hollywood Park in memory of the late sportswriter. Murray was the acclaimed Pullitizer prize winning sportswriter who became blind during the later stages of his writing career. I remember as a child reading his syndicated columns in the Syracuse Post-Standard and enjoying his wit and savvy sportswriting ability, and seeing that race being run today had me reflecting on those high school breakfast mornings with Jim.

On to Neverland

Tweet The big race this weekend is the G2 Peter Pan Stakes, to be run Saturday at venerable Belmont Park. It's shaping up to be quite the race and a prep for the final jewel of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes in early June. Tomcito, the Peruvian wonderhorse, will be running from post 2 for the first time back on dirt since he finished 3rd behind Big Brown in the Florida Derby and after failing to qualify for the Kentucky Derby with his showing in the Coolmore Lexington. I've said in previous posts that he is more suited for the longer races and his connections now have him heavily pointed towards the Belmont. Also pointed in that direction is the Japanese horse, Casino Drive. One of the threats to steal Big Brown's Crown away from him in four weeks (with an extra week's rest). The Drive was shipped over last month from Japan all eyes pointed to June 7th. He is a three-quarter brother to Rags to Riches and half brother to Jazil, the past two winners of the Belmont. His sire is Mineshaft, also the sire to Derby starter Cool Coal Man and his dam is Better than Honour. Other interesting starters on Saturday are Deputyville, a Contessa trainee, who comes out of the Federico Tesio stakes, third to Ichabad Crane and behind Mint Lane (who is in post 3) and Todd Pletcher's Ready's Echo, who lost his first two year old race at the Spa last summer to Derby starter Z Humor and then broke his maiden at Gulfstream in March. The other major horse who I like a lot is Golden Spikes, who ran second to Recapturetheglory in the Illinois Derby after finishing fifth in the Fountain of Youth. This race is loaded with talent and the top contenders should be looking at being the spoilers come June.

ESPN is reporting today that the Jockey Club announced the formation of a new safety committee to study equine health, including track safety and the rules of racing. Dr. Larry Bramlage, the vet on the scene at the Derby, will be one of the committee members. Here's another interesting article from, of all places, the Winnepeg Sun, with some special quotes from the illustrious Dick Dutrow. Geez, Dick if he wins the Triple Crown, are you saying you won't be running him at Santa Anita on Breeder's Cup Day? Really?