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Friday, May 6, 2011

Sunday Afternoon Tioga Downs; Sat Cal Expo Pick 4

Monmouth Park horsemen have come to terms with the new leasor of Monmouth Park for a 71 day race meet averaging $400,000 in purses for the upcoming year.  Finally the thoroughbred horsemen have accepted the fact a longer race meet is not possible.  The $400,000 in daily purses is half of what they raced for last year.  Of course, I am sure the thoroughbred horsemen will continue to look for a share of the Meadowlands thoroughbred simulcasting, but now that everyone knows how much they will be racing for, at least the negotiations may become more substantive.  Monmouth Park will be looking for slot revenue from the Meadowlands if it ever comes.  This should not be a show stopper as I believe the assumption always was that slots at the Meadowlands would help fund all New Jersey racing; as long as Monmouth doesn't get their own machines, I see no problem with this.  Of course, the devil is in the details.

Short and brief, here are my picks for Sunday afternoon's races at Tioga Downs.  If you are looking for Saturday evening's selections, you may see them here.

This weeks debuts Tioga Downs Sunday Pick 6 with a guaranteed pool of $10,000.  The Pick 6 is conducted races 8 thru 13.

Tioga Downs, Sunday Afternoon, May 8
1st Pace - $9,000; Non Winners $6,200 Last 5 Starts
6 - Nobody Can (Hensley, 8-1) - Dominated last year in British Columbia and drops down to winnable level.
1 - JK Kinahurra (Bartlett, 2-1) - Winner of two straight is the horse to beat.
2 - Big Puff Doggie (Aldrich, 10-1) - Three race win streak at Monticello; steps up but still competes here.

2nd Pace - $4,600; Non Winners $2,001 Last 5 Starts
3 - Mikey Wants More (Kakley, 12-1) - :27.2 last quarter at Hawkensville says he's ready if he stays flat.
4 - Erichs Best (Paquet, 2-1) - Still looking to get untracked this year; a trip may be all he needs.
5 - Broule Hanover (Grismore, 10-1) - Expect better trip to complete Trifecta

3rd Pace - $5,000; Non Winners 2 Races Lifetime
6 - Camart Hanover (Napolitano, 5-1) - Upset winner in first start at Spa.  Looks to repeat.
2 - Blissmequick (Kakaley, 5-2) - Meets easier this week off decent efforts at Pocono.
8 - Song In A Major (Taggart, 3-1) - Ships in from Pompano to make seasonal debut in overnight.  Clearly must overcome post.  Lands share.

4th Pace - $6,600; Claiming Handicap $7,500-$10,000
1 - Lovely Magic (Kakaley, 15-1) -  Battled in top classes at Vernon last year.  Makes debut with easier.
2 - Chaco Hanover (Bartlett, 6-1) - Figures to ride rail and hope for best in stretch.
3 - Finn Jet (Taggart, 5-2) - Commanding victory at Monti; steps up.
9 - Jove's Success (Fluet, 8-1) - Last two not bad.  Returns to home of lifetime mark.

5th Pace - $7,500; The Kenneth J Pace - 3YO Colts Late Closer #2
1 - Colossal (Merton, 6-1) - Has been 6 for 7 in the money this year and never a bad effort.  Should jog.
3 - Mc William (Marohn, 5-2) - Chester invader takes slight hike here.   Only one to beat.
5 - Willie's Dragon (Di Benedetto, 9-2) - Much improved from last year but doesn't figure for top two.

6th Pace - $7,000; Non Winners $4,001 Last 5 Starts
1 - Upto (Braden, 4-1) - Has been overmatched badly in Delaware.  Should find these more to his liking.  Taking a shot here.
6 - Glashedy (Hensley, 8-1) - Here comes another Fraiser invader.  Was racing well in Western Canada and had good qualifier.
3 - Sempre Pronto (Santeramo, 8-1) - Escapee from Spa hoping change of scenery helps.  Just might.

7th Pace - $7,500; The Kenneth J Pace - 3YO Colts Late Closer #2
5 - Ideal Joe (Simpson, 5-2) - Erv Miller trainee finds easy spot for seasonal debut.  Will be odds-on
3 - Bubbie Boy (Merton, 6-1) - Clearly didn't like the half.  Returns to the 5/8 and should improive
9 - Nathan Feelsgood (Hensley, 3-1) - Had early success at Big M and then had time off.  Return good and figures share.
1 - Mojo Hall (Merton, 15-1) - Ships in from Windy City still looking to break maiden but shows some promise.

8th Trot - $7,000; Non Winners $4,001 Last 5 Starts (Start of Tioga Pick 6)
2 - Chosen Voyageur (Taggart, 4-1) - Enjoys big class advantage here. 
4 - Red Rocks (O'Mara, 8-1) -  Inconsistent sort may do something from here.
5 - Winfinity (Harp, 8-1) - Won last at Vernon and takes next step up.

9th Pace - $7,500; The Kenneth J Pace - 3YO Colts Late Closer #2
6 - Major At Heart (Paquet, 9-2) - Seems to have recently put it together with three race win streak.  Pick here.
1 - Steuben Jumpinjackc (Napolitano, 5-2) - Expect to try to wire.  Will he be successful?
7 - All Tricked out (Bartlett, 7-2) - Has class advantage on balance of field.  Post hurts.

10th Pace - $4,600; Non Winners $2,001 Last 5 Starts
2 - Flanagan Storm (Grismore, 8-1) - No secret to strategy here.  Does he last?  Yes.
4 - Prince Olympic (Napolitano, 8-1) - Been freshened.  May land share.
9 - Nukenfutz (Page, 5-1) - Gets the worst of the draw.  Looking ofr longshot to spice up Trifecta.

11th Trot - $6,600; Claining Handicap $7,500-$10,000
2 - Over The Limit (Calcagni, 5-2) - Much the best here.  Expect low return.
3 - La Grange (Paquet, 15-1) - If ignore last, not too bad.
5 - Sturdy Motion (Page, 8-1) - Best of the rest.

12th Pace - $7,500; The Kenneth J Pace - 3YO Colts Late Closer #2
2 - Black Ace Hanover (Bartlett, 5-2) - Should enjoy reduced distance for the win.
6 - Old Man River (Simpson, 9-2) - Won first start back; eligible to improve.
4 - Hightech Major (Marohn, 12-1) - First time starter hard to gauge.  May be a good one.  Consider in exotics.

13th Pace - $4,200; Claiming Handicap $4,000-$5,000
6 - Custom Crafted (Hensley, 2-1) - Seems to be one of the few consistent horses.  Layoff only concern?
2 - Dreamnbiu (Paquet, 4-1) - The likely favorite had great qualifier. Expect odds too low for play.
1 - Buddha Vic (Hough, 6-1) - Best of rest.  Not confident about Trifecta.
5 - Nitroglycerine (Kakaley, 20-1) - Hoping for a wake up here to add value to exotics.  Not sure will get it.


Cal-Expo Pick 4 Selections:
Since I have been providing recently my Pick 4 Selections for Cal-Expo, here are my picks, abbreviated  for Saturday night.

Early Pick 4 (15% Takeout)
Starts Race 4 - 3,7/3,5/2,4/1,5 ($16 ticket)

Late Pick 4 ($15,000 Gtd Pool, 15% Takeout (0% at Twinspires and Cal-Expo)
Starts Race  11 -3/2,3,5/2,4,8/1,5,6 ($27 ticket)

Pisto's Picks for the Late Pick 4: 3/5/1,2,4,6,7,8/1,2,4,5,7,8 (Ticket $36)


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