Last week’s results from Opening Day at Del Mar follow. Our horse to single in race 2 scratched, so we did not get to play the early Pick 3.
Race 4. $2 Win-Place on 1; $1 Exacta key box 1/3,4,6,9 RESULT: 4-6-5-1
Race 5. $2 Across on 8 RESULT: 3-8-9-2 **PAID $13.60**
Race 6. $2 Win-Place on 8; $1 Exacta key box 8/5,6,9-11 RESULT: 5-6-10-8
Race 7. $2 Win-Place on 1; $1 Exacta key box 1/2,5-7 RESULT: 2-5-8-6
Race 8. $2 Across on 4 RESULT: 3-2-6-10
An uninspiring $13.60 return on $50 worth of bets. Sometimes you eat the bar, and sometimes the bar eats you. On to the next!
On this week’s episode of 90 Degrees, host Kevin Davis has a conversation with retired professional gambler and member of the Blackjack Hall of Fame, Richard Munchkin. Kevin kicks off the show by talking about how Richard Munchkin became a professional gambler.
Today, rather than focusing on a single race card, I have scoured the programs of North America’s racetracks in search of the best favorites, live longshots, and hidden gems sitting on a big effort. In other words, finding the day’s top plays. No one is more tired than me of giving out the right horses in the wrong order. Plus, playing multiple tracks at once gives the day a very NHC-type of feel. (The races come fast and furious between 3:43 p.m. ET and 4:42 p.m. ET.) For each of the following horses, I will be placing a Win-Place bet. If you are into the exotics, I would suggest keying these horses in those plays. My first play of the day is scheduled to go off at 1:18 p.m. ET. How about we get to some winners!
1:18 p.m. ET • Aqueduct Race 4. Trainer Philip Antonacci upgrades the jockey of 5 Khafre to Irad Ortiz, Jr. He is on the cutback from two turns to one today and adds blinkers.
1:46 p.m. ET • Aqueduct Race 5. Trainer William Morey tried 7 Sweet Blush on grass twice after a fourth-place finish in her debut on dirt. Her breeding suggests she is much more a dirt runner. We should get a price on her in this spot.
2:00 p.m. ET • Churchill Downs Race 3. I am making 1 Simovitch my play of the day. One, this horse has the top dirt pedigree going 8.5 furlongs in the field. Two, he projects to be on an easy lead coming out of the rail position. Most important, he is taking the largest class drop of the group.
3:14 p.m. ET • Aqueduct Race 8. Trainer Orlando Noda has shown good instincts in the past putting his horses in spots to succeed. I give 8 Not Phar Now (American Pharoah) a good chance to wire this field today.
3:43 p.m. ET • Aqueduct Race 9. A lot of early speed lined up in this 6 furlong sprint. Perfect setup for 4 Kant Hurry Love provided he sits off the lead as projected.
4:12 p.m. ET • Aqueduct Race 10. I am not certain that there is enough pace to run into here for 9 Monarchs Glen, but jockey Jose Ortiz is on fire of late. This horse has faced the toughest competition in the field.
4:26 p.m. ET • Woodbine Race 7. Non-graded stakes company for 5 Strega at clearly her best surface and distance. In 84 races together, the trainer/jockey combo of Kevin Attard and Kazushi Kimura find the winner’s circle at a solid 20 percent.
4:30 p.m. ET • Del Mar Race 3. There is enough speed entered here to give closer types a fighting chance. My top choice is 7 Queen Molotov ridden by jockey John Velazquez. I expect a mid-pack position that should set up nicely for her closing kick and get the jump on those coming from further back.
4:33 p.m. ET • Churchill Downs Race 8. Trainer Steve Asmussen debuts 3 Wish It (Tapit) here and the morning line sits at 5-1. I think we will get all that price due to the Brad Cox entry with Florent Geroux in the saddle. Give me the winningest North American trainer in a dirt sprint at those odds any day.
4:42 p.m. ET • Hawthorne Race 3. A favorable pace scenario for 3 Never Have I Ever here today going 5 furlongs, where he is 7-for-19 lifetime.
6:27 p.m. ET • Penn National Race 2. It figures to be the first time that 7 Special Beam goes off as the post time favorite. She is the fastest horse in this field and a 6 furlong specialist.
6:59 p.m. ET • Hawthorne Race 8. Jockey E.T. Baird is up for the first time on 1 D’fever today, who projects to be on the lead and has the top pedigree of this field.
7:15 p.m. ET • Golden Gate Fields Race 8. A fine pedigree and top early speed should carry the day for 4 Dallas Alice on Golden Gate’s synthetic track. The trainer/jockey combination of Steven Miyadi and Santos Rivera strike at a 46 percent clip with a sample size of 24 races.
The minimum all-in adds up to $52 dollars on thirteen $2 Win-Place bets. As always, I encourage you to use my analysis and picks in conjunction with your own handicapping to inform your opinions. And most importantly: best of luck playing the races!