Keeneland - Race 6

#12 Strike Out (4/1 ml)

First-time starter for Biancone is showing some flashy drills over the polytrack, and the Keeneland website is progressive enough to offer clocker comments. I was able to pull up a comment from her most recent drill (Oct 5, 46.1g), which read, "Was impressive with Leparoux up". Couldn't get anything an the Sep. 26 drill (59.0g), but it was likely the same story there. Catches a reasonably modest bunch here, and looks to have a big shot. There's even a scratch, which brings her into the 11-hole. Still not good, but better.

HRT record:

36 for 124 (29%)

$320.10 mutuels ($8.89 avg)

6/5 odds

winner.

Nice call DC. Thanks for posting. Any horses catch your eye at Oak Tree today?? Always appreciate your comments and your posting your selections.

Randy F.

Strike Out wins @ $4.60

And yeah, she was a big bet-down. She was actually 5/2 when i posted, then i went to the book to bet her, looked up and saw her @ 4/5. She actually went UP to 6/5 at post-time. Myself, i bet her to place ($3.80). I checked the pools right before post-time, and while she was the 6/5 favorite in the win pool, she only had $4,000 to place on her (compared to $7,000 for #6 Noon Day). I thought there was value betting her to place, although i'm lucky that Noon Day didn't run second.

And yes Randy, i do like one @ Santa Anita today. I'll post in a few moments...

Santa Anita - Race 7

#5 Masterly (4/1 ml)

This one came off an extendeed layoff into a turf sprint back in May, and ran down the powerful finisher Queen's Image, who came out of that race to post a hugely impressive win in another turf sprint (then won another turf sprint after that). Most recently, Masterly came off another layoff into a 5-furlong turf sprint @ Del Mar, and ran close to the very speedy Leonetti for the first half-mile befpore dropping back a bit through the stretch. Faces a similar problem here, with Kapalua Bay figuring to be loose on the lead, and will likely be forced to chase that one early because there's nobody else in the field who has the requisite speed. The difference however is that the Del Mar turf-sprints were highly conducive to speed, and Masterly should have a much better chance to run down a loose leader on this course. He's been training very sharply into the race, and i know from the Queen's Image race that he can finish very powerfully when he's on his game. Should be rolling when they turn for home, and he'll have the jump on the other closers. Main concern is that he'll get burned up chasing the early-splits of Kapalua Bay. Should offer good value however, with that one taking the bulk of the money. Worth a shot @ 3/1 or better; nothing less is acceptable.

thanks again for posting today DC.

Randy F.

Masterly went off @ 10/1, but indeed got burned up while chasing Kapalua Bay and couldn't offer a late response.