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Friday, Aug. 29 Selections - Opening Day
Race 1
HOPE’S PLEASURE / VERA G. – Should be one of these two. There really isn’t much in here and you have the top jockey-trainer connections. Vera G. moves to the Leonard stable for tonight’s start and adds ’07 leading jockey Mojica.
MISS WAKA – Tired in her debut against open maidens at Ellis. Draws the rail and shortens up a bit.
SHOUTIN HALLELUJAH – Has shown a competitive nature, which is more than you can ask for in this group.
STAMP IT – Speed should hold better at Hoo. Post hurts.
1/1A-2-4-9
Race 2
DIP N DOTTY – Front-runner could take this gate to wire at the shorter sprint distance. Don’t be surprised if she gets caught late though.
PITDINKLE SLEW – His most competitive efforts came on the Hoo oval last Fall. Lacks a late burst and may have trouble doing it from post 10.
SNOWBUD – Sleeper. With a new track superintendent it’ll be tough to predict track biases for the first couple days. Trainer Larry Smith does very well in Ohio and this filly could linger at a price.
CANE RIVER BELLE – Enters this off a pair of nice runner-up finishes. Could be part of the mix.
2-10-6-5
Race 3
BANANA BLUES – Nice fit at the level. Should get a decent jump from the rail.
STALWART TEE – Runner-up at the MSW level in his last. Adds a tag for the first time. Capable.
DARK ARROMAN – Moved to the Brown stable prior to his last start and was much improved. Nice price play.
DEER RHONDA – Was fairly competitive at Hoo last Fall. Another nice price play on the bottom of the ticket.
1-6-10-9
Race 4
THREE CITIES / TRUE GENIUS – Another entry that could finish 1-2. Three Cities drops several levels to the bottom claiming level and carries Ellis Park’s leading rider for an Ellis top-three trainer. True Genius has been competitive at this level since joining the McBride stable this past Spring.
FOXTROT OSCAR – Tough to ignore a horse that hit the board in 13 of 15 starts in ’07-’08. Should be tough at this level.
STORMY JIM – Tough to tell what you’re going to get. Tough to leave Martinez off your ticket.
PERFECT SAND – Nice fit at the level.
1/1A-8-4-5
Race 5
STAND ON SEVENTEEN – Every meet we see Martinez get a shipment of Canadian horses and all seem to reverse form and run well. May not stop in the stretch tonight.
BALADEVA – Nicely bred 3yo likes to race on the front end but tends to stop. Could be a pricey factor at the bottom maiden claiming level.
DAVID’S TIGER – Another that drops to the bottom level. Has been competitive against tougher. Capable.
LIVE FAST – Could hold on.
7-6-8-2
Race 6
PRINCE DON – Regularly a factor at the $10K claiming level. Should win at this level.
ALERT TO GO – Could get up in the final strides. Working well over the Hoosier Park oval.
REPLETE – Moves up to the condition claiming level after winning at the N3L claiming level.
MY DIAMOND RING – Gets things cooking late. Superfecta finishes in eight of nine starts since joining the Leonard stable.
Throw #2 - SERVICABLE (20-1) in the mix. Can’t ignore a horse that hit the board in all six career starts on the Hoo oval. Klopp is usually live at Hoosier Park.
9-4-8-3
Race 7
MA MOO’S SPITFIRE – Keep an eye on how the track is playing. Speed favoring could mean a gate-to-wire effort from this filly.
PIG TAILS FLYING – Always part of the mix.
MISSY’S QUEEN – Drops to the bottom restricted claiming level.
TRAILINTHEWOODS – The best of the rest.
6-3-7-4
Race 8
ITSA HOLIDAY – Competitive at the allowance level. Adds a tag tonight.
KACHINK – Another that drops a level. Working well.
LIL CON MAN – Has been competitive. May hold on for a top-three.
JUST WATCHME SARAH – Has been ridden well by Pusac. Nice value play.
5-7-3-2
Race 9
WHITE SPIKE
BLAME CALVIN
CANTE
THISLADYSADANCER
2-9-3-1
Race 10
MAX’S PICTURE THAT – Tough at Hoo last Fall. Adds a tag tonight. Could roll.
MAGIC ROCK – Another class horse that’s a nice fit in here. Could get up in the final strides.
MR DON K – Depends on who shows up. Tough call.
EZEL – Last at Ellis was a nice tune up. Capable.
7-4-8-3
Race 11
ICY PLEASURE – The only workout that registered a faster time on Aug 25 was from KATIE’S CROWN. Should come down to one of these two. I’ll go with the better post.
SCENT OF OTI – Hasn’t raced in nearly three years. Was competitive back then. Fired a nice bullet work at Canterbury. Can’t ignore.
STAMP FOR LINDA – Lacks the late burst to win from the outside.
1A-8-4-9
