Sunday's Previews
There's a Pick 5 carryover, as well as another guaranteed minimum of $20,000 in the late Pick 4, so plenty to keep bettors interested on another highly-competitive seven-race afternoon at Hastings
Not much wrong with ENGLISH BAY TEDDY’S two third-place finishes this year and this looks like a good opportunity for him to get off the mark, although it’s no ‘gimme’. SOMETHING ELUSIVE makes his debut for new connections after being claimed and his second to Dynamiter last time gives him every chance. TEXAS MOONSHINE is impossible to weigh-up after having had just the one lifetime run, but he should come on for that initial effort and he wouldn’t need to be Pegasus reincarnate to hit the board in this company.
Lightly-raced STANFORD NORTH makes his first appearance of the season and his Hastings debut. Last seen running at Del Mar almost a year ago, he’s been working well for in-form handler Dino Condilenios and looks the one they have to beat. WICKED NIGHT went down by just a head-bob to Tapits Choice last month and may still be improving, while DESIRED OUTCOME may also come on again from his season debut when third to impressive Pursue.
BARNEY GOOGLE drops back down the ladder in search of his hat-trick after two wins. He’s not as effective over 8½ furlongs, and will have his work cut out in what is a confounding contest, but is clearly in great form and must be respected. LIZZIE’S GIRL and CALAMAZEUS have both won at this distance and there’s little between them, while this will be YOU DON’T OWN ME’s ninth attempt at the long course, over which he’s been second or third in seven previous attempts. KNOPFLER has hit the board in all four starts this term but is another who has failed to win over this distance (in 16 attempts).
FILLY FATALE makes her first run at the 8½-furlong course but has hit the board in her previous four starts and drops noticeably in class here. If she can repeat either of her two most recent runs, when second to Lucky Force and Cocorita respectively, and handles the distance, she may take some stopping. SILVER ARROW should come on for his first race of the year when fourth behind Miss The Hype in June, while TUXEDO has also had just the single outing this term and looks a different proposition over the longer course.
DEANARROW has been knocking on the door this season and a repeat of his second to Three Day Bender last time, with MEMORANDUM behind, would surely see him go close to losing his maiden status. BLACKSTONE has been beaten a long way in each of his three career starts but drops to the bottom rung today and should be closer. MILO’S COMMAND tried the long track last time and should appreciate the return to sprinting.
This appears tailor-made for RIMFIRE who drops noticeably in class. He ran a clunker last time, when eighth of nine behind Back Shack, but a repeat close to any of his three starts prior to that would make him hard to beat. DYNAMITER returns to the 6 ½-furlong course over which he ran second to JERSEY’S IMAGE last time and makes his first start for new connections after being claimed. DEPUTY’S DANCER had Monte behind him last time when second to Barney Google and he should be in the mix again here.
Hard-knocking claimers don’t get much tougher than this collection of veteran campaigners. BODEGA hasn’t hit the board in five attempts at today’s distance, but his fourth behind Makeitorbreakit last time would be good enough to send him close to the winner’s circle if he can repeat the dose. PADDY D’ORO drops back to 6½ furlongs after two solid runs over further, while 12yo ACE DEUCE should be ‘match fit’ after his first run of the year in June and knows more about the game than most of us.
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