MJC analyst Gabby Gaudet will share her longshot and exotic plays with The Racing Biz each Saturday. Photo courtesy of the Maryland Jockey Club.
In the latest edition of our weekly feature with Maryland racing analyst Gabby Gaudet, she plays a Pick 4 and scopes out two of the day’s four stakes.
FIRE PLUG STAKES
The skinny: A compact field of seven runners will face the starter.
Notably: Breeders’ Cup Sprint participant Bakken — who, though eighth that day, was beaten less than four lengths — is here and is favored.
Gabby’s take: “It’s not a wide open race — I only used two — but the chance for an upset is there.”
[boxify cols_use =”3″ cols =”6″ position =”right” box_spacing =”5″ padding =”3″ background_color =”gray” background_opacity =”10″ border_width =”1″ border_color =”blue” border_style =”solid” height =”220″ ]GABBY’S PICK FOUR TICKET
- Race 6 – 3, 5
- Race 7 – 3, 4, 8
- Race 8 – 1, 7, 8, 9
- Race 9 – 3, 6, 9
- Note: If #6 Shayjolie runs in R7, use her rather than #3.
- Ticket cost ($0.50 unit): $36[/boxify]
SCOPING OUT THE FIRE PLUG
[su_list icon=”icon: check”]- The particulars: 4yo and up, 6 furlongs
- Conditions: Stake, $100,000 purse
- Top Selection: #3 Bakken; Chad Brown trainee was beaten just 3 1/2 lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint against much better… Ran second to multiple G1 winner Palace in the G2 True North… Last was a disappointing fifth in the G3 Fall Highweight, but Gabby says, “It looked like he wasn’t handling the track at all, and he didn’t seem to be exerting himself…” Owns three wins and a second from seven career starts… Abel Castellano slated to get the mount… Bottom line: Clearly the horse to beat.
- The Upsetter: #5 Smash and Grab; Local runner has won six of eight starts at Laurel, seven of 10 at the distance, and two of three on off tracks… For trainer Damon Dilodovico, the son of Sharp Humor has three wins and a second in six starts, but hasn’t been competitive in two stakes tries… Has had gate issues, stumbling at the start of the De Francis, lunging at the start of the Wild and Wonderful… A bad break is likely doom for one-dimensional speedster… Won nicely, but as lone speed, last out… Bottom line: If Bakken falters, this horse — who loves the track, trip, and slop — could be the one to get the money.
BONUS RACE: THE NELLIE MORSE
[su_list icon=”icon: check”]- The particulars: Fillies and mares, 4yo and up, about 1 1/16 miles
- Conditions: Stake, $100,000 purse
- Gabby’s take: “There could be a lot of value in this race.”
- Top Selection: #4 Unbound; Graham Motion runner stretches out after two sprints… Should show improved speed at the route distance and, by Distorted Humor out of an A.P. Indy mare, bred to like a route of ground… Ran second to Classic Point two back, and that runner returned to win against G3 rivals going a mile… Owns two wins on the slop… Bottom line: The longshot play of the day.
- One to Watch: #8 Before You Know It; rapidly improving runner for trainer Claudio Gonzalez has won four straight, last three by at least four lengths… Has not won in three tries at the distance, but last two one-mile wins suggest won’t be an issue… Likely to find a spot a couple lengths off the lead… Bottom line: An improving horse who should be able to handle the step up in class.
“Good luck!”
(Featured image, of Ben’s Cat, by Laurie Asseo.)
