It’s Week 2 and We Have a Two-Fer Thanksgiving Weekend
Kevin Gazzale
We struck out last week on our first attempt to advance to a weekend qualifier. We started at Aqueduct, after striking out in the first 5 races we stormed into contention. A winner in the last would have catapulted us into the Top 3 but we couldn’t get it done. We move on to week 2 and we’re gonna tackle 2 qualifiers this week with Thanksgiving and Black Friday. First we head to Gulfstream on Turkey Day.
Gulfstream 11/27
Race 1 – 3 Veola looks tough in here with a positive barn switch and a front running style that tends to play well going short at Gulfstream. I liked the 2 initially but going for her 12th start I’m not sure how much improvement we would expect to see.
Race 2 – 3 Hot Blooded likes the synth and likes the distance, his best beats this field.
Race 3 – 1 Vuela Paloma with 2 forward moves her first two times on turf, now second race off of a positive barn switch. I’ll be the chalk eater here.
Race 4 – 3 Martinez Mojo, low level Maiden claimer no one jumps out at me so I settled on the FTS with decent works.
Race 5 – 6 Kuwaitya, 3rd off lengthy layoff with a solid trainer, his speed figures easily clear this field if he runs his best. Sharp 3F workout on 11/24 tells me he’ll be ready to fly.
Race 6 – 1 Insolenta, lone talented speed on a surface she likes, could take them all the way here at a decent number.
Race 7 – 4 Travel Happy, solid consistent figures, enjoys the surface, selecting this horse you know you’re at least going to get a top effort.
Race 8 – 2 Haute Diva, 1 for 1 on turf, connections thought enough of this horse to try her in a stake at Keeneland, I think she’ll enjoy getting back to the turf.
Del Mar 11/28
Race 1 – 4 Eva Lea has good solid works, bred well for Turf, Hector Berrios up. All I need to see here in a field of Maidens.
Race 2 – 2 Be Punctual is just too good in here, should hit the front and take them all the way.
Race 3 – 5 Heads in Beds may finally get the set up she wants at the distance she prefers, lots of speed signed on and hopefully she can sit right off of it and pounce late.
Race 4 – 1 Sally’s Wish looks like she can run and her dirt works show she may take to the dirt. No one else in here really scares me so I’ll land on the 1.
Race 5 – 5 Incanto may get a nice pace setup in here with all the speed signed on. Ran best race of his career 2 back on the turf at DMR with Berrios up.
Race 6 – 3 Fumano’s Magic finally comes back to a reasonable level after breaking his maiden 3 back and starting in a stake last time out. Speed all over the place he may be able to wear them down late.
Race 7 – 7 Truly Quality should be much the best in here. May not get a ton of speed signed on but with this horses breeding you know he is going to be closing late.
Race 8 – 8 Lanzador has decent works paired with decent breeding which could surprise some.
Race 9 – 8 Minister Shane will be running late and has some back figures that top this field. It looks like he will get the setup he needs to find a clean run.
I will update any changes in picks with scratches and track conditions.
Clark Day Bonus Bet at Churchill Downs
$3 Late Pick 3 at Churchill Downs
Race 10 – 3/4/7/8/10
Race 11 – 3
Race 12 – 2/4/7
$45
Enjoy the races and Thanksgiving, check back here Saturday morning hopefully for some analysis for my BCBC qualifier.
