Haskell Weekend Recap - Super Screener
Super Screener

Haskell Weekend Recap

With short fields for the featured stakes races this weekend, Mike searched for a bigger field with better playability – and landed on the G3 Matchmaker at Monmouth on Sunday. The turf race provided our biggest score of the weekend. Check it out!

Matchmaker – Monmouth

8-1-2016 matchmaker results
It was a tough weekend for finding full fields of stakes quality horses. The Super Screener opted for this one projecting a Playability Score of 5 for the race. The top win selection, #10 Itsonlyactingdad easily disposed of this field drawing away with authority in the end.

Our top long shot bomber #12 Bureau de Change did not disappoint hitting the bottom of theSuperfecta at nearly 24-1. Here’s what we said about this key long shot horse…

8-1-2016 bureau de change

There were two key scratches in this race and the turf was coming yielding due to rain in the area so this gave us the opportunity to update our selections moving #5 Tammy the Torpedo up in our selections and including #6 Uchenna in the bottom of Trifectas and Superfecta’s. That move was key in hitting a $.40 Superfecta for over $400 and cashing on the Trifecta and Exacta.

8-1-2016 matchmaker payoffs

 

G1 Vanderbilt – Saratoga

8-1-2016 vanderbilt results

Our 3rd , 4th and 5th selections completed the Trifecta while our top selected pair #7 Requite and #6 Chublicious finished in the back half of the field. We took a shot with that pair seeking value but in the end there wasn’t much value to be had in this compact field of sprinters. #5 Holy Boss probably impressed the most and will be one to follow as he progresses to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

 

G2 Jim Dandy – Saratoga

8-1-2016 jim dandy results
Whoa! Now that was a shocker. No one gave #2 Laoban a second look and apparently none of his rivals were concerned about this confirmed pace leader either allowing him to have a clear one length lead throughout setting dawdling fractions…he just stole this one on the front end as the longest price on the board. Always a risk in a small field but, honestly, looking back, the numbers just didn’t add up to a Laoban win against these and certainly more pressure was expected from #4 Destin and #3 Mohaymen…the latter really disappointed putting in a dull effort but it was his first back since May and we’ll need to see if he stays at this level or moves forward in his next race. #5 Governor Malibu impressed and is coming around at the right time and appears to be entering the top tier in this three year-old division. #4 Destin got what he needed from this race and is expected to progress from here.

We did take a strong stand against the chalky Creator who has done a lot of racing without a break. The slow pace certainly didn’t help his chances. Time to give this horse a well-deserved break.

 

 

G1 – Haskell – Monmouth

8-1-2016 haskell results
Well, so much for “inside information” on #6 Exaggerator from the connections that were concerned about his very dull work that prompted consideration for not even running this weekend. I am sure the forecast for rain may have helped influence the decision to run in the end and it certainly paid off even surviving a claim of foul.

Unlike the Jim Dandy, the pace here was swift and pressured. #5 American Freedom was the most impressive finisher having battled throughout but hanging on for a very gutsy 2 nd place finish. This late arriving 3 year-old has now stamped himself as top tier which makes the run to the Breeders’ Cup even that much more interesting.

#1 Nyquist did not look like the same horse but clearly needed the race. #4 Gun Runner had no excuses unless the wet going was not to his liking.