Ohio Derby, Chicago Handicap Top Picks Score

G3 Ohio Derby

It was a great renewal of the G3 Ohio Derby featuring 4 Kentucky Derby runners headlined by Girvin, but it was the Super Screener top pick, Irap, that prevailed for a hard fought nose win over Girvin. This pair was well clear of third place finisher, Untrapped, and the rest of the field. There wasn’t any value to be had in this race but the Irap-over-Girvin Exacta payoff was better than what it would have been the other way around and the suggested wagers of $32 in Exactas cashed.

 

G3 Chicago Handicap

Our top win pick and top value play, Mines and Magic, was scratched as was our top long shot bomber pick #6 Improv.  Finley’sluckycharm was the prohibitive favorite and set good fractions on a track that is very kind to speed as of late and she drew away under relative ease.  She has now won 6 sprint races at Churchill Downs and is 9 for 9 in the Exacta sprinting, overall.  She got the 7-furlong distance and she remains on course for an appearance this Fall at Del Mar in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.  

 

The big disappointment here was the complete no show by closer #9 Sweetgrass.  She had the perfect set up but no late run and she was a key player in the suggested wagers.

 

Of note, our other Top Long Shot Bomber play, She Mabee Wild completed the Superfecta at odds of 36-1.

William Petro Memorial

We waited until Noon ET for Thistledown to post their scratches but it didn’t happen and we didn’t wait any longer.  The Super Screener projected a hot and pressured pace for this race…

 

“The pace here projects to be very hot with a lot of pressure.  As many as four rivals will be up front battling for the lead with three pressers right behind them”.

 

With two of those pace leaders subsequently scratched, that materially changed the pace set up leading to fairly ordinary fractions which allowed Justalittlesmoke to just take it easy biding time behind a free wheeling Proper Discretion who opened up by as many as 8 lengths on the field before fading back to 7th and tabbed as the Super Screener’s “Vulnerable Favorite” in this race.  

 

Our top win selection and Top Board Hitter candidate, School Board Prez, came from nearly last and rushed up late to grab 2nd place in a really good looking performance.

The Super Screener suggested Exacta and the Trifecta wagers (#1 moving into third group with scratch of #12) to hit for over $320.

 

Mister Diz Stakes

The Super Screener top win pick and value play, English Minister, ran a big race to finish 2nd just a neck behind Phlash Phelps.  While all other horses that were near the front early ended up in the back of the field, English Minister, held on doggedly and nearly won this.

 

“Our top pick in here will be #1 English Minister at morning line odds of 10-1.  This 7 year-old gelding runs well off layoffs and does best on softer turf courses and while listed firm, the Laurel turf course did take some rain over night so it should be to his liking.  Screener likes route front runners cutting back to the sprint distance.  In his last race he could have been easily the winner against today’s rivals #5 Grandiflora and #9 Phlash Phelps but got shuffled back severely at the top of the stretch losing at least 3 lengths in the process.  Offers tremendous value.”

 

Hats off to the Super Screener Top Board Hitter, Phlash Phelps, who got the perfect trip getting first run on the other closers into the very fast and contested pace.

Top long shot bomber pick Blu Moon Ace struggled to find room late in the stretch and then moved but it was too late.  It cost him 3rd place and the opportunity for the Super Screener $.50 Superfecta suggested wager to cash at a nice payoff.  

 

It will be an action packed 4th of July holiday weekend headlined but the G1 United Nations to be run at Monmouth and the $1 million Queens Plate at Woodbine.  In addition, we’ll see the G2 Mother Goose at Belmont Park and the G2 Princess Rooney which are both races used on the road to the Breeders’ Cup.

 

Until next weekend…Go fast and win!

 

Mike

 

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