Over $1,300 CASHED – BC Preps Up Next!

By CandiceCurtis
Updated: September 26, 2016

Sophie Shore/Eclipse Sportswire

G2 Commonwealth Turf Cup

The Super Screener started off the day with a bang! Our top win choice #7 Blacktype ran a gutsy race prevailing in the end at odds of nearly 4-1 which was great value on this gelding.

“(Blacktype) Dangerous Clement charge that has not missed the Superfecta in his last 9 starts. Much better on firm going. Does he need a race off the rest? Will land a perfect trip and he is our top board hitter. Also faces easier here.”

Our 5th ranked horse in the race, Top of Mind, went off at odds at nearly 30-1. Had we known those were the kind of odds we would get we would have made him a top long shot pick. But, because we had him ranked pretty high he was included generously in many of the suggested tickets and as a result we hit the Trifecta several times for a payout of over $1,300.

“(Top of Mind) Stablemate of #10 debuted on turf just two races ago and now has two wins against easier. Been away since 7/1. Passed his stablemate in the last work but jockey Carrasco sticks with Phlash Phelps. Intriguing at a price.”

Top of Mind also had a pretty rough trip here with that tough start, wide trip and the loss of the whip in the stretch so move him up next time he races. His stablemate Phlash Phelps also needs to be moved up as he clipped heels with a rival in mid stretch and lost momentum.

G3 Gallant Bob

The Super Screener top 5 ranked horses all finished in the top 5. Noholdingback Bear finally got the respect he deserves (as horses based in Canada just always seem to get dismissed when shipping state side) and he won handily, holding off a very game Mind Your Biscuits.

“(Noholdingback Bear) Proved he’s just as good on dirt as synthetic…got overlooked last out and that 3rd place was much better than it looked as he was hung wide throughout. Much better at 6 furlongs. Last work only lends confidence.”

Mind Your Biscuits was the best horse in the race, as he got another poor ride from his pilot, but was running like a freight train down the stretch and prevailed past the wire. He was the lone closer among the top 5 finishers and has now run two exceptional races and will go to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint as a sneaky good dark horse. Nothing against jockey Cornelio Velasquez but a switch to a jock with more strength like Joel Rosario or Flavien Prat would be a great move as this is a big, big horse to manage.

“(Mind Your Biscuits) Super Screener liked at 15-1 last out. Was wide throughout and was compromised by a slow pace and was easily 3rd. Will appreciate the cut back in distance and the swifter pace. Finds easier here — our best board hitter.”

Threefiveindia had a terrible start but recovered quickly and ran a very good race – he is coming into hand at the right time. Super Screener was high on the CA shippers, but they in the end proved to be overmatched.

All and all a good outcome resulting in more cashes of suggested wagers.

G2 PA Derby

The Pennsylvania Derby featured an all star cast including the top three finishers in the Kentucky Derby. Gun Runner was our top pick from that trio and he did not disappoint though one could argue he was the best horse in the race. While the winner Connect got that dream trip on the rail, Gun Runner was wide throughout (not the place to be at Parx) and was floated even wider turning for home as he ran down the center of the track.

Both Gun Runner and Connect exited the Travers Stakes (as did 4th place finisher My Man Sam) which only confirms how salty that race was and certainly validates Arrogate’s status as a top win contender going into the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

We liked Connect some but not enough to see him in the win spot, unfortunately.

“(Connect) Ran a troubled Travers veering out of the gate and then having to check early losing a few lengths. Recovers here and could be a factor on the bottom of exotics. Another that is actually moving up in his form cycle. Surpriser.”

Awesome Slew was clearly 3rd best in the race as he did all the work up front cutting some grueling fractions but held on gamely for 5th, getting passed at the wire by only a neck by a couple of clunk-up deep closers.

Just a note about the Cotillion…wow! Songbird has just run out of rivals to beat in her division setting up an incredible Breeders’ Cup Distaff that will feature Songbird, Beholder, Stellar Wind and some other top notch older horses.

We now enter what is arguably the best month in racing, and the next three weekends are just loaded with Graded Stakes racing action featuring over 40 Graded Stakes races. Next weekend alone, count ‘em, we have 10 Grade 1 Stakes races and they are all critical final preps for the Breeders’ Cup, so don’t miss out on all the exciting action. We’ll be front and center on these races, reporting back on horses to fade and move up based on these critical prep performances.

Until next weekend…Go Fast and Win!

Mike