Queen’s Plate Top Pick Scores
- Updated: July 17, 2017
Queen’s Plate
The Super Screener was crazy convicted over Holy Helena as the top win play and the only “A” horse in the field of 13. She lived up to the Screener hype to not only win this race but do so drawing away in hand. Here’s what the Super Screener had to say about the filly that beat the boys:
“Super Screener has landed squarely on the filly, #3 Holy Helena, as the top win pick here. Fillies have historically done well in the aptly named race so no concerns about running against the boys…especially this bunch which is a bit softer than most years. She is lightly raced making only her 4th career start but she has looked sharp in all those races including the maiden win at Belmont Park. The pace here will be modest and she’ll sit patiently behind #7 State of Honor and then will gradually grind that one down in early stretch and then do everything she can to hold off late comers. Added distance is no problem and last work was very sharp indicating she is holding form…top win pick and certain board hitter.”
Channel Maker hit the board as predicted and Chad Brown’s turf filly and Super Screener top value play, Inflexibility, did offer decent value at 7-1 but found trouble again, getting knocked sideways at the gate by King and His Court and then again coming out of the chute. At the ¾’s pole, she had to check and got shuffled back before digging back in resolutely to come on again but was denied what would have been a certain 2nd place finish which would have resulted in firing off several Super Screener suggested wagers scores. Sounds like several of you were wise enough to include Tiz a Slam in the 2-hole in your Exotic wagers which was a smart move in the end. Screener had that rival locked in 3rd and 4th with the caution that the Super Screener probably had him ranked too low:
G3 Carry Back
The parade of chalk winning graded stakes races continues. Our top win pick at nearly 6-1, Mo Cash, clearly ran the best race dueling throughout with Sweetontheladies and then, as the Screener anticipated, shook of that foe and then leveraged that superior reserve energy to press on to the wire only to get nipped in the final stride by odds-on favorite, Three Rules, for the win. Here’s what the Super Screener said about this game, late blooming colt:
“Super Screener top honors will go to #4 Mo Cash. Just can find no fault with this colt and though his last two races were against Florida breds, they were very solid efforts in that he has the enviable ability to release his heightened energy level in such a balanced way which keeps him close to the pace but with plenty of the energy in reserve for the late stages which is why this 7F distance is so suitable for him. Flashy work last out and moves forward again.”
Three Rules returned to the scene of his best races and demonstrated once again that he is a Gulfstream Park horse-for-course. He offered no value so our suggested wagers more heavily favored Mo Cash. Three Rules will now get a break but Screener is noting that outside Florida, he will be vulnerable at a low price against similar competition.
Top long shot bomber pick, Gregory Sun at odds of 64-1 got clocked at the start and had the wind knocked out of him and lost all chance to impact the bottom of the Exotics. Tab for next start.
G2 Princess Rooney
This is one case in which “backside buzz” won out over Screener ratings when it came to Curlin’s Approval who received a “Vulnerable Favorite” label but showed that he was anything but with that impressive draw-away win returning to that prior form which had him ranked as a highly regarded rival in the sprinter division. The Screener was clearly hesitant on this one as the following prognostication indicates:
“#7 Curlin’s Approval is tough to figure. Ran a huge G2 Royal Delta last February but last two have been dull. Good recent works though, cut back to one turn will be a big help and will improve off that layoff. Use some but favor others.”
The Super Screener’s Top Value play, Distinta, did get that predicted perfect trip and finished well enough to hit the bottom of the Exacta at generous odds of 12-1:
Top win pick and Top Board Hitter selection, Lightstream, achieved the latter outcome but as feared, settled too far back leaving too much work to do in the end to have a shot at the win. Just a second place finish fires off more suggested wager scores but the $.20 Superfecta suggested wagers did hit for the modest score.
G2 Mother Goose
No excuses…Super Screener just got his wrong by scoring Vexatious and Spanish Harlem way too high as they figured prominently in all the suggested Screener wagers but finished in the back of the field. In the end, it was chalk over chalk in this affair the two favorites Unchained Melody and Lockdown completed the Exacta.
