Results for Sat., Dec. 26th-

My Lady A.P. looked to be running a winning race, until Mallory Square blew by and drew off; that could be a nice little filly. She was running back off nine days rest from a 2nd at CRC. Rickyontherun didn't. Doohan showed speed and stopped. Joanie's Catch got outfinished by a neck. El Commodore dueled and quit. Mr. Green ran an even third.

Meet record: 3/21= 14% Bet: $187.00 Won: $78.40 Loss: -$108.60

Selections for Sat., Dec. 26, 2009

Race 3: #7- My Lady A.P. (4-1) seemed to put it all together last out, a key race; Centeno takes the call. #9- Narrate (8-1) is a FTS for Mark Casse, daughter of Medaglia D'oro has been training well at Ocala, may want more ground than this.

$3exa- 7,9/4,6,7,9

Race 4: #4- Rickyontherun (7-2) is a strong finisher, is the choice over #8- Celtic New Year, who is working very well locally but may need this first race since July.

$5win- 4

Race 5: #9- Doohan (10-1) stretches out off of two sprints and goes to the lawn; Proctor is off to a strong start this meet.

$5win/plc- 9

Race 6: Sandpiper Stakes 6F- #8- Joanie's Catch (4-1) has had a steady diet of stakes races, including black type in a GIII last out; turns back to a sprint, should be flying late.

$5win/plc- 8

Race 8: #5- El Commodore (6-1) goes first out for Greg Griffith; he appears to have figured this guy out, the work on 12/21 was phenomenal; blinkers-on might get 'er done.

$5win- 5

Race 10: Inaugural Stakes 6F- #9- Mr. Green (3-1) hasn't missed the triple in 7 career starts; archrival Hear Ye Hear Ye breaks from the extreme outside, can't seem to put two consecutive good ones together.

$5win/plc- 9

Results for Wed., Dec. 23rd-

One for three, with a scratch. Got a place result from Great Belief in the seventh; he was run down easily by Blushing Bear, who I labeled a plodder; my mistake, he ran very well, and put up a good time with honest fractions. By Rahy out of a Gone West mare, this gelding has every chance to become a useful runner. Band Of Thunder dueled to mid-stretch and tired in the eighth. Nina Springs was the one to fear in the ninth, getting up in time under Centeno to beat favored Giddyup Gadfly. Those two made up a chalky $19.00 exacta, but with 71-1 Arrestedforpassion in third, triple paid $342.40.

Meet record: 2/15= 13% Bet: $129.00 Won: $71.40 Loss: -$57.60

Selections for Wed., Dec. 23, 2009

Race 6: If the #1- Not Up For Love is the 5-2 m/l favorite here, then you know this is an ugly and chaotic race. The speed fig guys will probably make the #8- Rum Customer the actual post time fave. Let's play the #6- Tre Cool (10-1) who can finish well and had three good two-turn efforts here last meet.

$5win/plc- 6

Race 7: #1- Ambergris Caye is a full brother to Perfect Drift; doubt they'll try to win the debut here with GP opening soon. #2- Wotan used to run for Shug, now goes out for Clement/Centeno, so little value there. If Jose Velez, Jr. had a decent start this meet I'd give #3- Albin a look, but Velez is still cold. #4- Blushing Bear looks like one of those hopeless late-running plodders who never get there in time. Corny V. is listed to ride #5- Forgive Me for Angel Penna, Jr., but I've got too many doubts off the 19 month layoff. That all leaves me with #8- Great Belief (9-2) for Graham Motion/Jeremy Rose. Horse has been in steady training at Fair Hill since September and Motion can have them ready on works alone.

$5win/plc- 8

Race 8: #2- Band Of Thunder (5-2) has the best early speed here, has been training locally for a month for return.

$4exa- 2/3,5

Race 9: #4- Giddyup Gadfly (2-1) is the class, #5- S S Royal Endeavor (6-1) is the speed, and #8- Nina Springs (7-2) is the one to fear from Cibelli/Centeno.

$2tri- 4/5,8/5,6,8,10,11

Results for Thurs., Dec. 17th-

Beachcomber, last of ten, never lifted a hoof. Chrome Cruiser (4.00-1) ran well but was outfinished by the favorite, under RoHo, who swept the last three races and had four on the day. Trainer Anthony Pecoraro notched two more wins, he's en fuego.

Meet record: 1/12= 8% Bet: $99.00 Won: $59.40 Loss: -$39.60

Selections for Thurs., Dec. 17, 2009

Race 6: There's quite a bit of speed entered here to set up a good late run, so with #9- Schopenhauer (5-2) scratched, let's take a flyer on #7- Beachcomber, with Dean Butler aboard.

$1tri- 7/4,6,8/4,6,8,10,11 -and- $1pk3- 6,7/7,10/3,4,9

Race 8: Real headscratcher, so we'll zig while they zag, hopefully. #9- Chrome Cruiser (9-2) has been running evenly in short sprints over the AW at Woodbine, rallying nicely last time out. Well-bred for the grass, with a competent trainer, and we get turf-challenged Willie Martinez aboard to keep the price up.

$1tri- 9/3,4,7/1,3,4,7,10

Results for Wed., Dec. 16th-

0 fer 2 on the day, with two scratched bets. Should have ignored the AEs in the eighth and sent the wager in anyways, as the tri with a 4-5 over a 14-1 and 21-1 paid $150 for a buck...ouch.

There were two $100+ bombs on the day...and Daniel Centeno did not win a turf race- strange day indeed.


Meet record: 1/9= 11% Bet: $63.00 Won: $59.40 Loss: -$3.60

Barn Notes- DRF

Selections for Wed., Dec. 16, 2009-

Race 5- (8.5F Turf) The Graham Motion-trained #8- Apple Charlotte should be an even money favorite here, after a tough-trip big-late-close 2nd at CD in her first career start. Let's try to beat her with #9- Wicked Charm (5-1), from Matz/Centeno, a first time starter who is a half-sister to English Channel; he did okay on the grass :). Matz usually gives them a race but this daughter of Ghostzapper could be a good one.

$1tri- 9/4,6,8/2,4,6,8,10

Race 6- (7F)

$1pk3- 3,12/5,7,10/6

Race 7- (7F) #5- Misfit Manny (6-1) takes another class drop, goes second off the layoff; good closing kick can take this.

$2exa- 5/7,10 & 7,10/5

Race 8- (8.5F Turf) #6- Omega Cat (2-1) appears to tower over these rivals and a clean trip should result in a victory. If any of the also-eligibles gets in, complexion of the race changes- no bet.

$1tri- 6/3,4,7/3,4,7,8,9

Results for Sat., Dec. 12th-

Could only connect with Da Plane in the fifth, who stole the race on the front end under a heady ride from Cotto. Amazing that the exacta paid almost sixty bucks.

Mohegan Sky was far back early and never entered contention in the feature race; expected more than that from a Joan Scott trainee.

As it turned out, Rock Candy was using today's race strictly as a prep; she was far back for a half and was only turned loose in the stretch, closing fast for third. She'll be tight next time in the Minaret Stakes (6F), and should be at her best for the Manatee (7F) and Wayward Lass (8.5F).

Congratulations to trainer Anthony Pecoraro. He won the first three races on the card! "Mr. Slacker" could then only manage a fourth place finish in the sixth race.


Meet record: 1/7= 14% Bet: $52.00 Won: $59.40 Profit: $7.40

Selections for Sat., Dec. 12, 2009-

Race 2: #5- El Supremo (5-1) has had a six-week break, likes the track, runs a solid race every time out. Stalking style will work well here, can handle the class jump. Owner Carlesimo points for this meet.

$2exa- 5/1,9 & 1,9/5

Race 4: Lots of early speed in this 6F sprint, let's try to run them down with #7- Nice Roundup (10-1).

$2win/plc- 7

Race 5: #2- Da Plane (3-1), "working well." Hard to take Cotto on a short-priced turf horse, but this son of Concorde's Tune should relish the surface switch. #6- Turwada should like this as well. Betting against #9- Ryvit, should take a lot of money off NY running lines, looks like a plodder. Also against #10- Center Divider (clever name- Giant's Causeway x Meridiana), Clement/Centeno FTS, but will use defensively.

$2exa- 2/6,10 & 6,10/2

Race 7: #6- Doctor Cal (8-1) ran a good one in his CRC return, takes another step forward here.

$1tri- 6/3,5,9/1,3,5,9,10

Race 8: #9- Grand Times is certainly fast, but let's try to beat him at a short price with #7- Good Lord (8-1), another son of Greatness who goes out for Kaelin/Centeno. Thinking that if #5- V Sat were really the goods for Zito, he'd scratch and run him in the Inaugural Stakes in two weeks.

$5win- 7

Race 9: Would like to have seen a better turf jock on #8- Mohegan Sky (4-1), but this mare is just better than these, and now under the care of Joan Scott.

$10win- 8

Race 10: Tough prep race for the upcoming Minaret Stakes (6F), with a lot of middle-distance turnbacks. If #6- Rock Candy (4-1), "working well", has progressed since earlier this year, she'll take a lot of beating here; loves the track and is reunited with jockey Carlos Montalvo, who rode her with confidence last meet.

$5win- 6

Jockeys & Trainers

Jockeys good with speed horses: Ronnie Allen, Jr., Pedro Cotto, Jr., J.J. Garcia, Andrew Ramgeet.

Jockeys good with turf horses: Daniel Centeno, Pablo Morales, Rosemary Homeister, Dean Butler.

Jockeys you can usually get value on: Carlos Montalvo, Huber Villa-Gomez, Andrew Ramgeet, Dean Butler.

Newcomers to watch: Inez Karlsson, Abel Lezcano.


Best trainers other than Jamie Ness, and the GP shippers (Matz, Zito, Pletcher, Clement): Dale Bennett, Gregory Griffith, Forrest Kaelin, Barbara McBride, Thomas Proctor, Derek Ryan, JOAN SCOTT, Michael Zweisler.

Trainers who excel on the turf: Gregory Griffith, Thomas Proctor, Joan Scott, Bernie Rhone.