Spotlight Race-Rhode Island
Results from last week’s Spotlight race are in, and the results were very good. I went with the favorite, Local Mi who took command of the race and won by 4 easy lengths, paying $4.70 for the win. My third pick, Stone Cat ran second the entire race as the second betting choice, connecting with an exacta that paid $11.50. My second choice was the 9-1 Beaver Country, and this horse passed by tiring horses to finish third, and a triple that paid investors $62.30. Not shabby if you boxed my three picks.
That was a $5k claiming race and the winner Local Mi and also Beaver Country both were claimed immediately after the race.
For the third week in a row, I find myself at yet another track with awful conditions. This time it is in Rhode Island and the focus is on the eleventh race, a maiden special weight race for all horse that are 3 years old. The race is on a yielding turf course and the distance is a short five and a halve furlongs.
1. Scioto Mile 5-1 -Comes in after a two month rest that this young one probably needed. Speed numbers have been nudging upward since moving to turf with a 71 in a route in January. Distance looked to be too much and tails back to short sprint and looks to be in good spot to break maiden.
2. Spur 13-1 -Bargain bred horse who has shown little in two dirt starts. Transfers to turf with hope of turn around. Not much to get excited about until he can show something.
3. Checkzapper 6-1 -Swtiched from dirt to turf at beginning of 2012 and speeds have nudged upward form mid 50’s to low 60’s. Son of Ghostzapper is probably the best bred horse in this field. Has a bit of work to do to win this race, but does get 24% winning jockey Skaggs aboard.
4. From A Treehouse 4-1 -Two starts over the dirt resulted in mid-60 speeds. Son of Forestry has some nice bloodline connections deep routed within. Untried on turf and the change of surface could be beneficial.
5. Approve Contender 2-1 -Debut race was in mid-January on turf with a speed of 57. Switched to dirt 10 days letter, popping a 75. Two and a half weeks letter scored a 74 speed on dirt. Returns to turf with about 3 weeks rest and will need to show a liking to the grass. First try was terrible, bringing doubts to this effort.
6. Wipeitonthewall 14-1 -Makes second career start and switches to turf after failed attempt on grass. Bargain bred horse with not much going on the sire-dam sire, however, there are nice connections within bloodline to top line runners.
7. Ekati Money 3-1 -Son of Ekati Money who has sired horses that tend to favor the dirt. Ekati has one race thus far, coming on dirt with disappointing 59 speed. Switches things up and will take on the grass. Change of surfaces makes sense and could pay off.
8. Sluggo 11-1 -Showed very little in first two career races, with speeds in the 40’s. In January, showed improvement with a speed of 69 over this track. Continued improvement into this race could end up with a trip to the winner’s circle.
I like Scioto Mile who is dropping in distance and looks to be the front runner in this field that lacks speed. Decent price to boot.
From A Treehouse takes first shot on turf and may find a liking. Gets Scott aboard who has won 31% of races this year.
Sluggo could surprise. No horse in field has off-track experience, and maybe this one will like it. Gets my third choice.