Spotlight Recap
Four top picks found the winner’s circle this week with another 8 selections gathering in wins. A total of 5 exacta/boxed exactas and 3 trifecta/boxed trifectas.
RACE 1
1-Daytona Ice faces weak field and should have her way as heavy favorite.
3-All Conquistador should complete a very cheap exacta in this short field event.
Easy pickings in the opening race as Daytona Ice took her time walking to the front and paying a cheap $2.20. The only thing cheaper was the exacta with All Conquistador which paid $2.10
RACE 2
13-Abusive debuted with a speed of 71. Could top that in field with many unraced horses.
7-Sparkit On Cammand finished third twice, last with 68-speed. Cat Thief colt could improve at a steep price.
2-Haack’s Milker is well bred Tapit colt who is unraced favorite that could break maiden first time out.
Abusive started off poorly but kept moving to finish second. Sparkit On Command went straight to the lead and was caught by rivals and finished 6th. Haack’s Miller was used early and finished unimpressive 12th in debut.
RACE 3
8-Angry Candy goes route for first time and looks ready for it. Gets edge over other favorites with Clay aboard.
7-Taboo Kitty has won five in a row and has ability to make it six.
6- Barb In Motion had solid win advancing to 8.5f in last, drilling field by over 5 strides. Seeks fourth straight in field where favorites look to be king….rather queen since we have fillies.
Taboo Kitty waited patiently in second and caught front runner Barb in Motion in final furlong to pay $9.50 and the duo knocked off a boxed exacta of $29.60. Angry Candy ran third throughout, making up ground late for third, bringing home boxed trifecta of $96.90.
RACE 4
6-Vegas Mirage has very good speeds but hasn’t mastered the route. Good thing he is dropping back to sprint and gets excellent chance here.
5-Crashing Down returned to dirt three races back and has been on board each time, most recently hitting 94 speed. Should put in strong effort.
2-Bitter Triumph has been on board 5 of 6 sprint races. Last race was way to long, back where he belongs, gets piece of purse.
Crashing Down engaged in 3-way speed dual and was the victor worth $9.40. Vegas Mirage put in dull effort but managed to get fourth. Bitter Triumph was never a factor in race running 6th throughout.
RACE 5
1- Father McKenzie ignore speed in last as this colt breezed to easy win which was similar to a workout. Ready to soar.
6-Haack’s Performer is likely to set pace, on board 4 of 6 dirt races indicates this one should be on board someplace, could be top spot.
4-Slash Five has been racing at this track for a while, knocking off career best speed of 95 in last. Off board twice in 6 races on track, once on turf, other was dirt route. Should be competitive.
Haack’s Performer hooked up in a front-end speed battle and won at $10.00. Father McKenzie never showed up for the event as evidenced by the 7th place finish. Slash Five could not improve off of career best in last, finishing fifth.
RACE 6
3-Emerald Vixen has raced over this track his last 8 starts, winning last three. Has won 17 of 34 lifetime starts. Hooks up with Cahill once again, combination looks good. This one could take some of the lower end stake races.
1-Michelle G. comes off two very nice wins with speeds of 104 and 107. In top shape and will be tough.
5-Clever Cat Thief has never won a route. Speeds have been good enough to get on the board in this affair.
Michelle G pressured Emerald Victory early on and took the lead past the half and paid $8.30 for win. Boxed exacta with Emerald Victory was $14.10. Clever Cat Thief took photo for show, good enough to complete box trifecta of $26.60
RACE 7
11-Perfectly Saintly had nice third in last over this track with 98-speed, best of year. Switches over to Cahill this time out.
6-Theatre Warrior has been very competitive in claimers in past. Makes return to racing after long break and may need a race.
7-Wingaway has periodically displayed some late running ability. Takes drop in distance and could take advantage of this change.
Theater Warrior sat off the pace and made move late for a payout of $10.80. Wingaway kicked in to late, but ate up 7 strides going from 12 down to 5 in the final quarter. Perfectly Saintly got a tad more distance and better jockey but failed to use this to advantage with finish of fourth.
RACE 8
9-Tap Once in peak form. Front runner can make it two in a row despite poor choice in jockey.
10-Formittable-name fits this one well. Will be very formidable in this race dropping well back in distance from recent 2-mile effort.
8-Wholly Cannoli- resident runner in Oklahoma has won twice in five tries with a second intermixed. Cahill gets call and this duo will be closing late.
The sound of thunder could be heard as Formittable tore up the track going from 16 down to a length win at $9.00. Tap Once made effort to wire field and was overtaken, settled for third. Wholly Cannoli was non-competitive with a 7th place finish.
RACE 9
5-Roaring Tiger is very consistent with speeds in 100-range. Distance suits this filly well.
4-The Last Drop entered by excellent trainer and gets excellent jockey. Will challenge for top spot.
7-Discreet Claim is a very feisty lady, stormed off a 107 speed in last race. Keep an eye on her.
Roaring her way around the track with a wire job was Roaring Tiger bringing in $6.50. The Last Drop closed late, missing by a half-stride, completing straight exacta of $18.70. Discreet Claim cruised by tiring horses for third and $44.90 trifecta.
RACE 10
3-Ridge Connection loves to be on the lead, in a spot to wire field.
1-Presumed Guilty will probably stalk top pick with honest chance to snag the win.
Ridge Connection paid $5.30 for win in field that she controlled every step of the way. Presumed Guilty did not look sharp and finished third in tiny field.
RACE 11
7-Hemisphere Dancer moves up to allowance level after pair of wins in Kansas in claimers. Speed numbers make this guy the one to beat.
5-Earthly Care gets Cahill for third consecutive race at this distance. Duo has a win and place together. Good team should fare well once again.
2-Acquired Taste showed some late kick in short sprint in last race, could be enough to get a part.
Hemisphere Dance and Acquired Taste battled through stretch for second spot with Hemisphere winning photo and Acquired taking third. Earthly Care fought for lead early but could not break free and burnt out to 7th.
RACE 12
2-Street Icon lit board at 12-1 over this track last month with big win at 10f for first time going from last to first. Look for repeat with Cahill again.
4-Abilene Dude is a pace setter that usually holds on to get a top-3 finish, stretches out.
1- Galakcookie makes fourth career start, goes much further but shows late run ability.
Street Icon came from back of field very hard and narrowly missed top spot by half length, took second. Galacookie failed to get late run going, but glided past tiring foes and was a well back third. Abilene Dude was in fight for lead that was costly, caved in to finish fifth.
RACE 13
11-Empire Lee looked very sharp last time out going 9f with career best speed of 96. Cuts back to 7f and this closer should transition well.
3-Inccndio has been away from track for a while but has put in competitive speeds. Should be ok coming back after near 2 month break.
5-Lands O Clair has history of inconsistency but can hit speeds in 90’s. If he has any form this weekend, could complete a nice triple.
Lads O Clair put in best effort of year with $14.80 payout and winning by stride and a half. Inccndio made move late and lost photo for third, stuck with fourth. Empire Lee didn’t show any liking to the sprint distance ending up in 7th.
RACE 14
3-Pure Sacrifice failed last time out when hoisted to graded level. Drops back to lower stake level and ready to collect second stakes win against competitive field.
6-Londone Eye-7 year old mare should be able to eclipse $1 million in earnings with this race.
2-This Town in a field loaded with speed. Saw 5-race win streak end recently. Capable of wiring field and starting anew.
The fastest speed at the track came from This Town who had to fight early on for the lead and brought in $8.50 while setting a career best speed at 112. London Eye looked troubled throughout and finished last. Pure Sacrifice ran flat but got third.
RACE 15
5-Corner Guard won with switch to turf and breaking maiden. Slight edge.
4-Rupert Bear is Dynaformer filly that one first time out on good track. Bears watching.
2-On The Upgrade hit speed of 71 when moved to turf in last start. Grass looks to work for her.
Corner Guard charged out for lead and never looked back, paying $7.50. Favorite Rupert Bear moved from rear to take second and an exacta paying $9.30. Couldn’t get trifecta as On The Upgrade ran third throughout and gave up that spot late finishing fourth.
RACE 16
7-Basilisk Isles is a cheaply bred colt that has proven that it doesn’t take a fortune to get a stakes runner. Speeds have been on the rise, topping at 107 in 11f affair last month. Could win in first stakes try.
4-Cyber Speed showed impressive power rallying from 13 back at half and in last to win by over 2 with 108 speed with first stakes win. Don’t be surprised if he gets second one.
3-Yankee Flair has been racing well with speeds in 100-range, gets a piece of the pie.
Yankee Flair was only pick to hit board with strong closing effort good enough for third. Basilisk tried aggressively to get lead in early stages which turned out to be fatal as horse diminished into 6th place finish. Cyber Speed was unable to turn on late boosters, finished fifth.