Spotlight Tipsheet Results
This week, very nice results at Vermont with 7 top picks winning races. Six other selections were winners. Total of 8 exactas/boxes and 4 triples/boxes. Surprisingly, one week after having extremely large fields at Vermont for the Equinics, the fields were extremely small, which admitting impacts the before mentioned results favorably.
RACE 1
2. Harmo-speed numbers look good enough for heavy favorite to break maiden in tiny field.
1. Easily-first time runner could beat out pair of computer owned horses in open spot for second.
Easily jumped out to the lead and never looked back, breaking maiden first time out with nice 74 speed paying $6.80. Harmo failed to meet expectations with a drop in speed from 77 to 69. However, got boxed exacta for $8.40.
RACE 2
4. Broken Twig-heavy favorite out of Forestry has best breeding of group. Should have little problem getting second career win.
1. Mystery Manor-first time runner gets second spot in small field solely based on better jockey.
Broken Twig had no problem picking up second win of career as heavy fave, paying $2.30. Second choice Mystery manor maneuvered from last to second nailing a short $5.00 exacta.
RACE 3
4. War Rules-despite poor jockey assignment, gets call with best speeds in field.
2. Green Eggs N Sahm-has some early speed and could benefit from it. Back on turf and into sprints.
War Rules put things into cruise control leading every step of way to pay $3.40. Green Eggs N Sham looked good for the exacta but faded off through stretch for third place finish.
RACE 4
2. Cause And Blame-has tons of speed and may not look back.
5. Brownie Haack-will fight for lead. Drops from allowance and has won recently in walkaway on this track. Gets McClendon again and will be formidable.
7. Arty Rabbitoh-won three and placed twice since converting to dirt. Can’t ignore.
Brownie Haack only selection to hit board finishing third with decent effort. Cause And Blame battled early and could not keep up on front end, finished fifth. Arty Rabbitoh was no where near his ability, finishing sixth.
RACE 5
1. Genesis X-returned to track at end of June after 3-month layoff, finishing well back with graded company. Drops to allowance and should fare far better in second race after layoff.
6. Crispus has been struggling a bit at the low-end stake level. Drop in class should produce desired results.
4. Si Tu Sabes has put in better speeds on dirt but numbers on turf are good enough to get a top spot.
Si Tu Sabes sat off the early pace and came on strong in stretch with career best turf speed of 100 and paid $6.00. Genesis X showed some nice late speed, but again, it came on late, taking third. Crispus dropped in class and etched out the worse speed of his career faltering to sixth place finish.
RACE 6
1. Sound Shovel-hard to look pas as has won four in row on this track with Bungard aboard and a total of six straight. Average speed of 99 over this streak. In best shape of his career.
8. Cowtown Miner comes off a strong win and speed of 108. Only four wins in 35 starts, but second 10 times. Fits well in this race.
9. Alexyatta-last race was a throwaway. Will challenge if gets act back together.
Sound Shovel’s win streak came to an end but he didn’t go down without a fight. He rallied from 10th with about 1 ½ furlongs left to finish second. Cowtown Miner also made late move and got the better of a photo to officially finish third. Alexyatta got good positioning early on but ended up disappointing again this week finishing eighth.
RACE 7
5. Tag You’re It-huge favorite in a surprisingly weak field. Gets to dictate the outcome.
4. Amphibious-makes second start on turf with first coming March, 2011. Hit speed in upper 80’s in that one, much better than the competition, earns second spot.
3. Ajdal Alley-on the board 25% of career route races. Good jockey in Fendlay, shot for open spot in third.
Tag You’re It had no problem walking around the track to win this one as the chalk choice and a $2.30 to backers. Amphibious rallied from rear to easily take the second spot, dirt cheap exacta of $2.10. Ajdal Alley set the early pace but didn’t keep enough fuel, tanking the trifecta by finishing fourth.
RACE 8
6. Irish Fairly Dance-last was on dirt, comes back to turf and loves running long. One to be leery of.
5. Elite Ransom-won 9 in a row in Montana in restricted races. Speed numbers alone support this one’s ability. Late runner could get to wire first.
4. Wells Dream-multiple stake winner has advantage with class but questionable jockey Baum aboard with 3 wins in 43 races
Irish Fairly Dance had outstanding outing, coming from 10 back to win by 4 in final quarter of race. Fifth win of year for colt who just surpassed $100k in earnings. Raked in $9.20 with the win. Wells Dream appeared to be on his way to blow the field away with huge 7 stride lead coming around turn, but was buried in stretch, taking second and scoring boxed exacta of $13.90. Elite Ransom finished quite a ways back, but was better than the rest. Third place finish brought back $19.20 box trifecta.
RACE 9
6. Unbridled Heart-In top form finishing first or second in four straight races. Last two were wins and capable of extended streak to three.
4. Pentagon Five-moves back to allowance after a pair of races at stake level. One to beat.
2. Belong To Zong-maybe underrated. Front runner has been first or second in each of 7 career races.
Pentagon Five was dazzling as this guy blew through the 100-speed level for the first time with a charted 107 rating. Paid $8.10. Unbridled Heart ran a non-competitive fourth. Belong To Zong led early on and finished fifth, off the board for first time in career.
RACE 10
3. Vegas Way-grade winner looking to put things back together. Second start off layoff and should fare better in small field, but won’t be too easy.
2. Code of Hammurabi-long record of success on Vermont surface.
Top two picks ran first and second throughout race, however, it was Code of Hammurabi getting to wire first and winning second race in a row, paid $5.00. Vegas Way connected in boxed exacta of $9.00.
RACE 11
3. Biggie Smalls-has hit her top three speeds, all over 100, in last three races. Big Brown filly on top of her game and gets call here.
4. Shark Cat-comes off career best speed of 103 and this could be sign of some big things coming.
2. Dunluce Castle-is a lifetime Vermont runner and jockey S. Gravina has the exclusive rights to ride. Rarely off board at this track and no reason to expect this one will fail to get there this time.
Biggie Smalls made rare move and engaged in battle with Shark Cat on the front end. The two battled all the way to the end when Biggie Smalls broke away to win by just over a stride, paying $5.90. Shart Cat finished second, decent $14.80 for exacta. Dunlance Castle didn’t fare to well moving back to sprint, finishing fourth, killing trifecta chance.
RACE 12
3. Mootown Meow-gets top spot with only one race off the board in turf appearances. Speeds over 100 in eight of last ten races. Will be hard to beat.
1. Marbling-has pair of wins after switching to turf for first time since March, 2011. Speeds of 103 and 105 are competitive for this longtime local racer.
2. Ecumenopolis-since May, 2011, this gal has only been off the board once in turf racing. Very capable of hitting speeds of 100 and can’t rule out the top spot.
Ecumenopolis was very sharp this week rallying from fourth to win by four, picking up 10th career win and paid $9.10. Moontown Meow was well positioned throughout race but couldn’t keep up with winner, finished second getting boxed exacta of $18.70. Marbling brought home a boxed trifecta of $36.70 with third place finish.
RACE 13
6. Congrats By You-late runner stretches out to mile distance, capable of upset.
5. Inevitable Song-pair of 77 speeds are tops amongst these two year olds, moves to smaller field and has opportunity in this grouping.
2. Blast Siren-won over this track last time with McClendon aboard. This pairing seeks to make it two in a row and this girl shows late speed that may just do it.
Blast Siren ran three strides off the lead from the half to the wire, finished third. Congrats By You was disappointing with no late run this time out, took fifth. Inevitable Song notched speed number up by one to 78, not good enough this time, finished fourth.
RACE 14
2. The Jones Boy-best two races of 2012 have been on the turf. Colt returns to turf and can take this wide open event.
3. New Medicine-has put up better numbers recently on turf and comes in off solid third over this track in last. Downside is 2% jockey Ahrens.
6. Doing Just Fine-has hit speeds over 100 twice in four starts for new trainer, best of career. Can’t ignore current form.
The Jones Boy continues to run well on turf and was in all out brawl throughout race for lead. Won the battle and won the race paying $6.70. Doing Just Fine ran third, avoiding front end battle and snuck into second, rewarding with $15.70 boxed exacta. New Medicine was punished for engaging in the fight for the front spot, but sharp enough for third and $47.30 boxed trifecta.
RACE 15
2. Presence Graced-showed some ability to run late switching back to dirt for new connections. Adds distance and looks to break maiden.
4. Noted Humor-speed numbers are plenty good to make a run for top spot.
3. Sarah Danielle-probable pace setter, could last to get a piece.
Noted Humor hits board for first time In 14 races and hits it big with win and nice late run. Paid $3.90 to many supporters. Presence Graced moved late, but not impressive with move, good enough for second and cheapo boxed exacta of $4.80. Sarah Danielle easily set the pace, built up decent lead, but tired, finished third and small $11.00 boxed trifecta.
RACE 16
1. Weapon Violation-looks to be powerhouse in this field with strong 2nd two back, 106 speed and recent win with 113. Good outcome here could lead to stake ventures.
2. This Time-dangerous foe who had tough time in low-end stakes race in last start. Previous two races were speeds of 109 & 110.
7. Yu Lin-has been posting best speeds of career recently, could make a nice showing for himself.
Weapon Violation brought home third win of year as jockey Fendlay put in solid run with a $5.40 payout. This Time was huge disappointment finishing last and never posed a serious threat. You Lin was positioned well in early stages but wore down to fifth.