{"id":10216,"date":"2012-05-18T23:16:13","date_gmt":"2012-05-18T23:16:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=10216"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","slug":"oldbtb_1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=10216","title":{"rendered":"Fightening Ride for Spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"

Before I get to the adventures in getting to the track, first a recap from last week, which was E-Z pickings in the Spotlight race involving a short field of 4 in a local bred claiming race.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Heavy favorite Alu had everything his way, strutting off with a 7-length victory and paying $2.20 as the E-Z top choice of mine.<\/o:p><\/FONT><\/P>

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Linda\u2019s Pages went off at 9-1 and ran second the entire race as my second choice, cashing in on an E-Z exacta that paid a cheap $5.00.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>My third pick was Ranger Walker who was third best, completing an E-Z trifecta selection that paid an unimpressive $8.60.<\/o:p><\/FONT><\/P>

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So this week I head off to Maryland with the Spotlight, since this is where the second leg of the Triple Crown is being held.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I booked a room at a relatively close hotel\u2026one with discounted room rates.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It was a good 10 miles or so away from the race track and little did I know there were several other BTB reporters looking to save a buck and staying at the same hotel!<\/o:p><\/FONT><\/P>

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The thrifty people that we are, we decide to share the cab fare and travel together to the track.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It\u2019s a terrific idea as it saves us lots of money that would be more worthwhile to bet on a race or two.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The cab pulls up and Itch wants to grab the \u201cgunshot\u201d seat and hops in the cab before the vehicle comes to a complete stop.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Emmyrhys, Spinround and myself looked at each other in disbelieve and shuffle into the backseat.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>After getting a whiff of the driver, we weren\u2019t too upset that Itch got the front seat.\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/FONT><\/P>

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It was one heck of a ride to the track.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I swear there were moments where the cabbie only had two tires touching the road.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>At one point, Emmy leaned over to me and whispered\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u201cHe\u2019s going 100 mph and the needle is still going upward\u201d.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I grasped the Spotlight tightly that rested in my lap.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Spinround\u2019s eyes were rolling all over the place.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Somehow, we got to the track in record time.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The fare came to $40 so we each put up $10 each and Itch said \u201cDon\u2019t worry guys, I got the tip covered\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>As we eased our way out of the cab, Spinround dropped and kissed the ground saying \u201cThere is a God!!!!\u201d<\/o:p><\/FONT><\/P>

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Looking back, I saw Itch giving the tip to the driver.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u201cInside tip for ya\u2026..Ras El Hanout to win!”\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/SPAN>Damn, that Itch knows how to save a buck.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The cabbie gave him the #1 sign as he drove off.<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/P>

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Now off to this week\u2019s Spotlight race\u2026.the third race on the card which is an open allowance race.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It is a dirt race for horses 4 and up going a distance of a mile and a sixteenth.<\/o:p><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/P>

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1.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Isle of Wight\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>3-1<\/o:p><\/FONT><\/P>

Picked up fairly easy win in last with speed of 99, drawing off by 2 strides.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Scored\u00a0 <\/SPAN>speed of 106 in prior race, which is fastest over past 12 months when finishing third with strong close.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Has won back-to-back races only once and that came in 2009. \u00a0<\/SPAN>Gonna be tough \u00a0<\/SPAN>to repeat but\u00a0 <\/SPAN>could be factor in exotics. <\/o:p><\/FONT><\/P>

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2.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Atlanticism\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>4-1<\/o:p><\/FONT><\/P>

Since March, 2011, this guy hasn\u2019t finished worse than third.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It should be noted that many of these races were in fields of 5 or less in Massachusetts and in owner bid races.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>However, he can hit speeds in the 100\u2019s, recently hitting 107 in March, 2012 while finishing third in a larger field of 13.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He also finished second in last going against a field of 9 with speed of 101 showing that he can be competitive in larger fields.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>One to keep an eye on.<\/o:p><\/FONT><\/P>

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3.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Validate\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>5-1<\/o:p><\/FONT><\/P>

A hot\/cold horse since switching barns at the end of October. \u00a0<\/SPAN>Every other race has been a strong race, at least speed-wise.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In December, picked up a win with 107 speed.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Two races later was fourth with speed of 103.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Two races after that, scored 107 speed in March snagging another victory.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Guess what\u2026it\u2019s two races later and time for another big run!<\/o:p><\/FONT><\/P>

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4.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Iron Campaign\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>99-1<\/o:p><\/FONT><\/P>

Overmatched in this race.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Hasn\u2019t been on board since 2009 and has two wins in 36 lifetime starts.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Speeds have been in 60\u2019s range over last four.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Hard one to figure out if anything will work for this horse.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>This race does not look likely for him.<\/o:p><\/FONT><\/P>

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5.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Missle Seeker\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>99-1<\/o:p><\/FONT><\/P>

9-year old colt who has passed his prime.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Since August last year, his speeds have slipped from the 90\u2019s through the 80\u2019s and now bounce around in the 60 to 70 range.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>One time capable of pulling off speeds in the 100-range, those days look to be long gone.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>This race will probably hit a speed above 100 and it\u2019s not likely this guy has one left in him.<\/o:p><\/FONT><\/P>

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6.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Amywhatchagonnado\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>99-1<\/o:p><\/FONT><\/P>

Rare to find a horse sired by Unbridled\u2019s Song that doesn\u2019t pan out, but this horse happens to be one.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He has one win in 66 starts and on the board only four times.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Speeds have been below 70 all year long and doesn\u2019t look to be any kind of threat here.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Might find some luck in the breeding area with this guy.<\/o:p><\/FONT><\/P>

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7.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/SPAN>Deadly Wolf\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>8-5<\/o:p><\/FONT><\/P>

Very hot horse of late with speeds of 112 in two of last four starts and four of last five have speeds of 100 or higher.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Additionally, has won 3 of these five starts.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Could be moving up to stake level with continuance of high speed numbers.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Dangerous in this field.<\/o:p><\/FONT><\/P>

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8.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Ooh Piece of Candy\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>5-2<\/o:p><\/FONT><\/P>

Has been on board 12 of 16 starts with the only failures coming in graded races.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Five of last six starts were between 104 and 107 in speed ratings.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Contender in this race and shouldn\u2019t be overlooked.<\/o:p><\/FONT><\/P>

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No speed in this race and I think Deadly Wolf may be sent out to the front.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Thus I\u2019m going with Ooh Piece of Candy to catch him as my top pick and giving Deadly Wolf the second spot.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Validate is scheduled to put in a big run this race and gets my third selection.<\/o:p><\/FONT><\/P><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Maryland Allowance Race<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":363,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10216","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10216","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/363"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10216"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10216\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10216"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10216"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10216"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}