Free Selections/ Thursday/ 2-21-13

by Ed Meyer

posted on February 20, 2013 in Blogroll, Free Picks and Tips, Handicapping, Horse Racing, WinningPonies.com | No Comments >>

Thursday afternoon can be a great place to start for the weekend. Gulfstream Park has a $3 million dollar pick-six, and there is a full compliment of racing from around the nation. My focus is going to be on the “Big A.” It will be a balmy 41 degrees in the Jamaica area, and I think things are going to be hot. So, grab your E-Z Win Forms and lets get our bankroll rolling for the weekend!

Race #2 – O.C. $35,000 – 1 mile and 70 yards – 12:58 p.m. ET

#1 – Schillerette (3-5) = Jose Ortiz in the saddle for red-hot Rudy Rodriguez (31%). This daughter of Artie Schiller is 2/2 ITM at Aqueduct, and is moving up in class off her last explosive win. She will be short in price, and I would dig into the E-Z Win Forms to find value as this kicks off the early pick-four. I am using her with: #4 – Silver Prize (5-1) with David Cohen in the irons today. She has good early foot, and can be expected to be a major pace player in this compact field. Also, #5 – Freud’s Notebook (7-2) with Cornelio Velasquez. She is a pace player as well, and has stepped outside of New York company quite a bit. Her sire Freud is very good with his state-breds. She will also be my single for the P-4, as chalk looks to start the gimmick.

Race #3 – Mdn Sp Wt – 6f – 1:26 p.m. ET

#7 – Nine Loves (2-5) = Another chalkster with David Cohen for Manuel Gonzalez. Speedy filly by Roaring Fever who looks to dictate the pace in this event. If left alone on the lead, it could be over early. Use with: #1 – Typhoon Teri (6-1) = Cornelio Velasquez for Dom Galluscio. She makes her second off the shelf, and draws the rail. #4 – Bonita Sonata (8-1) has the services of Irad Ortiz for Billy Badgett. Solid runner at the end, and should pick up pieces late in the lane. I am also using the chalk as a single in this race as well.

Race #4 – Mdn $16,000 – 1 mile and 70 yards – 1:54 p.m. ET

This is the third leg of the P-4, and I am using: #2 – Skyview Park (4-1) with Irad Ortiz, #5 – Gallant Breeze (2-1) with Cornelio Velasquez, and #3 – El Dreamer (5-1) with the services of Mike Luzzi.

Race #5 – Claiming $20,000 – 6f – 2:22 p.m. ET

#2 -Anecdote (7-2) = Junior Alvarado for Bill Mott. 3rd off the layoff for this gal, and she is getting closer. Her last effort was solid, and the bullet work right before may have given her the extra gas in the tank.

#6 – Positive Pitch (3-1) = Mike Luzzi up for Bruce Levine (24%). 2nd off the layoff, and was bumped soundly last out. Overall she is 2/3 ITM, and toss out that last race as she was compromised and had to go wide.

Pick-four = 1 with 7 with 2,3,5 with 2, 6 = $6 for a $1 ticket, and $3 for a 50-cent version.

Race #6 – Mdn $60,000 – 6f – 2:50 p.m. ET

#1 – Blue Ballerina (2-1) = Irad Ortiz gets the nod for Rudy Rodriguez (31%). Go back three races, and she was claimed for $50,000 in November. Makes the drop in class from mdn sp wt, and Rudy rolls at 26% with his mdn claimers. The rail is solid, and the drop in class for a top shelf trainer can get the job done.

Race #7 – Claiming $35,000 – 1 mile – 3:18 p.m. ET

# 6 – Late Starter (8-5) = Jose Ortiz gets the call for David Jacobson, and this runner just scored two-in-a-row over the Aqueduct surface. I love the 1 1/8 win, and cutting back to a flat mile will have the bug rider moving early to get in position.

Race #8 – O.C. $25,000 – 1 mile and 70 yards – 3:48 p.m. ET

#6 – Kentucky Pie (5-2) = Irad Ortiz and Kelly Breen go to post. With all of the red-hot pace setters, this son of Stormy Atlantic can get motoring. Ortiz is the jock switch from Francisco Maysonette, and that is a big move. Been off for three months, and if you toss out his last. All of his efforts show promise.

Who says there is no action on Thursday afternoon? Oh, and don’t forget to get your E-Z Win Forms for the Gulfstream card which has a $3,107,159.00 pick-six jackpot waiting to be taken down. This is where Winning Ponies does their best work  putting their selections into tier levels. With the wager being a minimum 10-cent bet, you can toss in the high price runners for a song. So, what-are-ya-waitin-for? You have to be in it to win it!