Free Selections / Saturday / 2-23-2013

by Ed Meyer

posted on February 23, 2013 in Blogroll, Free Picks and Tips, Handicapping, Horse Racing, WinningPonies.com | No Comments >>

The weekend has finally arrived, and there is no better time than now to get focused on your Triple Crown journey. Winning Ponies offers a one-stop-shop for all of your handicapping needs. Before you make that first bet, start right here and get your E-Z Win Forms in hand. Best of luck, and enjoy your weekend!

Gulfstream Park

Race #2 – Mdn Claiming $50,000 – 1 1/16 on the turf – 1:13 p.m. ET

#7 – Starlight Dancer (6-1) = Elvis Trujillo in the irons for Wes Ward. Fresh off a claim, and Ward wins 23% on this move. Cuts back from 1 1/8, and last race out was 6-wide flying. Get some !

Race #6 – Mdn Sp Wt – 7f – 3:05 p.m. ET

#7 – Victorious Won (3-1) = Joel Rosario for Christophe Clement (24%). First timer by More Than Ready, and she has two bullet works at Payson. If the morning glimpse holds true, she should be a factor.

Race #9 – G-2 Davona Dale Stakes – 1 1/16 – 4:35 p.m. ET

#1 – Private Ensign (4-1) = Javier Castellano up for Dale Romans. Horse-for-the-course 2/2 with wins at GP, and scorched two bullets after her last win.  Draws the rail, and it is the place to be winning 19%. The last work at Palm Meadows was strong, and the track can be deep. I respect the favorite in #3 – Dreaming of Julia, and this looks to be a solid exacta box. But my win money will right here. *** This race kicks off the late pick-four ***

Race #10 – G-3 Canadian Turf Stakes – 1 mile on the turf – 5:05 p.m. ET

#4 – Data Link (2-1) = Javier Castellano up for Shug McGaughey, and is 4/4 ITM. That was an impressive win at Betfair Hollywood Park, and he has worked two sharp efforts in the morning. Drops down a notch in class, and last year came flying late in this same race. Javier can move them up, and I loved the way he kicked last out in California.

Race #11 – G-2 Fountain of Youth Stakes – 1 1/16 – 5:35 p.m. ET

#3 – Violence (9-5) = Javier in the saddle for Todd Pletcher, and these guys do good work winning 34% the last month alone. This guy is looking to stamp himself as the Kentucky Derby man-of-the-hour. There can be no-way to get 9-5, but if you do, I think that is value and then some. Makes the poly -dirt run, and stopped by Palm Meadows to knock off a bullet to let them know he was in town. His name is fitting, and if all systems are go. They will be all out to get his “A” game.

Fair Grounds

Some rain is expected Friday night, and 40% on Saturday. Now, I am no weatherman. But, I am looking for soft going.

Race #7 – G-3 Fair Grounds Handicap – 1 1/8 on the turf – 4:25 p.m. ET

#9 – Hyper (8-1) = Gary Stevens in the saddle for Chad Brown, and this guy is 2/2 at the distance. I love the rider, and the trainer is scary good. This is like Christmas in February for me getting 8-1 on a Stevens runner. Nice closer, and makes quite a step up in class. Team Brown would not spot a horse if not ready, and he wins with 25% of his shippers.

Race #8 – G-3 Mineshaft Handicap- 1 1/16 – 4:55 p.m.

#5 – Golden Ticket (7-2) = James Graham for Ken McPeek. Second time off the shelf, and if the track gets any moisture. He is 2/2 ITM on soft going. Good works at GP, and a distance specialist 4/5 ITM going this far.

Race #9 – G-3 Rachel Alexandra – 1 1/16 – 5:25 p.m. ET

#7 – Unlimited Budget (5-2) = Rosie Napravnik in the irons for Todd Pletcher. 2/2 with impressive wins, and her last win in the G-2 Demoiselle produced two runners to come right back and win. That is a very nice key race, and considering she won. That makes 5-2 attractive for the red-hot Rosie.

Race #10 – G-2 Risen Star Stakes – 1 1/16 – 5:57 p.m. ET

With a solid field here, I don’t want to leave any money on the table. Be sure to examine your E-Z Win Forms closely, as races like this can light up the board. With that in mind, here is a start to get your exotic blood pumping.

#4 – Golden Soul (20-1) = Miguel Mena gets the call for Dallas Stewart, and he is a closer. Last out he was gunning against Oxbow going a 1 mile and 70, and gets more ground to play with. If the pace is as hot as it should be, he may be a player at a price. Nice work on 2/15, and it may signal ready to step up his game.

#9 – Normandy Invasion (5-2) = Jose Lezcano in the saddle for Chad Brown, and they have done some nice work in New York in the past. Strong run he put in for the 1 1/8 Remsen, and has been working well at Palm Meadows. Jose is a very capable judge of pace, and this race can be his if the speed turns honest fractions.

In addition to these fine races, you have the San Carlos at Santa Anita, the King’s Point in New York, and the Super Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. This is where you need to have solid data at your fingertips, and Winning Ponies can take away the guess work for your day. You wouldn’t go to the track with out money, and you definitely don’t want to forget your E-Z Win Forms.