Dan Illman

Thursday's HandiGambling 251 exercise is the eighth race from Belmont, a $25,000/N2X optional claimer for New York-breds at six furlongs on the dirt.  Remember that you have a mythical $100 with which to wager on the race, and the entrant with the highest money total will receive a "Monthly Enhanced 60-Card Past Performance Plan." Anyone going over the $100 limit will be disqualified. Please post your plays and analysis to the blog.

*The Woodbine Mile was a tale of two trips.  The winner, TURALLURE, benefited from a wonderfully patient ride from Julien Leparoux.  Last on the inside turning into the expansive Woodbine stretch, Leparoux didn't panic.  He allowed Turallure to find his stride along the inside before altering course to the center of the track in midstretch.  Turallure split horses, saw daylight and rallied stoutly to get up in the nick of time. 

Although the Woodbine Mile is the featured race of the weekend, I'm a bit more interested in the two other graded stakes on Sunday's card. Canadian Stakes - Woodbine (Sunday) - Race 5:

Today's HandiGambling 250 exercise is the eighth race from Belmont, a $20,000 'N2L' claimer for fillies and mares at six furlongs over the inner turf course. Remember that you have a mythical $100 with which to wager on the race, and the entrant with the highest money total will receive a "Monthly Enhanced 60-Card Past Performance Plan." Anyone going over the $100 limit will be disqualified. Please post your plays and analysis to the blog.

ME AND MY GALS, a 2-year-old son of Hopeful (G1) winner Sky Mesa, took his debut on September 1 at Hoosier Park with a 95 Beyer Speed Figure.  Trained by Dale Romans, Me and My Gals was sent immediately to the front by jockey Terry Thompson, carved out fractions of 22.80 and 45.40 and cruised under the line 8 1/4 lengths in front after six furlongs in 1:08.80.