Of all the graded stakes on Saturday, it is the Grade 2 Hawthorne Gold Cup that has this handicapper most excited to bet. I see value on a locally based runner in a race where out-of-towners figure to garner the overwhelming share of mutuel support.
The multirace gods bestowed a four-figure pick three upon us recently, so let’s invest some of it back in Friday’s late pick four.
Trainer Mike Salvaggio saddles Quality Investment (#5, ML 6-1) in Wednesday's fifth race at Penn National, a six-furlong maiden special weight race. Since Jan. 1, 2014, Salvaggio is winning at a 30 percent clip when saddling a horse making its second start, for a return on investment of $6.70. Check out the Positive ROI report as part of DRF Plus. Sign up for DRF Plus here.
Chief of State (#3, ML 6-1) returns in Wednesday's first race at Aqueduct, a six-furlong maiden special weight race. It will be his first start since finishing third by four lengths in a maiden special weight race July 12 at Belmont Park. The first- and second-place finishers from that race came back to win their next starts. Get the Key Race report as part of DRF Plus. Sign up for DRF Plus here.
Illman: How I'd play Churchill Downs for Thursday, Nov. 26
Litfin: Aqueduct Horses to Watch for week of Nov. 23
Goldfeder: What Was I Thinking for Saturday, Nov. 21
McGee: Del Mar pick three play for Thursday, Nov. 26
Trip Notes for November 21: Delta Downs Jackpot, Tropical Turf, Red Carpet, and more by Michael Hammersly.
I’m a fool for Thanksgiving racing. I have been since I was young, when my dad and I would drive down for the morning Thanksgiving Day card at Lincoln Downs or Narragansett and still be back in time to catch the holiday dinner my poor mom worked so hard on.
