DRF Plus handicapping reports for Thursday, June 18
Download DRF Plus handicapping reports for Thursday's races, including DRF Bets GamePlan, the Positive ROI Report, and Key Race Report.
DRF StaffJun 17, 2015
Download DRF Plus handicapping reports for Thursday's races, including DRF Bets GamePlan, the Positive ROI Report, and Key Race Report.
Jannes Paul (#3, ML 8-1) returns in Wednesday's sixth race at ThistleDown, a six-furlong optional claimer. It will be her first start since finishing fourth by 9 1/4 lengths in an allowance May 17 at Mountaineer Park. The third-, fifth-, and sixth-place finishers from that race came back to win their next starts.
Trainer Jason Servis saddles Starship Pleasant (#3, ML 8-1) in Wednesday's seventh race at Belmont Park, a six-furlong claiming race on turf. Since Jan. 1, 2014, Servis is winning at a 27 percent clip when saddling a horse switching from route to sprint, for a return on investment of $3.66.
Dave Litfin's horses to watch at Belmont Park for the week of June 16.
Brad Free's horses to watch at Santa Anita for the week of June 16.
Ron Gierkink's horses to watch at Woodbine for the week of June 16.
Last weekend, I had the pleasure of working on DRF Live with Dan Illman, one of the sharpest handicappers at the Daily Racing Form. Even in the company of my talented colleague, I still managed to bungle enough plays to leave me shaking my head and asking, “What was I thinking?” Missing an opportunity is like looking out the window of a bus that’s passing a nice restaurant but instead of getting off, you remain seated and watch your fantasy meal fade away into oblivion. The restaurant this weekend was the Poker Stakes at Belmont Park on Saturday.
Trip Notes for June 13: Poker, Stephen Foster, Adoration, and more by Michael Hammersly.
Really only found three middle races on the program up my alley, so I’m going to concentrate on races 5, 6, and 7.
Before I get to some impressions of Saturday’s stakes action, a word about American Pharoah and, specifically, his connections.