Gierkink's preview: Polytrack playing fast
Lots of fiber was added to the Polytrack on Wednesday afternoon, and there were many fast works over the surface on Thursday.
Ron GierkinkSep 04, 2014
Lots of fiber was added to the Polytrack on Wednesday afternoon, and there were many fast works over the surface on Thursday.
I like Danny Boy in the Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs, and not only because he resembles the profile of Cleburne, upset winner of this race last year at 34-1 for the same Dale Romans barn.
Matt Bernier's pick three play for Wednesday at Del Mar.
DRF handicapper Matt Bernier takes a closer look at juveniles running at Del Mar.
Closing day, a last chance to take a swing. Well, at least until the fall, when you get a crack at the new fall meet here. But first things first. The difficult aspect to the early portion of the card is that the favorites look solid. Race 1 has THREE BLONDES and SUSAN B GOOD, who have been swapping decisions and look best. SEEKING THE SHERIF looms a heavy favorite in Race 2, dropping out of a Grade 1; ditto for RENEESGOTZIP in Race 4, as she drops out of a strong Grade 3.
Om is considered by many to be the top juvenile male out West. A setback, however, prevents him from trying to prove it in Wednesday’s Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity.
I though the front end of this card looked more manageable than the back and will play accordingly, focusing my action on the early 50-cent pick five. The Grade 1 Hopeful, race 4, sits in the middle of the sequence, and here’s how I’ll structure a pick five ticket.
The Hopeful Stakes on closing day at Saratoga is the first Grade 1 race of the year for 2-year-old males. It looks like a two-horse race on paper, with two other entrants offering some appeal in a seven-horse field that includes three maidens.
Trip Notes for Aug. 30-31: Woodward, Forego, Del Mar Derby and more
DRF handicapper Matt Bernier takes a closer look at juveniles running at Del Mar.