Steviefromstanley (#3, ML 7-2) returns in Thursday's seventh race at Canterbury Park, a one mile and 70-yard allowance. It will be his first start since finishing first by 9 lengths in a maiden special weight race May 29 at Canterbury Park. The second- and third-place finishers from that race came back to win their next starts.
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Download DRF Plus handicapping reports for Thursday's races, including DRF Bets GamePlan, the Positive ROI Report, and Key Race Report.
DRF Bets GamePlan
Closer looks for Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, and Santa Anita, and spot plays and live longshots for Belmont Park, Belterra Park, Canterbury Park, Penn National, and Santa Anita. Picks are chronologically listed, so you can build and plan your wagering day.
Trainer Pat Devereux Jr. saddles Good Gator (#10, ML 5-1) in Wednesday's third race at Evangeline Downs, a six-furlong maiden special weight race. Since Jan. 1, 2014, Devereux is winning at a 33 percent clip in sprints, for a return on investment of $3.49.
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Tela (#7, ML 10-1) returns in Wednesday's fifth race at Belmont Park, a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer on the inner turf. It will be her first start since finishing second by a half-length in an allowance May 17 at Monmouth Park. The third- and fourth-place finishers from that race came back to win their next starts.
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BIBBY
Trainer: Christophe Clement
Last race: June 17, 4th
Finish: 4th by 4 1/4
Beyer: 61
First-time starter caught yielding turf going seven furlongs against maiden special weight rivals, was 10 lengths from the lead after a half-mile, and made up ground steadily thereafter in a very useful effort.
SIGNATURE CAT
Trainer: Phil D’Amato
Last race: June 18, 3rd
Finish: 6th by 27 3/4
Beyer: 18
A suicidal pace around two turns defeated this 3-year-old gelding. Claimed for $32,000 by D’Amato from Eric Guillot, he figures to improve when he returns in a sprint at Del Mar.
LONDIE LOU
Trainer: Sam DiPasquale
Last race: June 20, 1st
Finish: 2nd by 3/4
Beyer: 65
She broke inward from post 1 before rallying stoutly at first asking in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race for juvenile fillies, after which she galloped out far in front. The Pennsylvania-bred by Langfuhr is bred to run on.
COMMENT: The field was diminished to just five after three morning scratches, with the key one being likely favorite La Verdad. That changed the race complexion quite a bit, not only talent-wise but tactically as her absence appeared to leave Room for Me as the primary speed.
American Pharoah clinched Horse of the Year honors the moment he crossed the finish line first in the Belmont Stakes. That we all know. But when was the last time the sport’s biggest year-end honor was settled so early, with half the season still remaining?
You have to go back to the incredible racing decade of the 1970s for the answer, though not necessarily 1977, the year Seattle Slew swept the Triple Crown, or 1978, when Affirmed snared the Holy Grail.