Guess our Pick of last week, Sixth Man, needed the race, especially after being set out to contest the pace at a mile—tough to do as a first-time starter, which are the horses we concentrate on in this column.  Still among the 17 BreezeFigs maidens who got off the schneid last week, four were first-timers: two at Gulfstream, one each at Parx and Tampa Bay.  The tally included four at Aqueduct (including two BreezeFigs exactas); three at Gulfstream and Tampa Bay, two at Santa Anita and Sam Houston, and solos at Del

If you’ve been a horseplayer for any length of time, you probably have a few favorite angles. Blinkers off a speed horse, third start following a layoff, and second career start after a well-bet debut have been popular angles for years with horseplayers.

Turf sprints at Santa Anita, over the downhill turf course, are like no other horse races in the world - horses turn right out of the gate, then begin a steep descent before crossing over the dirt of the main track while simultaneously turning left for the stretch run.

There are richer, more prestigious races across the country than those at Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday night. There just aren’t a whole lot of better wagering options than those at that track.

The reason? A 12 percent takeout on pick threes, pick fours, and the pick five there – and with seemingly a “free square” in race 8 on the card, where the unbeaten Promise Me Silver faces Texas-bred stakes opposition in the Two Altazano.

Last Saturday’s four stakes are almost as interesting to assess after the races as before. As I wrote about in Friday’s DRF column, Shared Belief’s 106 Beyer Speed Figure in the San Antonio was more a function of the slow pace than the horse’s true ability. Shared Belief got a 106 Beyer as a 2-year-old. The horse was really good then, better now. Put him in a race with an honest pace, and I will be surprised if he doesn’t earn a 115 Beyer.

Laurel Park has the richest race in the country Saturday in the Grade 2, $300,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap, and to make that track’s card even more interesting, there also is a pair of $100,000 events – the John B. Campbell and the Maryland Racing Media.

Barbara Fritchie Handicap

RUSSELLIN  
Trainer: Chris Hartman 
Last race: Feb. 7, 5th
Finish: 1st by 6
Beyer: 95
Named for Oklahoma City Thunder pro Russell Westbrook, he hustled through the lane in a powerful comeback win in his first out since July. The long-range plan is for the horse who ran fourth in last year’s Iowa Derby and Ohio Derby to return to the stakes ranks, said Hartman.

What was I thinking?

Life and racing can be unpredictable. One minute you’re up, and things seem to be going your way, then everything changes, and nothing is going your way.

My goal has always been to be the best horseplayer I can possibly be. I am comfortable in the knowledge that no matter how much I think I know about racing, there is a lot more that I don’t know. I prepare to the best of my ability only to find out that there is more.

LOUIE’S LUCK
Trainer: Chris Englehart
Last race: Feb. 6, 8th
Finish: 5th by 4 1/4
Beyer: 48

First-time starter was far back through the opening stages, was still 11 lengths from the lead with a furlong remaining, and gained some ground late before galloping out with good energy.

HUG AND A KISS
Trainer: Simon Callaghan
Last race: Feb. 5, 3rd
Finish: 4th by 3 3/4
Beyer: 74
This Group 3-placed import from France was compromised by pace in her U.S. debut, closing from seventh in a race that went slow early, fast late. The favorite, she split the field in a comeback that was better than the finish position. She is eligible to an N1X.

RUN LIKE A MILLION
Trainer: Jerry Hollendorfer

Saturday, February 7

Aqueduct - Toboggan (race 3)

COMMENT: Salutos Amigos looked good making it four wins in his last five starts (the lone loss being a seventh in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint). He sat back early as Dads Cap jumped out to a clear lead and set a modest pace. Dads Caps looked home free in the lane before Salutos Amigos surged late to blow past him in the final half-furlong. This was accomplished despite what seemed to be a significant inside speed bias.