Multirace wagers involving the Grade 1 Matriarch can lead to inflated payoffs if you can beat a heavy favorite, or if in a competitive field you can find the right port in which to dock. It’s the latter in this year’s renewal that may apply, as a few price options exist in the Matriarch and can thus bolster your pick three payoff.
Race 6
After a Saturday that featured the last four graded stakes of the season, things will drop off noticeably on the final day of racing over the main track.
The richest race on the card is race 4, a $60,000 maiden special at 6 1/2 furlongs for 2-year-old fillies. Eight of the nine are first-time starters, notably Sweet Corine, a homebred half-sister to Verrazano. The one filly with a race under her belt is Egyptian Magic, who was beaten more than 15 lengths in the mud first time out.
The last four graded stakes of the New York season are run today at Aqueduct, and although having the Comely as race 4 negates a golden opportunity to market a classy late pick four sequence, there is a contentious pick three available on the Demoiselle, Remsen and Cigar Mile to end the program.
My focus Saturday is at Aqueduct, but the late pick three at Del Mar intrigues me enough to throw in a ticket – with the obvious highlight of the sequence being California Chrome’s debut on grass in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby.
Race 7
DEL MAR, Calif. – An outstanding Saturday of racing from coast to coast includes an appealing Del Mar card that features the turf debut of California Chrome. He faces only one other frontrunner in the Hollywood Derby and will be tough to beat at a short price.
From a sporting perspective, the Hollywood Derby should be quite fun. From a gambling perspective, there are more attractive opportunities than California Chrome at odds on and racing over a surface on which he has never started.
Below is a look at the potential betting highlights.
Well, it turned out to be a BreezeFigs exacta, just not with our key horse, Desimizar, who did finish fourth to complete a $209 (for a buck) superfecta. Just showed that Lastingfriendships ($17.60 to win) could use her experience to prevail over a game first-timer in Mom’z Laugh whom we pointed out had a good profile and who completed the $98 exacta.
Everywhere you look on Saturday there seems to be a stakes race – from Florida to Kentucky to New York to California and places in between. But the Warrior has his gaze fixed mostly on Churchill Downs and Aqueduct, where several promising bets loom in graded stakes.
So, let’s get to the handicapping and the plays.
Golden Rod at Churchill Downs (race 9)
A Grade 2, 1 1/16-mile dirt race for 2-year-old fillies that is part of a 12-race all-juvenile card, the Golden Rod drew a field of 12, with the most accomplished horse being Cristina’s Journey.
BLACKFORD
Trainer: Ron Ellis
Last race: Nov. 23, 5th
Finish: 2nd by 1
Beyer: 72
Racing wide over an inside-favoring surface, this 3-year-old claiming colt finished more than four lengths clear of third and only needs a fair track that does not compromise his rally-wide style. Where he will get that type of track in Southern California is the question.
No. 1 Hoppertunity. Trainer Bob Baffert is 11-5-1-1 with a $3.70 ROI over the past five years going sprint to route on dirt in graded stakes in the second start after a layoff. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
IRISH SWEEPSTAKES
Trainer: Mark Hennig
Last race: Nov. 19, 8th
Finish: 2nd by 5 3/4
Beyer: 72
Broke slowly and steadied back to last in a field of 13, found best stride into the stretch and put in a good rally on the rail.
