WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS 7-9 (77.7 percent)
MEET 143-428 (33.4 percent)
LEE'S LOCK Desert Madam in the fourth
BEST BET Thirstforlife in the eighth
LONG SHOT Skol Sister in the third
*educated guess
**things to like
***plenty to like
****confident choice
1 Purse $23,000, 6 furlongs, 3-year-olds and up, claiming $10,000
***CITALI finished a strong second in his return from a 13-month layoff, and he figures to benefit from the race and a drop in class. WHO CARES has not raced since June, but the Doug O'Neill trainee has the talent to win and recent workouts are encouraging. CEEKY lost a photo finish at today's claiming price only two races back, and he does have consistent early speed.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
7 Citali;Cohen;Diodoro;2-1
3 Who Cares;Thompson;O'Neill;5-2
1 Ceeky;Morales;Van Berg;5-1
5 So Sorry Ruston;Santana;Asmussen;3-1
2 Wildcat Shoals;St Julien;Chleborad;12-1
4 Minister Nick;Loveberry;Milligan;12-1
6 Touch Vision;Meche;Riecken;15-1
2 Purse $32,000, 1⅛ miles, 3-year-olds and up, Arkansas-bred, claiming $16,000
**MALLARD'S BRO is a good finisher who will appreciate the added ground. He is dropping to the lowest price of his career for winning connections and also receives a positive rider change. MR ARK has been a clear winner of his last two races around two turns, and he is a front-running threat if able to hold his form for new connections. BOGEY had a modest two-race winning streak snapped when finishing second behind Mr Ark on March 18, and he may have needed the race after a four-month freshening.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
1 Mallard's Bro;Cabrera;Villafranco;3-1
2 Mr Ark;McMahon;LItfin;6-1
7 Bogey;Quinonez;Witt;8-1
10 Strawn's Cash;Vazquez;Cates;5-1
8 Light Bound Bid;Eramia;Loy;9-2
4 October Sky;Wales;Martin;4-1
6 Shoe Money;Court;Fires;10-1
3 Promising Shoes;Loveberry;Hornsby;12-1
5 Dontsaymyname;Morales;Ives;30-1
9 Ms. D's Last Storm;Felix;Altamirano;20-1
3 Purse $32,000, 6 furlongs, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, maiden claiming $30,000
**SKOL SISTER is an unraced filly with a speedy pedigree. She is working well for a stable that excels with this kind, and she also drew into a subpar field of maiden claimers. SHE'SGOTTHEBEAT finished well in an encouraging fourth-place debut, and she was flattered when the winner came back to defeat $16,000 conditioned claimers. SHOWIT has finished in-the-money in all five of her career races. She has early speed and is a must-use in multihorse wagers.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
8 Skol Sister;Canchari;Robertson;5-1
2 She'sgotthebeat;De La Cruz;Sims;4-1
5 Showit;Eramia;Hall;3-1
3 Promissory Note;McMahon;Mason;7-2
6 Valiant Lady;Felix;Mason;8-1
7 Despina;Birzer;Anderson;10-1
4 Riva Belle;Prescott;Stuart;15-1
9 I Am a Deplorable;Loveberry;Lauer;6-1
1 Bellwood Forever;Wethey;Riecken;20-1
4 Purse $26,000, 1 1/8 miles, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up, starter allowance
****DESERT MADAM was a 3-length winner when dropped to this level March 9, and she is again the controlling speed under leading rider Ricardo Santana. TIZWAY THAT WAY was forwardly placed when finishing second behind the top selection. She drew an improved post and keeps Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens. ZYANARA won a two-turn stake this winter at Delta, and she returns to the main track after a failed try on turf.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
8 Desert Madam;Santana;O'Neill;3-1
2 Tizway That Way;Stevens;Hollendorfer;7-2
7 Zyanara;Meche;Dison;12-1
5 Secret Trick;Canchari;Lauer;4-1
6 Lucy's Revenge;McMahon;Vance;6-1
1 Okbyecya;Quinonez;Pish;8-1
3 Lou;Prescott;Puhl;20-1
4 Red Fern Doll;Loveberry;Daniels;20-1
5 Purse $23,000, 1 mile, 3-year-olds and up, claiming $10,000
**FUTURE EXPRESS is taking a "hidden" drop in class on the heels of a deceptive fifth-place finish. His Beyer figures are competitive, and he receives a positive rider change. ALABAMA TIDE has raced evenly in recent sprint races against better. He drew the rail and may get the distance as an older and more relaxed runner. TEXAS JAMBALAYA has rallied in consecutive third-place finishes against similar, and he does have the best of local connections.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
9 Future Express;Canchari;Cox;10-1
2 Alabama Tide;Quinonez;Pish;12-1
6 Texas Jambalaya;Santana;Asmussen;5-2
1a Bowman West;Morales;Van Berg;3-1
3 J P of Galilee;Cabrera;Villafranco;4-1
10 Carve;Gazader;Compton;12-1
1 Waco Bodene;Pompell;Smith;3-1
11 Just Fred;Vazquez;Broberg;8-1
4 Reckling;Loveberry;Milligan;15-1
7 Vokazak;Meche;Black;20-1
5 Meetme At d'Street;Sanjur;Matthews;20-1
8 Hubert Junior;Prescott;Puhl;20-1
6 Purse $20,000, 6 furlongs, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up, claiming $6,250
***MISS COCO is taking a significant drop in class for the leading trainer, and she will appreciate a fast track after two disappointing races on a wet surface. SULLYVIN'S G G has not raced since September, but she appears to be working smartly for her return. She is also the speed of the speed. PINCHME I'MDREAMIN finished fourth in her first race for trainer Steve Asmussen. She is taking a slight drop in class and will be a late threat if she draws into the race.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
10 Miss Coco;Santana;Asmussen;5-2
1 Sullyvin's G G;Felix;Mason;6-1
13 Pinchme I'mdreamin;Santana;Asmussen;4-1
6 Archie's Girl;Vazquez;Broberg;3-1
7 Castiel's Angel;Gazader;Vance;6-1
11 My Place Or Yours;Pompell;Cox;10-1
4 Quality Street;Johnson;Hartlage;10-1
3 Cash Tiz Wonderful;Cabrera;Villafranco;15-1
12 Miss Discreet;Wethey;Dimmett;20-1
2 Intercession;Canchari;Anderson;20-1
5 Sweet Abigail;Sanjur;Campbell;20-1
8 Anita Marie;Cohen;Caldwell;20-1
14 Dorothe Marie;Court;Cox;20-1
9 Roada Wish;Loveberry;Hornsby;20-1
7 Purse $37,000, 6 furlongs, 4-year-olds and up, starter allowance
***CASH BONUS continues to climb the class ladder as he seeks a fourth consecutive victory, and he stands a big chance if he holds form for new trainer Tim Martin. CHUBBLE MAKER has made a determined run in winning back-to-back starter allowance races, and he is improved since claimed by trainer Robertino Diodoro. ITER had a two-race winning streak snapped when finishing a close second behind Chubble Maker on March 25, and he is the most consistent finisher in the field.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
4 Cash Bonus;Cabrera;Martin;3-1
8 Chubble Maker;Cohen;Diodoro;7-2
6 Iter;Felix;Mason;5-1
5 Bajan Cash;Santana;Asmussen;9-2
9 Luvinmeiseasy;Stevens;Matthews;12-1
7 Chief of Staff;Birzer;Van Berg;6-1
1 Ain't Misbehavin;Vazquez;Garcia;15-1
2 Kapellmeister;Morales;McKnight;6-1
3 Mutajaded;McMahon;Johnson;20-1
8 Purse $85,000, 1 mile, 4-year-olds and up, allowance optional claiming
****THIRSTFORLIFE has finished no worse than second in his last five races, including a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Mineshaft Handicap at Fair Grounds. STICKSSTATELYDUDE went out too fast in a deceptive third-place finish, and the graded stake winner is dangerous on the lead if able to set a reasonable early pace. MALIBU MAX is moving up in class after a determined victory, and his Beyer figures are competitive.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
3 Thirstforlife;Court;Hawley;7-5
5 Sticksstatelydude;Stevens;Burchell;5-1
4 Malibu Max;Loveberry;Robertson;4-1
1 Cowboy Rhythm;Cohen;Diodoro;5-1
2 Pinson;Thompson;Morse;6-1
7 Royal Squeeze;Eramia;Morse;6-1
6 Cu Rahy;Quinonez;Durham;30-1
9 Purse $23,000, 6 furlongs, 3-year-olds and up, Arkansas-bred, maiden claiming $16,000
***MUNYAK has been forwardly placed in a pair of fourth-place maiden-allowance finishes, which have clearly earned the field's fastest Beyer figures. AIN'TSEENTHEBALL was a disappointing fourth after a troubled third-place finish. He is reunited with rider David Cohen, and his best race may prove good enough. CLUTCH TIME showed good early speed before fading in his career debut, but he is dropping into a maiden claimer and wearing blinkers for the first time for high-percentage connections.
PP HORSE;JOCKEY;TRAINER;ODDS
14 Munyak;Vazquez;Smith;3-1
4 Ain'tseentheball;Cohen;Hornsby;9-2
13 Clutch Time;De La Cruz;Cox;4-1
8 Got Mojo;Eramia;Morse;7-2
2 Silverado Road;St Julien;Prather;4-1
5 Alvin's Touch;Contreras;Howard;9-2
12 Celta Vigo;Quinonez;Witt;8-1
10 Heartsetmeonfire;Loveberry;Cascio;10-1
3 Reverend Don;Court;Petalino;15-1
6 Jett Bound;Morales;Loy;20-1
7 Just Mo;Sanjur;Cline;12-1
11 Ava's Parker;Wethey;Young;20-1
1 Letsrockthisparty;Birzer;Martin;20-1
9 Count Pulaski;Rodriguez;Cannon;20-1
EXOTIC POSSIBILITIES
• Skol Sister appears a good filly to put on top of a third race trifecta. If she goes off at morning-line odds, it is wise to spread out in the middle and bottom, but if she gets bombed I prefer to spread in the middle and tighten it up in the third spot. The seventh race begins the last Pick-3, and going three or four deep may be necessary. The eighth may have a single in Thirstforlife, but Sticksstatelydude has a shot on the front to upset. The ninth race is a contentious state-bred sprint, and a bomb is always possible in a race like this.
Sports on 04/05/2018