El Crespo a crisp choice for cash in Saturday's Virginia Derby
7/18/2009 1:31 PM ET
By: "Reload" Joe Freda | reload.mysbrforum.com
Huge purses for both thoroughbreds and harness racing are on the Saturday schedule, with El Crespo the pick to take the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs.
Two of the racing world’s biggest money events for three-year olds in both thoroughbred and harness racing come on Saturday with the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs in the afternoon and the Meadowlands Pace in New Jersey under the lights in the evening. Although the summer racing season has its marquee events coming up like the Travers Stakes and Haskell Invitational, today’s rich events are not to be overshadowed and will have lots of betting on them from around the globe.
The Virginia Derby – The Turf’s Top Four
Colonial Downs in Virginia has remained a big draw year after year for racing enthusiasts liking their action on the turf. With a purse of $750,000, the Virginia Derby is drawing in comers from all over as a field of 9 three-year olds will be turfing it up for 1-1/4 miles on Saturday afternoon. Although the morning line favorite for this race, Nicanor, has been scratched, there are four other top contenders which are sure to look attractive – but which ones are for real?
The new favorite and horse to beat for today’s race will be Battle of Hastings ridden by Tyler Baze, who has been aboard for five straight mounts and was victorious in three of them. Most recently, Battle of Hastings won the Colonial Turf Cup last month and came out on top by a head in his own battle against another Virginia Derby competitor, Straight Story, as the two hit the wire together.
By adding 1/16 of a mile more in distance from that race, the rematch between these two will be interesting to see who has enough left in the tank for that last closing kick. Battle of Hasting’s speed figures have been off the chart, and Baze has been able to guide him into the winner’s circle even with having to go wide – showing that a #9 post today will not even be a problem. However, it is the low odds here that will make me pass in taking him and I advise looking elsewhere for the best value.
Hold Me Back is another contender I am avoiding due to an underlay in the morning line odds. Although you could see quite a price difference on all of today’s entries with Nicanor being scratched, a morning line of only 5-1 for Hold Me Back makes me feel up front that the odds will not be high enough to consider him. Trainer Bill Mott who is always worthy of respect may not be picking his spot here as carefully as he should be. Hold Me Back has actually not raced since the Kentucky Derby last month where jockey Kent Desormeaux faded early on him to finish a disappointing 12th place. Although this horse has proven in the past that he can go long distances like 1-1/8 miles, he has not had a single race on turf ever and although horses are born to run on grass, that switch along with this being the fifth different track in his five most recent starts could make this a tough return.
Now on to two contenders that I feel have more value and are worth some consideration for your betting dollars – El Crespo and Florentino. Both are listed in the morning line at 6-1 odds but could go off much higher so keep an eye out and take advantage of a nice overlay on these two.
Right behind Florentino in the Jefferson Cup last month at Churchill Downs was El Crespo as they both went 1-1/8 miles on the turf finishing first and second, respectively. I look for them to both finish a crisp 1-2 again today but with El Crespo getting the win this time.
El Crespo has not been in the winner’s circle since four starts ago when scoring a victory at Gulfstream Partk on the turf there going 1-1/8 miles. He has hit the board in all five lifetime starts on turf and despite losing to Florentino at Churchill Downs, achieving a 106 speed figure was El Crespo’s best ever – even with the turf a bit wet that day. Also like Florentino, El Crespo never came in the money when racing on dirt and someone casually looking at the past performances may not remember to throw out those outings as they mean nothing here.
Aboard El Crespo, jockey Julien Leparoux has had a good meet at Colonial Downs with the four mounts he has had resulting in two wins. With the long 1-1/4 mile distance, it is always an edge to have a jockey in the saddle that has had success at a turf-specialty track like this one. I look for Leparoux to stay near the lead with El Crespo most of the way and use that last 1/8 of a mile to close for the win.
Florentino keeps jockey Alan Garcia aboard today for his fifth straight start and is looking to follow up the win in Kentucky last month with another here. All five of Florentino’s starts this year have come on the grass and was the betting favorite for only one of his three wins from those five. This proves that he has been overlooked by the betting public and will again not go off as the favorite today.
In his last four starts, Florentino has seen the speed figure from each race improve each time and that especially says a lot when done over three different tracks at various distances. I feel Florentino will again try to go for an early lead here today and stay on or near the front. Although there is clearly better competition in this race compared to anyone faced before, I feel trainer Kiraran McLaughlin has a good chance entering Florentino here for the big payday – and hopefully a payday at the betting windows for us gamblers also. 2009 is the year Florentino has found his calling on turf and should be one to watch from here after including him in your top two for the Virginia Derby.
The Meadowlands Pace - Chalk city in East Rutherford
If the Virginia Derby is not enough action for you on Saturday, one of harness racing’s biggest nights of the year takes the dark stage at the Meadowlands Racetrack with 10 three-year old pacers battling it out for $1,000,000. Having grown up in New Jersey, I have attended my share of Meadowlands Pace nights and the crowd is always full of money as they enjoy their time at the Big M.
It is hard to go against the Meadowlands Pace favorite, Well Said, as driver Ron Pierce will be going for his fourth straight win with this pacer. Well Said finished ahead of Meadowlands Pace second choice Art Colony in last week’s Pace elimination race and another million dollar race, the North America Cup, two weeks before that. Not much value in the race as Well Said listed at 6-5 in the morning line will be sure to go off at under even money. But if you like the chalk, by all means unload here.
The only longshot that I feel is worth a small investment in the Pace is Vintage Master. Despite only having one win in 22 lifetime starts, the win came at the Big M only two weeks ago and you never know if that will finally mean something here. Furthermore, he was placed third in last week’s elimination right behind Well Said and Art Colony. The closing kick was there in that one for Vintage Master with the final quarter mile being paced in 26 and 4/5 seconds – making it even faster than the top two finishers closed. So at some high odds, Vintage Master is worth a few bucks at the betting windows or possibly using in exotics for tonight’s race.
Have a great Saturday and check back here next week as we will be heading out west and looking at the first weekend of the popular Del Mar meet on Saturday and Sunday. Where the turf meets the surf – and where tourist betting action can help fill your wallet!
7/18/2009 1:31 PM ET
By: "Reload" Joe Freda | reload.mysbrforum.com
Huge purses for both thoroughbreds and harness racing are on the Saturday schedule, with El Crespo the pick to take the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs.
Two of the racing world’s biggest money events for three-year olds in both thoroughbred and harness racing come on Saturday with the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs in the afternoon and the Meadowlands Pace in New Jersey under the lights in the evening. Although the summer racing season has its marquee events coming up like the Travers Stakes and Haskell Invitational, today’s rich events are not to be overshadowed and will have lots of betting on them from around the globe.
The Virginia Derby – The Turf’s Top Four
Colonial Downs in Virginia has remained a big draw year after year for racing enthusiasts liking their action on the turf. With a purse of $750,000, the Virginia Derby is drawing in comers from all over as a field of 9 three-year olds will be turfing it up for 1-1/4 miles on Saturday afternoon. Although the morning line favorite for this race, Nicanor, has been scratched, there are four other top contenders which are sure to look attractive – but which ones are for real?The new favorite and horse to beat for today’s race will be Battle of Hastings ridden by Tyler Baze, who has been aboard for five straight mounts and was victorious in three of them. Most recently, Battle of Hastings won the Colonial Turf Cup last month and came out on top by a head in his own battle against another Virginia Derby competitor, Straight Story, as the two hit the wire together.
By adding 1/16 of a mile more in distance from that race, the rematch between these two will be interesting to see who has enough left in the tank for that last closing kick. Battle of Hasting’s speed figures have been off the chart, and Baze has been able to guide him into the winner’s circle even with having to go wide – showing that a #9 post today will not even be a problem. However, it is the low odds here that will make me pass in taking him and I advise looking elsewhere for the best value.
Hold Me Back is another contender I am avoiding due to an underlay in the morning line odds. Although you could see quite a price difference on all of today’s entries with Nicanor being scratched, a morning line of only 5-1 for Hold Me Back makes me feel up front that the odds will not be high enough to consider him. Trainer Bill Mott who is always worthy of respect may not be picking his spot here as carefully as he should be. Hold Me Back has actually not raced since the Kentucky Derby last month where jockey Kent Desormeaux faded early on him to finish a disappointing 12th place. Although this horse has proven in the past that he can go long distances like 1-1/8 miles, he has not had a single race on turf ever and although horses are born to run on grass, that switch along with this being the fifth different track in his five most recent starts could make this a tough return.
Now on to two contenders that I feel have more value and are worth some consideration for your betting dollars – El Crespo and Florentino. Both are listed in the morning line at 6-1 odds but could go off much higher so keep an eye out and take advantage of a nice overlay on these two.
Right behind Florentino in the Jefferson Cup last month at Churchill Downs was El Crespo as they both went 1-1/8 miles on the turf finishing first and second, respectively. I look for them to both finish a crisp 1-2 again today but with El Crespo getting the win this time.
El Crespo has not been in the winner’s circle since four starts ago when scoring a victory at Gulfstream Partk on the turf there going 1-1/8 miles. He has hit the board in all five lifetime starts on turf and despite losing to Florentino at Churchill Downs, achieving a 106 speed figure was El Crespo’s best ever – even with the turf a bit wet that day. Also like Florentino, El Crespo never came in the money when racing on dirt and someone casually looking at the past performances may not remember to throw out those outings as they mean nothing here.
Aboard El Crespo, jockey Julien Leparoux has had a good meet at Colonial Downs with the four mounts he has had resulting in two wins. With the long 1-1/4 mile distance, it is always an edge to have a jockey in the saddle that has had success at a turf-specialty track like this one. I look for Leparoux to stay near the lead with El Crespo most of the way and use that last 1/8 of a mile to close for the win.
Florentino keeps jockey Alan Garcia aboard today for his fifth straight start and is looking to follow up the win in Kentucky last month with another here. All five of Florentino’s starts this year have come on the grass and was the betting favorite for only one of his three wins from those five. This proves that he has been overlooked by the betting public and will again not go off as the favorite today.
In his last four starts, Florentino has seen the speed figure from each race improve each time and that especially says a lot when done over three different tracks at various distances. I feel Florentino will again try to go for an early lead here today and stay on or near the front. Although there is clearly better competition in this race compared to anyone faced before, I feel trainer Kiraran McLaughlin has a good chance entering Florentino here for the big payday – and hopefully a payday at the betting windows for us gamblers also. 2009 is the year Florentino has found his calling on turf and should be one to watch from here after including him in your top two for the Virginia Derby.
The Meadowlands Pace - Chalk city in East Rutherford
If the Virginia Derby is not enough action for you on Saturday, one of harness racing’s biggest nights of the year takes the dark stage at the Meadowlands Racetrack with 10 three-year old pacers battling it out for $1,000,000. Having grown up in New Jersey, I have attended my share of Meadowlands Pace nights and the crowd is always full of money as they enjoy their time at the Big M.
It is hard to go against the Meadowlands Pace favorite, Well Said, as driver Ron Pierce will be going for his fourth straight win with this pacer. Well Said finished ahead of Meadowlands Pace second choice Art Colony in last week’s Pace elimination race and another million dollar race, the North America Cup, two weeks before that. Not much value in the race as Well Said listed at 6-5 in the morning line will be sure to go off at under even money. But if you like the chalk, by all means unload here.
The only longshot that I feel is worth a small investment in the Pace is Vintage Master. Despite only having one win in 22 lifetime starts, the win came at the Big M only two weeks ago and you never know if that will finally mean something here. Furthermore, he was placed third in last week’s elimination right behind Well Said and Art Colony. The closing kick was there in that one for Vintage Master with the final quarter mile being paced in 26 and 4/5 seconds – making it even faster than the top two finishers closed. So at some high odds, Vintage Master is worth a few bucks at the betting windows or possibly using in exotics for tonight’s race.
Have a great Saturday and check back here next week as we will be heading out west and looking at the first weekend of the popular Del Mar meet on Saturday and Sunday. Where the turf meets the surf – and where tourist betting action can help fill your wallet!