Rail Trip to visit winner’s circle after Del Mar’s Pacific Classic
Sunday, September 6, 2009
By: "Reload" Joe Freda | reload.mysbrforum.com
The Pacific Classic at Del Mar highlight’s the biggest racing card of the summer in Southern California. With all of the big chalks in the race having holes, take Rail Trip, who is 4/1 on the ML.
With summer winding down, the Pacific Classic at Del Mar is annually where current legends of different years in the horse racing world clash looking for a piece of a million dollar payday. This year, a field of 12 has been drawn in from coast to coast for the 1¼ mile battle and this handicapper likes the chances of Rail Trip to come out on top in what could be a close fight.
As this year’s exciting Del Mar meet comes to a close, the Pacific Classic is set to headline southern California’s biggest card of the summer. Although Rachel Alexandra passed on going out west for this one, quite a few top competitors in the sport from the past few years will show no fear going at it today on Del Mar’s synthetic surface.
Passing on the Classic chalk
Favorites Colonel John (#6) and Einstein (#10) lead today’s Pacific Classic field, but it is best to look elsewhere for a winner with value as I have done with most of the Del Mar meet in avoiding chalk. Many remember Colonel John competing as one of the favorites in last year’s Kentucky Derby and going on to win the Travers Stakes last summer.
But since then, it’s been two clunkers on the Santa Anita synthetic surface and a 1 mile turf victory at Del Mar against lesser competition. Although this spot for Colonel John is second off of a layoff and some sharpness should be there compared to some less than stellar outings last year, it is asking a lot to make this colt the morning line favorite today at 5-2. At higher odds Colonel John would be worth considering, but I advise passing here.
Einstein looks to be regressing with not firing in the Arlington Million last month leaving many backers that day with ripped up tickets. Although a win at 1 ¼ miles on Santa Anita’s synthetic surface back in March will gain some interest at the betting windows, it should not be worth low odds to take a chance on him here.
Trainer Helen Pitts and the ownership of Einstein cannot seem to figure out if turf, dirt, or synthetic is where they want to focus. With speed figures of this contender having gone down in the last two starts, that alone gives enough doubt to pass on a contender paying this small of a price.
The winning “trip” and a pair of longshots
My choice to win today’s Pacific Classic is Hollywood Gold Cup winner Rail Trip (#3) and a 4-1 morning line on him shows a possible decent price for a contender this solid. I also have my eye on a couple of longshots to round out my top three feeling that Informed (#1) and Misremembered (#7) are worth a few investment dollars at 10-1 and 12-1 in the morning line, respectively.
Rail Trip is the only horse in today’s field who has made every start on the synthetic surface and winning six out of eight efforts with the other two being place finishes is no easy task out west. In the Hollywood Gold Cup last month, Rail Trip proved the 1 ¼ mile distance could be handled and in my opinion this gelding should have been made today’s morning line favorite.
With a 111 speed figure that day, it was the best of Rail Trip’s career and third start in a row with reaching 100 or more there. No other contender in today’s race has that kind of current form and I would say any odds above 3-1 in this field make Rail Trip an overlay. The only question mark could be how the nearly two month layoff is handled by trainer Ron Ellis today – it is the first time Rail Trip has had that happen.
A few opponents today decided to go the route of entering the San Diego Handicap last month as a prep for the Pacific Classic, but Rail Trip passed. Hopefully it is a case of picking the spots carefully and that another trip to the winner’s circle will come today.
Informed won Del Mar’s 1 1/16 mile San Diego Handicap last month by a nose and should have ended up with a little more respect than 10-1 here because of it. Jockey Tyler Baze had his hot Del Mar meet interrupted due to a recent accident but looks to get back to some winning ways aboard Informed today.
He has been aboard for the last three mounts and led Informed to victory in two of them. Although the Hollywood Gold Cup at today’s 1 ¼ mile distance resulted in a sixth place flop, I feel the trip should be better today against some of the same foes.
Misremembered has nothing worth forgetting about in four recent starts at Hollywood Park. With Victor Espinoza aboard for trainer Bob Baffert, this late-blooming contender coasted to two wire to wire victories there as well as additional first and second place finishes.
A career high speed figure of 101 was obtained in the Swaps back in July and although better competition will be on the track today at a longer distance, it is worth taking a chance that Misremembered will hold on to a spot in the money at high odds.
Today’s undercard: The Del Mar Derby, Pat O’Brien, and Torrey Pines
With a rich undercard on Pacific Classic day, it is always worth taking a look to see if some value is present while the big crowd passes their time awaiting the main event. Although I am finding it hard to go against the favorites in the featured undercard races, hooking up the right mix of a top two in each race could mean some exacta or place bets worth taking a look at.
The Del Mar Derby has three year olds going 1 1/8 miles on the turf for $350,000 and the 5-2 morning line favorite Battle of Hastings (#4) looks for a third win in a row. With two victories at Colonial Downs showcasing this gelding’s best career speed figures of 94 in each race, going an even less distance today at Del Mar could make things even easier.
Should Battle of Hastings fail to collect, my longshot choice to steal this battle is Rendezvous (#1) who has value at a 12-1 morning line given two finishes in the money on Del Mar’s turf during this meet, as well as cashing show tickets elsewhere at this distance.
It could be time for a cold exacta bet in the Pat O’Brien as a small field of five will go seven furlongs for $300,000. The top two horses look to stand out more than the other three here as Zensational (#1) and Noble Court (#4) will likely go off at even less than their respective morning lines of 1-2 and 3-1.
Zensational looks for a fourth win in a row and is off a career high speed figure of 110 at Del Mar in the Bing Crosby last month. Noble Court has handled this distance and surface well in the past with a win and show finish in two starts at Hollywood and Santa Anita, including a victory back in June at the Ack Ack Handicap.
Like the Pat O’Brien, the Torrey Pines also has a small field with six fillies going for $100,000 purse at a one mile distance. In this one, I am going with the second and third morning line choices of Chalula One (#1) and Music Magic (#3) who are listed at 5-2 and 5-1 respectively. Chalula One has had Victor Espinoza aboard for all eight of her starts and is fresh off a win just two weeks ago on this track at the same distance.
Music Magic is off a two month layoff and I can see another second place finish coming for Alex Solis who hit the place spot in his only two mounts with this senorita.
The $1,000,000 Pennsylvania Derby on Labor Day
The million dollar action does not stop tomorrow as a field of nine hit Philadelphia Park in the Pennsylvania Derby. Although the Del Mar and Saratoga meets have the spotlight in the summer, get set to end your Labor Day weekend of racing action with another big purse on Monday in Philly. Soul Warrior is the 3-1 morning line favorite with three year olds going 1 1/8 miles and I will be back with a full preview tomorrow.
Good luck until then and keep those bankrolls loaded.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
By: "Reload" Joe Freda | reload.mysbrforum.com
The Pacific Classic at Del Mar highlight’s the biggest racing card of the summer in Southern California. With all of the big chalks in the race having holes, take Rail Trip, who is 4/1 on the ML.
With summer winding down, the Pacific Classic at Del Mar is annually where current legends of different years in the horse racing world clash looking for a piece of a million dollar payday. This year, a field of 12 has been drawn in from coast to coast for the 1¼ mile battle and this handicapper likes the chances of Rail Trip to come out on top in what could be a close fight.
As this year’s exciting Del Mar meet comes to a close, the Pacific Classic is set to headline southern California’s biggest card of the summer. Although Rachel Alexandra passed on going out west for this one, quite a few top competitors in the sport from the past few years will show no fear going at it today on Del Mar’s synthetic surface.
Passing on the Classic chalk
Favorites Colonel John (#6) and Einstein (#10) lead today’s Pacific Classic field, but it is best to look elsewhere for a winner with value as I have done with most of the Del Mar meet in avoiding chalk. Many remember Colonel John competing as one of the favorites in last year’s Kentucky Derby and going on to win the Travers Stakes last summer.
But since then, it’s been two clunkers on the Santa Anita synthetic surface and a 1 mile turf victory at Del Mar against lesser competition. Although this spot for Colonel John is second off of a layoff and some sharpness should be there compared to some less than stellar outings last year, it is asking a lot to make this colt the morning line favorite today at 5-2. At higher odds Colonel John would be worth considering, but I advise passing here.
Einstein looks to be regressing with not firing in the Arlington Million last month leaving many backers that day with ripped up tickets. Although a win at 1 ¼ miles on Santa Anita’s synthetic surface back in March will gain some interest at the betting windows, it should not be worth low odds to take a chance on him here.
Trainer Helen Pitts and the ownership of Einstein cannot seem to figure out if turf, dirt, or synthetic is where they want to focus. With speed figures of this contender having gone down in the last two starts, that alone gives enough doubt to pass on a contender paying this small of a price.
The winning “trip” and a pair of longshots
My choice to win today’s Pacific Classic is Hollywood Gold Cup winner Rail Trip (#3) and a 4-1 morning line on him shows a possible decent price for a contender this solid. I also have my eye on a couple of longshots to round out my top three feeling that Informed (#1) and Misremembered (#7) are worth a few investment dollars at 10-1 and 12-1 in the morning line, respectively.
Rail Trip is the only horse in today’s field who has made every start on the synthetic surface and winning six out of eight efforts with the other two being place finishes is no easy task out west. In the Hollywood Gold Cup last month, Rail Trip proved the 1 ¼ mile distance could be handled and in my opinion this gelding should have been made today’s morning line favorite.
With a 111 speed figure that day, it was the best of Rail Trip’s career and third start in a row with reaching 100 or more there. No other contender in today’s race has that kind of current form and I would say any odds above 3-1 in this field make Rail Trip an overlay. The only question mark could be how the nearly two month layoff is handled by trainer Ron Ellis today – it is the first time Rail Trip has had that happen.
A few opponents today decided to go the route of entering the San Diego Handicap last month as a prep for the Pacific Classic, but Rail Trip passed. Hopefully it is a case of picking the spots carefully and that another trip to the winner’s circle will come today.
Informed won Del Mar’s 1 1/16 mile San Diego Handicap last month by a nose and should have ended up with a little more respect than 10-1 here because of it. Jockey Tyler Baze had his hot Del Mar meet interrupted due to a recent accident but looks to get back to some winning ways aboard Informed today.
He has been aboard for the last three mounts and led Informed to victory in two of them. Although the Hollywood Gold Cup at today’s 1 ¼ mile distance resulted in a sixth place flop, I feel the trip should be better today against some of the same foes.
Misremembered has nothing worth forgetting about in four recent starts at Hollywood Park. With Victor Espinoza aboard for trainer Bob Baffert, this late-blooming contender coasted to two wire to wire victories there as well as additional first and second place finishes.
A career high speed figure of 101 was obtained in the Swaps back in July and although better competition will be on the track today at a longer distance, it is worth taking a chance that Misremembered will hold on to a spot in the money at high odds.
Today’s undercard: The Del Mar Derby, Pat O’Brien, and Torrey Pines
With a rich undercard on Pacific Classic day, it is always worth taking a look to see if some value is present while the big crowd passes their time awaiting the main event. Although I am finding it hard to go against the favorites in the featured undercard races, hooking up the right mix of a top two in each race could mean some exacta or place bets worth taking a look at.
The Del Mar Derby has three year olds going 1 1/8 miles on the turf for $350,000 and the 5-2 morning line favorite Battle of Hastings (#4) looks for a third win in a row. With two victories at Colonial Downs showcasing this gelding’s best career speed figures of 94 in each race, going an even less distance today at Del Mar could make things even easier.
Should Battle of Hastings fail to collect, my longshot choice to steal this battle is Rendezvous (#1) who has value at a 12-1 morning line given two finishes in the money on Del Mar’s turf during this meet, as well as cashing show tickets elsewhere at this distance.
It could be time for a cold exacta bet in the Pat O’Brien as a small field of five will go seven furlongs for $300,000. The top two horses look to stand out more than the other three here as Zensational (#1) and Noble Court (#4) will likely go off at even less than their respective morning lines of 1-2 and 3-1.
Zensational looks for a fourth win in a row and is off a career high speed figure of 110 at Del Mar in the Bing Crosby last month. Noble Court has handled this distance and surface well in the past with a win and show finish in two starts at Hollywood and Santa Anita, including a victory back in June at the Ack Ack Handicap.
Like the Pat O’Brien, the Torrey Pines also has a small field with six fillies going for $100,000 purse at a one mile distance. In this one, I am going with the second and third morning line choices of Chalula One (#1) and Music Magic (#3) who are listed at 5-2 and 5-1 respectively. Chalula One has had Victor Espinoza aboard for all eight of her starts and is fresh off a win just two weeks ago on this track at the same distance.
Music Magic is off a two month layoff and I can see another second place finish coming for Alex Solis who hit the place spot in his only two mounts with this senorita.
The $1,000,000 Pennsylvania Derby on Labor Day
The million dollar action does not stop tomorrow as a field of nine hit Philadelphia Park in the Pennsylvania Derby. Although the Del Mar and Saratoga meets have the spotlight in the summer, get set to end your Labor Day weekend of racing action with another big purse on Monday in Philly. Soul Warrior is the 3-1 morning line favorite with three year olds going 1 1/8 miles and I will be back with a full preview tomorrow.
Good luck until then and keep those bankrolls loaded.