Etched to sketch late night victory in Meadowlands Cup
Friday, October 16, 2009
By: "Reload" Joe Freda | reload.mysbrforum.com
The Jets will host the Bills on Sunday at Giants Stadium, but across the parking lot on Friday night is some big thoroughbred action at the track led by the Meadowlands Cup.
Under the lights, Friday's main event at the Meadowlands will take place with a 10:00 p.m. (ET) post as nine contenders battle 1-1/8 miles for a share of $300,000. This handicapper feels it could be anyone’s race and that Alan Garcia will get his fifth win in five starts aboard 7-2 shot Etched.
In looking over the field for tonight’s Meadowlands Cup, some people may wonder how this is such a huge race, but that does not have to stop you from collecting at the betting windows. The two “evening line” favorites is Cool Coal Man (#2) at 5-2 odds and I have to throw this colt over the coals right off the bat. Although Nick Zito is clearly known for his success as a trainer in the northeast and around the globe, it is hard to favor a horse as inconsistent as this one to win any big stakes race. Cool Coal Man comes into this one off a seventh place clunker in the Woodward at Saratoga and finished eighth in the Suburban Handicap at Belmont two starts before that. Even with tonight’s field being less of a challenge than those starts, I cannot see it being worth 5-2 in finding out if it will be one of those times John Velazquez can get it done here.
It’s a Bird (#6) is in the same situation as Cool Coal Man having failed in the same last two races and would also have to be a pass at 3-1. Although some good speed has happened a couple of times at the 1 1/8 mile distance, the value has been lost somewhere along the way – especially with having to carry the highest weight in the field tonight at 123 points.
Trainer Richard Dutrow brings an entry of Anak Nakal (#1) and Great Debater (#1A) to the Big M for this one and could look juicy to some at 6-1, but I am passing on this duo as well. Anak Natal was last year’s runner up in the Meadowlands Cup but is off a long layoff following a last place finish in the Dubai World Cup and has not raced on United States soil in eight months. Great Debater has also not raced recently and only has three starts with the longest being seven furlongs. Unless either of these two colts have the same steroids that Dutrow gave Big Brown, they would have been better off on the undercard.
Some more horses I am avoiding tonight are Kiss The Kid (#3), Racketeer (#4), and Solar Flare (#7). Kiss The Kid has been around a long time but has raced mostly on turf lately and a long distance dirt race like this will not be an easy adjustment having finished out of the money three times this year at 1 1/8 miles. Racketeer has not won a race in the last two years and is overmatched here just like the Del Mar and Santa Anita meets went for him this year. Solar Flare will get some betting action with being one of the few horses in the field with a win under his saddle at the Big M, but a three month layoff would have me concerned here.
Two for the Big M money
With two contenders left for consideration, I am going with Etched (#8) to hit the winner’s circle and also putting a few bucks on Good and Lucky (#5) as more of a longshot choice.
After an impressive 1-1/8 mile victory at the Spa last month, I was surprised to not see Etched as the favorite for this clash tonight. Although 7-2 odds is paying somewhat low, anything above being the betting favorite is enough of an overlay for me to take Etched here with a win ticket. Alan Garcia has ridden Etched to victory at all three NYRA tracks and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has had five out of seven starters come in the money so far during the Meadowlands meet. Etched also hit a career-high speed figure at Saratoga and has had more consistent speed than the favorite even taking into account some layoffs along the way.
Good and Lucky could pay some good value under trainer Michael Matz and comes into tonight off a 1 1/16 mile win at Monmouth keeping Joe Bravo aboard from that day. At 8-1 or higher odds, it seems worth a small investment if another victory could be pulled off here. Having to go way wide to get that last win makes me feel like the increase back to 1-1/8 miles will work out alright and enough confidence to include Good and Lucky in my top two.
Turf stakes on the undercard
A couple of interesting turf races are a part of this evening’s undercard as the Princeton Stakes will have three year olds going 1-3/8 miles, and Thomas Edison Stakes will feature older horses in a five-furlong sprint.
In the Princeton, I am going with some low odds here taking Florentino (#7) and Street Move (#3) for my top two at 3-1 and 4-1, respectively. It has been two clunkers in a row for Florentino but Alan Garcia is staying aboard looking for a check as the horse drops big in class. Street Move picked up a victory two weeks ago on this same turf course at 1-1/16 miles and showed a good closing punch with a career-high speed figure to prove some stamina is there to go longer.
The Thomas Edison could provide some better value than the Princeton and I like two contenders at higher prices there. Blue Sailor (#2) at 8-1 odds won this race last year and would be an overlay considering some solid form showed at other turf courses in the northeast since last year’s victory. Ahvee’s Destiny (#5) should pay higher than 4-1 and is off a career-high speed figure at Saratoga where having a lead mid-way through that effort could result in better success tonight cutting back half a furlong.
While most people think horse racing action in the evening is only for degenerates, there is clearly some cash to be made on this Meadowlands Cup card from the Big M. I wish everyone the best of luck in using tonight for getting those weekend bankrolls built.
Saturday: Woodbine action on ESPN2
Big purses from north of the border have drawn in some of the best turf horses in the world as Woodbine presents a trio of stakes Saturday afternoon on ESPN2 . The main event features the Pattison Canadian International with eight superstars going 1-1/2 miles for their share of $2,000,000. This field will be led by morning line favorite Jukebox Jury coming over from Europe and bringing his jockey Royston Ffrench to try taking some American dollars.
Check back tomorrow for a preview of this card and get ready to flip over to the “deuce” for a few minutes of horses while you have those college football games on.
Friday, October 16, 2009
By: "Reload" Joe Freda | reload.mysbrforum.com
The Jets will host the Bills on Sunday at Giants Stadium, but across the parking lot on Friday night is some big thoroughbred action at the track led by the Meadowlands Cup.
Under the lights, Friday's main event at the Meadowlands will take place with a 10:00 p.m. (ET) post as nine contenders battle 1-1/8 miles for a share of $300,000. This handicapper feels it could be anyone’s race and that Alan Garcia will get his fifth win in five starts aboard 7-2 shot Etched.
In looking over the field for tonight’s Meadowlands Cup, some people may wonder how this is such a huge race, but that does not have to stop you from collecting at the betting windows. The two “evening line” favorites is Cool Coal Man (#2) at 5-2 odds and I have to throw this colt over the coals right off the bat. Although Nick Zito is clearly known for his success as a trainer in the northeast and around the globe, it is hard to favor a horse as inconsistent as this one to win any big stakes race. Cool Coal Man comes into this one off a seventh place clunker in the Woodward at Saratoga and finished eighth in the Suburban Handicap at Belmont two starts before that. Even with tonight’s field being less of a challenge than those starts, I cannot see it being worth 5-2 in finding out if it will be one of those times John Velazquez can get it done here.
It’s a Bird (#6) is in the same situation as Cool Coal Man having failed in the same last two races and would also have to be a pass at 3-1. Although some good speed has happened a couple of times at the 1 1/8 mile distance, the value has been lost somewhere along the way – especially with having to carry the highest weight in the field tonight at 123 points.
Trainer Richard Dutrow brings an entry of Anak Nakal (#1) and Great Debater (#1A) to the Big M for this one and could look juicy to some at 6-1, but I am passing on this duo as well. Anak Natal was last year’s runner up in the Meadowlands Cup but is off a long layoff following a last place finish in the Dubai World Cup and has not raced on United States soil in eight months. Great Debater has also not raced recently and only has three starts with the longest being seven furlongs. Unless either of these two colts have the same steroids that Dutrow gave Big Brown, they would have been better off on the undercard.
Some more horses I am avoiding tonight are Kiss The Kid (#3), Racketeer (#4), and Solar Flare (#7). Kiss The Kid has been around a long time but has raced mostly on turf lately and a long distance dirt race like this will not be an easy adjustment having finished out of the money three times this year at 1 1/8 miles. Racketeer has not won a race in the last two years and is overmatched here just like the Del Mar and Santa Anita meets went for him this year. Solar Flare will get some betting action with being one of the few horses in the field with a win under his saddle at the Big M, but a three month layoff would have me concerned here.
Two for the Big M money
With two contenders left for consideration, I am going with Etched (#8) to hit the winner’s circle and also putting a few bucks on Good and Lucky (#5) as more of a longshot choice.
After an impressive 1-1/8 mile victory at the Spa last month, I was surprised to not see Etched as the favorite for this clash tonight. Although 7-2 odds is paying somewhat low, anything above being the betting favorite is enough of an overlay for me to take Etched here with a win ticket. Alan Garcia has ridden Etched to victory at all three NYRA tracks and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has had five out of seven starters come in the money so far during the Meadowlands meet. Etched also hit a career-high speed figure at Saratoga and has had more consistent speed than the favorite even taking into account some layoffs along the way.
Good and Lucky could pay some good value under trainer Michael Matz and comes into tonight off a 1 1/16 mile win at Monmouth keeping Joe Bravo aboard from that day. At 8-1 or higher odds, it seems worth a small investment if another victory could be pulled off here. Having to go way wide to get that last win makes me feel like the increase back to 1-1/8 miles will work out alright and enough confidence to include Good and Lucky in my top two.
Turf stakes on the undercard
A couple of interesting turf races are a part of this evening’s undercard as the Princeton Stakes will have three year olds going 1-3/8 miles, and Thomas Edison Stakes will feature older horses in a five-furlong sprint.
In the Princeton, I am going with some low odds here taking Florentino (#7) and Street Move (#3) for my top two at 3-1 and 4-1, respectively. It has been two clunkers in a row for Florentino but Alan Garcia is staying aboard looking for a check as the horse drops big in class. Street Move picked up a victory two weeks ago on this same turf course at 1-1/16 miles and showed a good closing punch with a career-high speed figure to prove some stamina is there to go longer.
The Thomas Edison could provide some better value than the Princeton and I like two contenders at higher prices there. Blue Sailor (#2) at 8-1 odds won this race last year and would be an overlay considering some solid form showed at other turf courses in the northeast since last year’s victory. Ahvee’s Destiny (#5) should pay higher than 4-1 and is off a career-high speed figure at Saratoga where having a lead mid-way through that effort could result in better success tonight cutting back half a furlong.
While most people think horse racing action in the evening is only for degenerates, there is clearly some cash to be made on this Meadowlands Cup card from the Big M. I wish everyone the best of luck in using tonight for getting those weekend bankrolls built.
Saturday: Woodbine action on ESPN2
Big purses from north of the border have drawn in some of the best turf horses in the world as Woodbine presents a trio of stakes Saturday afternoon on ESPN2 . The main event features the Pattison Canadian International with eight superstars going 1-1/2 miles for their share of $2,000,000. This field will be led by morning line favorite Jukebox Jury coming over from Europe and bringing his jockey Royston Ffrench to try taking some American dollars.
Check back tomorrow for a preview of this card and get ready to flip over to the “deuce” for a few minutes of horses while you have those college football games on.