Calder Race 8 Saturday

[Seattle Slew]

Betting a maiden against winners is something I almost never do, but will try it in this stakes race for 2-year-olds.

No. 8 Big Al returns to turf after an awful run on dirt when incredibly he was bet down to 6-1 in a prior try against winners even though his prior dirt race was awful.

Before that, he ran two solid maiden races on turf in NY, finishing 3rd and second with traffic trouble both times in the stretch. If this race stays on the turf, I'm playing this guy who should 3rd or 4th choice and around 5-1 or higher.

Likely favorites No. 7 Dulansky gets Coa and No. 9 Check it Twice gets Cornelio Velasquez.

[Seattle Slew]

Ran 3rd in a 3-horse blanket finish as the 3-1 favorite. One of the morning line favorites was scratched.

Horse gets a terrible ride from Truillo, who angles him inside in the stretch, which is the worst place on Calder's turf because the rail disappears in deep stretch and horses inside usually bear in and lose ground with the open space. Exacty what happens, and he costs the 8 horse the win.

You pick the best horse and still lose.