Horses to Watch – Ed Meyer

As the New Year is just days away we start scratching our heads to find new resolutions. Horse Players are most definitely on this bus, and we tend to dig really deep at times when the answers may have been insight the entire time. – Work on money management; narrow your focus of the tracks you follow, or target your best ten races on any given day and wager on five. – It has always been the little things, and sometimes we miss the forest for the trees. Here’s a little something to whet your whistle for 2016, and hopefully get you started on a positive note.  From your friends at BetPTC.com, have a safe and Happy New Year ! – There’s only 131 days until the Kentucky Derby.

Gulfstream Park – 12/26/15 – Race #7 – #6 – 5f on the turf

#6 – Try Your Luck = Jeffrey Sanchez aboard this daughter of Looking at Lucky, and this two-year-old showed a great deal a promise first time to the races. She settled in nicely and tipped off to make her move. She ran a very game 3rd place effort and appeared to have plenty more in the tank.

Gulfstream Park – 12/26/15 – Race #8 – #2 – One mile on the dirt

#2 – Wheels up Now = Luis Saez had the call for Thom Albertrani, and this colt ran a big effort. He was trying 2nd time Lasix, first time blinkers, and was bested by an impressive colt by Uncle Mo. He set the pace going 44.3 and 109.3 in the middle stages, and for a baby that is moving and shaking. Next out should be a “flag fall to that’s all” move to put the field to sleep from the gate break.

Gulfstream Park – 12/26/15 – Race #11 – #7 – 1 1/2 on the turf

#7 – Rosalind = Edgard Zayas in the irons for Chad Brown, and they were beaten by a very talented Goldy Espony ( another Chad Brown runner) who put the field the sleep in this marathon event on the green. – Rosalind was under a snug restraint down the backstretch, and the dawdling fractions may have been her undoing. She tried to produce a rally, but was left in the dust by her impressive stable mate. The race was better than what you’ll see on paper, and hopefully she won’t hook “Goldy” next out.

Santa Anita – 12/26/15 – Race #6 – #6 – One mile on the turf

#6 – Mister Brightside = Mike Smith was the reinsman and this guy has been a handful his last two outings. – Hopping at the start two races back, and steadying multiple times in his next to last effort. Having Smith aboard was the move, and he can get them to settle better than most in the game. – Smith had a “Full-Nelson hammerlock” on his mount as he had to take up just a bit around the first turn and allowed his mount to run freely before the 1/2. – I watched and wondered, but it would be a fools folly to second guess Smith. He knew his mount was acting up, and allowed a quick blast of energy hoping to settle his mount. – He came three wide into the final turn for clear sailing but ran out of gas. I think this will be a very nice play back, and you can expect a sweet price. Once Patrick Gallagher figures out this fella, you’ll get a handsome price at the windows.

Santa Anita – 12/27/15 – Race #4 – #2 – 1 1/16 on the dirt

#2 – Hoffenheim = Victor Espinoza had the call for Bob Baffert and ran what I like to call a ” winner’s race and not getting your picture taken.” – In tight at the start, and settled out nicely. Moved into position to out the field away and tipped off the rail four wide to find his best stride. He drew off by 1/2 at the 111.2 make, and was bested by late closing French Getaway under Kent Desormeaux. – He’ll grow from this effort and you should look very closely for his next out effort.

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