I looked at several Indiana Downs races for today and see a couple which has the potential to pay decent. I will probably take a small exotic shot at both of these races but since I like a race more tomorrow at Evangeline Downs, I eill wait until then to bet my usual amount on that race.
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Ind. Race 2: Maiden Special Weight ---$31,000-- 2 YO-- Five Furlongs:
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5) His Glory(8-1) is well bred and makes the first start of his career. However, he has worked in company with the favorite in this race twice and the favorite beat him once for sure and they finished side by side in the latter work. Trainer Amoss is a top trainer and knows how to get them prepared. If the first work his stablemate already had a couple of works under his belt, si he had the advantage in that work, which was my choice his published work. He has 2 more works in 2 weeks since then, while the favorite has only the one they worked in company.
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8) Hopes And Prayers(9-2) has 2 lifetime starts, finishing 3rd in both, the first at 2 furlongs and the latter at 5 furlongs that was taken off the grass. However, he is among the best bred in here and holds an experience edge over the other two I like. He also returns in 11 days since his last, so trainer thinks he is fit.
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11)Magine(3-1) is the stablemate of my top choice but I like my pick better for one simple reason. His works since he started training has been consistent but this one's works has been spread out a little more than I preferred, indicating he either needs time between works or he may have some sort of a minor physical problem. The better jockey chose this one, though.
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7)Two More Times(15-1) is another who could jump up and run a big race. he also has one start and finished third on a muddy track. But his sire Soldat is a son of speedy sire War Front and Two More Times's broodmare sire, Pioneerof The Nile is sire of TC winner, American Pharoah. Pioneerof the Nile was also speedy and finished 2nd in the Ky Derby to Mine That Bird who ran away with that edition of the derby on a muddy track.
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7th Race: Allowance O/C $25,000--- 3 YO & Up F&M ---- Purse $32,500--- 5 Furlongs Turf:
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2) Niece Jackie Davis(15-1) will be my top choice. Her trainer, Haran, is sneaky but knows how to get one ready and usually pops one when others does not believe his horse has a chance. Two starts back, this horse won an allowance N/W 3 lifetime against Ind breds, but rose in class to face open breds in her last and got crushed. Sine that effort, she has came back and worked, an indication the trainer still thinks she is fit. Rxpect big odds because you will probably get them here with this one. Her sire was a speedy sprinter on dirt but her broodmare sire was also speedy and actually won a stakes at Hollywood Park on grass in 101 1/5 for 5 1/2 furlongs and he hails from the sire line of Uncle Mo, known for their speed on grass.
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8) Sugarsugarsugar(8-5) is the favorite in here and will be the one to beat. She was beaten N/W 2 lifetime at this track, surface and distance last year, but has improve since then. She has won 3 of 4 starts this year but her last at Belterra was slightly easier than this field. However, she likes to make a late run and there is enough early speed in here that she should be rolling in deep stretch and be tough to deny.
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7) Southern Candy(30-1) will be my choice for third but she could upset if my top choice does not break cleanly. Her sire, Sidney's Candy was a turf and AWT specialist who took the SA Derby from gate to wire and won for fun when that track had an AWT. He also broke his maiden in 102 and change in his 2nd lifetime start on that surface. Southern Candy's 3rd dam, Pattern Step, won the G1 Hollywood Oaks on dirt in 1988 after just missing in both the Senorita S and Honeymoon H, both on grass at 1 mile & 1 1/16 mile. The only reason she is not my top choice is because I know little about the trainer, who is fairly new to the game.
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I am including the race for tomorrow at Evangeline Downs. This track used to be my 2nd favorite track to bet when it was a "bull ring" and have many solid days there but they rebuilt and moved a few miles up the road so they could add a casino. They have grown in popularity since while La Downs has fallen on hard times, mainly because another casino brought them and has refused to invest in their racing side of the business.
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5th Race: Evangeline Downs---- Maiden Special Weight---- La Bred 3 YO & Up Fillies and Mares---- Purse $24,000--- 7 1/2 Furlongs Turf:
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5) Marywood(10-1) will be my choice to win. Her trainer also has 2 entered in this race but I feel this is a better spot for this one. She has 2 lifetime starts. After breaking poorly in her first start on dirt at 5 1/2 furlongs, she did not run much at all. She was then entered on grass and stretched out to 1 1/16 mile. Again, she broke near the back, and made a late run to just miss while finishing 3rd at 28-1. She does not have a work since then, but since I know this trainer's intentions, it does not bother me as much as it normally would. Her sire, Paddy O'Prado, ran 3rd in the 2010 Ky Derby in the mud and after a 6th in the Preakness, he was switched back to grass and won 2 G2 and the G1 Secretariat S in his first 3 starts back on that surface. His only 3 off the board races in his life was on dirt. Her broodmare sire, Kissin Kris, won the G1 Haskell Inv. for his biggest win but also won the G3 Palm Beach S on grass. His sire hails from the Roberto sire line.
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8) Labruna(10-1) is my choice for 2nd but you will probably get much higher odds than her M/L suggests. After making 10 starts which included a 2nd and a 3rd, both on grass and one start this year, she was idled for 3 months where she was privately purchased and switched trainers. She returned on the grass and pressured the pace to the top of the stretch before fading badly at 1 1/16 mile. Now she is being shortening back up to a distance that should be more suitable for her. Her sire, Big Brown won the 2008 Ky Derby & Preakness but has had more success siring grass runners, as his pedigree success he should. Her broodmare sire, Bandini, was the third choice for the 2005 Ky Derby after running away with the Blue Grass S, but finished 19th of 20th. While Bandini was never tried on grass, his pedigree, too, suggests he would have probably performed better on that surface. Labruna's trainer, Walter Trahan, comes from a family known to pull shockers when least expected and this horse fits that profile.
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6) Ide B A Soldier(3-1) has a 2nd and 2 thirds from 4 lifetime starts but is making his debut on grass. He should drop back early and move along with my top choice. While he has a chance to win, I believe third is the best place to put him. His trainer, Dale White Sr knows how to get a horse ready but his only work since his last start is a little slower than I would prefer, especially since he will be near, if not, the favorite at off time. However, he has grass bloodlines and his broodmare sire was a leading sire in Louisiana for several years, so I can not totally dismiss.
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1) Temple Of Roses(5-1) has 5 lifetime starts, including 4 on grass including a 2nd and a 3rd. She is being stretched back out after her last start at 5 1/2 furlongs on grass was simply a tactic a lot of trainers uses to try to get their trainees to show more early speed. She also has a work since then suggesting she has some speed but I already had realize that, judging by her three previous races at 1 mile. She just hasn't been able to finish the deal. While her recent activity could be enough to get her over the top, my bet will be that it will not be quite enough. However, she has the look of one that is ready to break her maiden and the one who wins the pace battle between her and my 2nd choice, should still around for the exacta and/or tri.
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My Bets: WP 5, Ex Box 5-8, Tri Box 5-6-8, .10 Super Box 1-5-6-8, Super Key 5 with 1-6-8 with 1-6-8 with 1-6-8.
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One more note, there are several other trainers in this race that will take a lot of money, so if you can hit this race, you will be likely to be rewarded well. And that is what I always hope for.

Madison Regatta Day 3 Thread

Schedule

: :

H1 has released an updated racing schedule for Sunday:

• 9:45 a.m. Unlimited Testing
• 11:45 A.M.Heat 2Afollowed immediately by 2B
• 12:15 P.M. GNH NM Finals
• 1:15 P.M. H1 Unlimted 3A/3B
• 2:35 P.M. Indiana Governor’s Cup

Drizzle in the area, will be heavy then it will open up and we are going to go fast. Bring a poncho or umbrella it is drizzling. : :

• 7:00am River Closes / Race Course Setup / Finalize Setup
  
• 8:00am – 8:30am Drivers Physical
  
• 8:30am – 9:00am Drivers Meeting
  
• 8:30am – 9:30am Safety & Rescue Meeting / Divers walk-thru
  
• 9:00am – 9:30am Chapel Services
  
• 9:45am – 10:45am Unlimited Hydroplane Testing Only
  
• 10:45am – 11:00am Opening Ceremonies
  
• 11:00am – 11:20am Grote Industries Air Show w/Aerobatic Pilot Cliff Robinson
  
• 11:20am – 11:40am National Modified Sunday Qualification Heat #1
  
• 11:40am – 12:00pm Grand National Sunday Qualification Heat #2
  
• 12:00pm – 12:45pm VFW Post # 1969 Sunday Driver’s Autograph Session
  
• 12:45pm – 1:05pm National Modified Sunday Qualification Heat #3
  
• 1:05pm – 1:25pm Grand National Sunday Qualification Heat #4
  
• 1:25pm – 1:50pm Belterra Casino & Resort Unlimited Heat 2A
  
• 1:50pm – 2:10pm National Modified Sunday Final
  
• 2:10pm – 2:30pm Grand National Sunday Final
  
• 2:30pm – 2:55pm Budweiser Unlimited Heat 2B
  
• 2:55pm – 3:30pm Super Shine Grand National & National Modified Hydro Shootout
  

(Both classes on the course)

• 3:30pm – 3:55pm Veteran’s Memorial Unlimited Heat 3A
  
• 3:55pm – 4:20pm Fred Farley & Merel Horton Memorial Unlimited Heat 3B
  (Both classes on the course)
  
• 4:20pm – 4:35pm Awards Ceremony at Judge’s Stand for Heat Winners
  
• 4:35pm – 5:00pm Grote Industries Air Show w/Aerobatic Pilot Cliff Robinson
  
• 5:00pm MainSource Bank Indiana Governor’s Cup Unlimited Hydroplane Final
  
• 5:30pm River Opens
  
• 5:30pm Indiana Governor’s Cup Awards Presentation at the Judge’s Stand
  

A place to post and comment about todays events.