Written by Daniel Benjamin
By Daniel Benjamin
Race 1 - Maiden Special Weight (Purse -$34,000)
This very short race of four and one-half furlongs will have nine starters. #5 Bobby Brinkley has had a couple of good workouts recently, including going four furlongs in 47.40 seconds on May 16 at Lone Star. The son of Shanghai Bobby, whose foal has a combined winning percentage of 13%, is trained by W. Bret Calhoun and will be ridden by CJ McMahon. Calhoun has a career winning percentage of 18% and WPS percentage of 44% with first-time starters while McMahon has won one of his four starts with newbies.#4 Kerrystone improved the time on his workouts over the last three attempts, culminating with a stretched-out performance of four furlongs in 48 seconds at Lone Star on May 26. Trainer Ronnie E. Cravens and jockey Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez have won 14% of their races when working together this year. #7 Wings For Eno had a decent last work out and is the son of Fesuichi Pegasus, who finished in the money in eight of nine starts which includes six victories. I also like the 1A Landon’s Lincoln as well as #2 Policy Limit, who will start on the rail.
Picks: I like an exacta box of #5,#4. I also like a trifecta or superfecta box of #5, #4, #7, #2, #1.
Race 6- Maiden Special Weight
Eight fillies will go one mile in this event. #7 Sweet Linda is arguably the top horse in the field, however, I question her fitness as she went this distance less than 10 days ago. #4 Jewel Street had a decent career opener finishing fifth and posting a 67 ESpeed against similar competition but on the turf on March 14 at Sam Houston Park. Jockey Lane Luzzi, who finished in the money in six of his last 10 rides, will be in the saddle for trainer Joaquin Garza. #6 Airline Drive is also coming off a layoff of over two months. Airline Drive registered a career-high ESpeed of 72 her last time out and finished second in the same race that Jewel Street placed fourth. Trainer Steven Asmussen is going with jockey Stewart Elliott, who has a career winning percentage of 16% along with a 41 WPS percentage. Like the other two, #1 Heavenly Rhythm is coming off a long layoff as she has raced since finishing fifth on March 6. Heavenly Rhythm, who will have blinkers on for the first time, also did have a decent workout a couple of days ago.
Picks: I like a win bet on #4. I also like an exacta/trifecta box of #4, #6, #1.
Race 4- Maiden Special Weight ($34,000)
12 fillies are slated to go seven and one-half furlongs on the carpet. #11 Gracely has been pretty consistent for much of her 10 race career having finished in the money in 60% of the meets though she has not raced since March 10. Gracely, who performs well on the turf, will have David Cabrera in the saddle for this one. Cabrera has finished in the money in nine of his last 11 rides. #2 Queen Arcanna, with Luis Quinonez, showed some early race in her debut where she finished fifth back in March at Sam Houston. #3 American Dream, under the care of trainer Steve Asmussen, is making her first career start. This year, Asmussen’s horses that are making their first-ever race appearance has won 11 times in 55 opportunities and have finished in the money 42% of the time.
Picks: I like a show bet #3 American Bet. I also like an exacta box bet of #11, #2, #3.