Selections For The Weekend of Aug. 23-24

re: Selections For The Weekend of Aug. 23-24

Householder — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 01:10:35 GMT

After going 112:20 Gryder should have move this horse sooner. He only lost by 1/2 length. I think a little better "clock management" and he beats Go Between who only gets up at the wire. This is the feel good story of the year as they told his owner Casner to put this horse down at one time due to bone chips and hip problems. I don't see them ducking tough spots due to flawed confirmation.

re: Selections For The Weekend of Aug. 23-24

Chris Taylor — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:46:07 GMT

Well Armed ran a good race but I know Harty could have picked a better jockey.

re: Selections For The Weekend of Aug. 23-24

Householder — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:40:25 GMT

Favorite Breeder's Cup races of all time.

(1). 1987 Breeder's Cup Classic between Ferdinand and Alysheba. "The two derby winners hit the wire together."

(2). 1988 Breeder's Cup Distaff between undefeated Personal Ensign and the Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors. Man that was close.

(3). 1989 Breeder's Cup Classic (Race of the Decade) between Sunday Silence and Easy Goer. "The Bald Eagle" rest in peace had Shug's # and knew how to work a bar shoe on a bruised hoof old school style.

(4). 1988 Breeder's Cup Classic (The Midnight Classic) "Alysheba...America's Horse!"

re: Selections For The Weekend of Aug. 23-24

Householder — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 02:06:24 GMT

Well Armed showed another dimension Sunday, his ability to rate in order to get the distance. Those setting the fractions seemed to be loping 23.4, 47.36, 112.20, 137.06. This obviously left a lot in his tank but if he picks it up a little sooner he may have been able to outrun Go Between. Big Brother has one more chance to take on these older horses...Sept 27th Goodwood (Gr.1) at Santa Anita. We now have the Pacific Classic Winner and Santa Anita Big Cap runner up, The Hollywood Gold Cup Winner, and the San Antonio Winner and 3 place finisher behind Curlin in the Dubai World Cup all racing very consistent. Not to mention, the Santa Anita Derby winner now biting at his heels. Have we mentioned his consistency at Santa Anita? Even with the retirement of Heatseeker this group runs very well both east and west of the Mississippi and all love Santa Anita! The word is that the older handicapping ranks are weak. Even without mentioning Commentator's performance in the Whitney, I think this is just plain wrong. Expect a large field as no one will be ducking Big Brown.

re: Selections For The Weekend of Aug. 23-24

Bailey — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 00:45:56 GMT

Mott and Desormaux at the Spa have been as bad as can be. After the year Mott had last year at the Spa, he has laid a huge egg.

re: Selections For The Weekend of Aug. 23-24

Matthew W — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 06:08:32 GMT

Will try to pull a double this weekend, as I had Col John's lucky nose in that stirring Travers....'like Surf Cat to rate from farther back in The Classic and pounce home at 10-1...by the way, The Pac Classic is and has been just that---Best Pal put it on the map from the get-go by defeating Twilight Agenda and Unbridled as a three year old....yeah, that first Classic was arguably the strongest yet it's always a tough field....hats off to Saratoga and hats off to Del Mar...yeah, think it's best to lay back on poly and stay closer on dirt...hoping Headly and Co know and pravtice that tom.....Bruce Freakin' Headly!! A better horseman God never made....

re: Selections For The Weekend of Aug. 23-24

Mike S — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 03:58:37 GMT

WELL ARMED all the way in the Pacific Classic. He's the speed of the speed. He lost to CURLIN in Dubai by nearly 8 lengths, but he only lost 2nd right at the end of the race. WELL ARMED has defeated SURF CAT, MOSTACOLLI MORT, AWESOME GEM, ZAPPA and STUDENT COUNCIL in the past, so he can defeat them again. Let's not forget that he beat HEATSEEKER twice this year!

It's on to the Breeders Cup Classic where WELL ARMED and COLONEL JOHN will meet.

re: Selections For The Weekend of Aug. 23-24

Huh — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 02:32:48 GMT

Here are my picks:

Arlington Sprint: It's hard to go against Mr.Nightlinger here so I'll take him for win and then Fort Prado 2nd and Dhanyata 3rd.

Del Mar Handicap: I think that Church Service is sitting on a big one here with Runaway Dancer 2nd and You Got Me Rocking in 3rd.

Ballerina Stakes: Mistical Plan is gonna take this one by a head bob over Sugar Swirl and Intangaroo in 3rd.

Rancho Bernardo Handicap: Dearest Trickski to me is the class of this field and will show it here with a dominating victory and I'll take Tiz Elemental for 2nd and Society Hostess 3rd.

Pat O' Brien Handicap: Looking for and upset here and I think I found it with Barbecue Eddie followed by Midnight Lute and In Summation.

Del Mar Mile Handicap: Daytona will rebound for Hendricks and the gang followed by One Union and Porto Santo.

Pacific Classic: The synthetic specialist Go Between will nose out Well Armed for the win and Mostacolli Mort will follow in 3rd.

Travers Stakes: Macho Again will complete the Jim Dandy/Travers double with Tres Borrachos 2nd and Colonel John 3rd.

Kings Bishop: Gentleman James in a shocker over J Be K and Visionaire.

Bernard Baruch: Yate's Black Cat takes this one followed by War Monger and Drum Major.

re: Selections For The Weekend of Aug. 23-24

Householder — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:58:33 GMT

I thought Go Between did a nice job trying to chase down Heatseeker in the Santa Anita Big Cap (200:42). But, my choice for the Pacific Classic is Well Armed. Eoin Harty and connections are pointing him to the Breeders Cup Classic and feel the TIZNOW gelding can get the classic distance. He set the track record of 1:41.57 for 1 1/16 at Del Mar in the San Diego H which has only been eclipsed by none other than future Horse of the Year ZENYATTA (1:41:48). Think about it. A Tiznow gelding loose on the front end at 10-1. "If you got your money on Well Armed go to the window. He may as well be out for a morning work." (My Trevor Denman imitation.)