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Overview - Like people who say "if 2 aspirins are good, 4 are better"; the BC races have been extended to two full days. We'll stick with just Saturday's events which is what they should have done. We believe there should be one championship day and that's it. Diluting the product with a variety of niche races does that. If we're unlucky, we'll have to wade through a full week of BC races in the future. Back to the task at hand. One of the challenges is to decipher the effect of Bute. CA runners are on Bute for all races there. It's hard to know who takes it to mask pain late in the race and who truly doesn't need it. In these races, the quality of the races is such that some may be compromised if needed for pain control. Our view is to dismiss any CA horses who have shown a tendency to weaken however slight down the stretch. We give a pass to those who finish well. BC 1 Mile Turf. Pounced is our choice at 9/2. Like last year at SA, the Europeans should do well. They are better trained for AW tracks that require stamina. The switch to Dettori is a plus as is Lasix for the first time. Beckey's Kitten (12/1) is coming into his own on the turf and should catch Bridgetown (8/1) here for the place. Viscount Nelson is well bred for this and should be in the mix for Superfecta bettors. Picks: 4-10-7-2. How did we do? Pounced won - Pd. $6.80. Bridgeton ran 2nd to complete $31 $1 exacta. BC Turf Srint. California Flag and Canadian Ballet should rocket along early and set the race up for a closer. We're going with Noble Court (8/1) to save ground and find his way through late. Diamondrella (4/1) should also come alive late for 2nd. Silver Timber (8/1) looks to be peaking and is our pick for 3rd. Picks: 1-9-2. How did we do? All ran out. BC Sprint. The sensational Zensational (7/5) is a heavy favorite for this. We think he'll be pressed early by the other speedsters and may be one who needs Bute. His races have averaged only 6 horses in the field which may be misleading for his record. We'll stick with the 2nd choice Gayego (5/2) who should have plenty left for the win with Crown Of Thorns (12/1) to run 2nd to him again. Zensational may be able to hold 3rd from Fleeting Spirit (8/1). Picks: 5-4-1-9. How did we do? Crown of Thorns ran 2nd at 16/1. Gayego ran 4th. BC Juvenile 1 1/16 Mile. Eskendereya (8/1) looks ready to take a major step up. He's well bred and is training smartly for Pletcher. Dutrow loves D'Funnybone (5/2) but Baffert also loves Lookin At Lucky (8/5) who is stuck outside. Gomez should be able to find a decent way around and we'll go with Baffert for 2nd. Vale Of York is our choice for the Supers with help from Lasix. Picks: 8-13-5-7. How did we do? Vale of York won - $63.20. Lookin at Lucky ran 2nd. BC 1 Mile Turf. The 8/5 choice Goldikova won this last year (yes we picked her last year) and we take her to repeat with the addition of Lasix. Whatsthescript ran a game 3rd to her last year and looks set to run well again here with Desormeaux at 15/1. Court Vision (12/1) is under new management and he should be strong at the distance. Picks: 11-2-1. How did we do? Goldikova won - Pd. $4.80. Court Vision ran 4th. BC Dirt Mile. Mastercraftsman (6/5) is a stickout here. Our choice for 2nd is Furthest Land (12/1) who is coming up to the race well and is 4/4 with Laparoux. Neko Bay (20/1) is very consistent and good value here. Picks: 1-2-5. How did we do? Furthest Land won - Pd. $44.60. Mastercraftsman ran 4th. BC Turf 1 1/2 Miles A race for grinders with the favorite Conduit (7/5) good at it. Won here last with Bute and also gets Lasix. We'll go with him for the place. Dar Re Mi (3/1) gets a rider upgrade and only missed by 3L from the true champ Sea The Stars. He's our choice with Dettori. We'll go with Telling (20/1) for 3rd and Spanish Moon (5/2) who may have problems with the start for 4th. It's hard to see Presious Passion (4/1) lasting the full distance. Picks: 5-2-1-7. How did we do? Conduit won - Pd. $3.80. Dar Re Mi was rd and Spanish Moon 4th. Presious Passion was a big surprise to us by staying the distance. BC Classic. We think the oddsmaker got carried away with Zenyatta and don't see her in the money as she stretches out to 1 1/4 miles. Smith generally leaves her too much to do and the extra distance, a wide run and a full field (hasn't run with more than 8 horses yet) will do her in. Ordinarily we would go with Rip Van Winkle but he has some foot problems that even his trainer is openly worried about but shrugged off after a light work. Running against top competition with foot problems isn't the best medicine so we'll leave him out. Our top choice is Gio Ponti (12/1) who in some way manages to get through in tight spots. He can turn it on when needed. Quality Road (12/1) looks set to return to the top of his class after injury problems early in the year. Richard's Kid(12/1) ran bang up last closing like a tiger and should be in the mix here. We were impressed by Colonel John's last race but we think he may need Bute and we'll give it to Summer Bird (9/2) for the Super players. Picks: 7-12-6-2. How did we do? Gio Ponti ran 2nd at 12/1. Summer Bird ran 4th. Zenyatta was the big surpise for us in running a super race. Good luck with your bets. How did we do overall? 3 winners from top picks. Picks for 2nd - two ran 2nd, one won - Pd. $44.60, one scratched. others (out of 18) - one won - Pd. $63.20, one ran 2nd, one ran 3rd, five ran 4th. Return to Home page |