Welcome back to the Pick 6 Challenge! The Summer Spectacular segment started several weeks ago, but that certainly does not mean it is too late to join. This racing segment started on July 19th, with the opening weekend at Saratoga (featuring the Diana). The segment will finish September 27th at Belmont with the Jockey Club Gold Cup. If you are new to the game, the rules are simple. You get 15 picks to spread across 6 races. The objective is to pick the most race winners using the fewest picks. The scoring is most correct picks, followed by number of picks used, followed by winnings. The Summer Spectacular will feature many races from Saratoga and Del Mar.
The Del Mar and Saratoga meets are over, so we turn our attention to Belmont and Kentucky Downs to close out the Summer Spectacular. There are 3 weeks left in this segment, so your time to catch the leaders is dwindling. Our first two races take us to Belmont park, they could get some rain today, not sure if it will affect the races.
Race 1: The Nobel Damsel.
Race 1, the Nobel Damsel, is a 1 mile turf race. You have to respect the shippers and I can never figure out there past performances, but I’ll throw a pick on Annecdote. Baffle Me has some speed, but hasn’t one since 2013, Devilish Love is coming of 3 wins, Tokyo Time looks like she can close or go wire to wire, Castellano on top doesn’t hurt. The rest all look about the same experience, good luck.
Race 2: The Sand Point Stakes.
Race 2, the Sand Point Stakes, is again for fillies. Watch out for those shippers again, Xcellence, and Ball Dancing is having a decent 2014. Daring Dancer with Johnny V looks good, Sea Queen is Cornelio’s favorite, winning 2/3 at distance, and hitting the board 5/7 on turf. If Queenofzeenile wins, I’ll buy you a coke, but stranger things have happened.
Race 3: The More Than Ready Mile Stakes.
To our first of three at Kentucky Downs we go, for the More Than Ready Mile Stakes. This one looks like a shoot-out between Regally Ready and Guys Reward. There are a lot of horses moving up in class in this one, with wins on the lower circuits, R. Great Adventure may hit the board, but I really can’t see anyone else touching the favorites.
Race 4: The Pucker Up Stakes.
To Arlington Park for the Pucker Up Grade 3. This could be a really great race. I might use 4 or 5 picks on this one. Final Redemption has only races twice, looks consistent, but has Prado on top, I don’t think he has won a race in 5 years. Kiss Moon and Maria Maria where in a crazy fast race last time out, but I don’t think it is really indicative of their actual performance. The meat of this race is Sistas Stroll, Stellaris, and Aurelia’s Belle. Sista is hot lately, Stellaris has disappointed me with a second the last three times out (a frequent entry on the Pick 6 Challenge), Aurelia hasn’t raced since July, but did nip Stellaris at the wire in that one. Should be a good one.
Race 5: Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint.
We hit Kentucky again for the last two races of our day. A couple big fields for these two. In race 1, the Ladies Sprint, Sky Treasure and Eden Prairie seem to have the speed to compete. Corporate Culture has a hot jockey in Napravnik on her, Mizzen Miss has a few bullets, and is a winner of her last 3, but is moving up in class, I will probably have to leave her out. Richies Party Girl has a good jockey trainer combo, and despite putting up a bomb last time out, is taking the morning line money. Cornelio is interested to see how Quay does, comes off a bullet work, has some turf experience.
Race 6: Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes.
The last race of the challenge this week is the Turf Cup Stakes. War Dancer has the stakes experience, has won at distance and was in that speedy Sword Dancer at Saratoga this summer. I like Suntracer better than Holiday Star, because I am bias against Prado. More experience too, but hasn’t won in 2 years. Tricky hat could offer great money in this one, hot jockey, confidence built from a lower class race last time out, we’ll see. Saffron Hall has won 5/7 of his last starts, but is definitely moving up in class here. Keep an eye on O’Prado Ole as well in this one.
Best of luck everyone!