ITM Watch List - July 7th, 2021
Make sure to check out the special edition of the Players’ Podcast featuring a look at the Indiana Derby Card. Nick Tammaro welcomed Rachel McLaughlin and Blake Jessee on the show.
Drew Coatney on WO
WO 7/3/2021 #11 Avoman stalked 3w entire trip, made first move to break apart race, finished on well enough, upgrade the effort
Eric Solomon on MTH
Monmouth Park 7/2/21 Race 3: #4 Siesta Moon: The track last Friday was rated muddy and it was sealed, but I would argue that it could have been rated sloppy as there was standing water on the track in places after some heavy rains rolled through the area on Thursday and again on Friday afternoon. Early speed and racing within the first three lanes were all good on Friday. Siesta Moon was near the back of the pack early, and made a strong four wide move before flattening out, while racing in the middle of the track. He had passed some of the tiring early speed horses, and visually it looked like he was struggling on the bad part of the track, as some of those horses who he had passed, finished in front of him. I think he was up against it from a pace and surface standpoint, while being beaten by a solid favorite. There could be value in playing him back next out.
Monmouth Park 7/2/21 Race 4: #8 Oddsondustymiller: Despite breaking her maiden on a sloppy track two starts back, Oddsondustymiller looked like she was really struggling over the off track on Friday. She broke cleanly, but looked like she was spinning her wheels as she struggled to keep up early. She was never involved in the race, where she looked to have a form advantage on paper over the field. Her first two races at the meet were strong, and I’d be willing to forgive her dull effort here, and play her back at the same level next out.
Monmouth Park 7/3/21 Race 5: #4 Mac’s Revolution was in a bit tight at the start and that seemed to cause him to be a little slow to get going on a track where it was good to be forwardly placed. He was 6th going into the first turn and made a sustained middle move down the backstretch. I think Mejia knew the outside wasn’t great, so he made the decision to try to go up the rail with this one instead of using his momentum and going three wide off the turn. He scraped the paint and did get through, but, he seemed to hesitate a little bit while hitting that narrow opening. Meanwhile, Don’t Poke The Cat, who had the dream run in that race, was able to re-brake and get home comfortably. I think Mac’s Revolution is a better horse at two turns still and will be stronger next out at that distance having after a series of one turn races in his running lines.