ITM Watch List - June 30th, 2021
ITM Watch List - June 30th, 2021
The idea behind our midweek Players’ Newsletter is to feature the ITM Watch List that you’ll see below.
While you’re here, we again wanted to thank you for taking the time to complete our Audience Survey, it’s incredibly helpful to us and our partners. Also, a big congratulations to Gilbert Maldonado who was the winner of the $500 wager, as announced on the show earlier this week.
A couple of previews for this weekend. Thanks to our partners at The Maryland Jockey Club, we’ll have a special show on Sunday covering the mandatory payout in the Rainbow 6. The racing action includes four stakes races as a part of their Red, White and Blue Festival.
Also, on ITM Plus we’ll have an exclusive podcast for the Iowa Derby card on Friday night. Blake Jessee and Bob Nastonovich will handicap the late card. Join us!
The HorsePlayer Happy Hour Tour returns FRIDAY! The contest features action from Belmont, Ellis Park, and Pimlico.
Here’s a look at the Tour Leaderboard
Join us tomorrow! Contest Link
Saratoga, Quick Call and the Aftercare Movement – Part I of III with Bill Duncliffe and Andy Serling
A collaboration with the Can Do podcast. NYRA Senior Racing Analyst (and Saratoga native) Andy Serling joins Bill Duncliffe to discuss treasured Saratoga memories and the legendary Saratoga specialists, with a special focus on Quick Call and his longtime contributions to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation’s Second Chances program.
Players’ Podcast – Tuesday, June 29 – Mike Maloney
Mike Maloney joins PTF to give his thoughts on how players might consider planning for the summer meets. They also go over the stakes races from Churchill Downs last Saturday.
Players’ Podcast – July 1, 2021 – Carryover Canada Day Special
There’s a $66,000+ carryover at Woodbine in the Pick 5 starting in Race 2 at approximately 1:40 ET and PTF and Drew Coatney are here to go over the sequence and give their thoughts on the G3 Dominion Day feature, which looks a showdown between Queens Plate hero Mighty Heart and March to the Arch.
ITM Watch List 6/30
Eric Solomon on Monmouth
Monmouth Park 6/20 R11: Sweet Bye And Bye (9) was sent off as the third choice in the Grade 3 Eatontown and had about as miserable of a trip as you could ask for. She likes to be forwardly placed, but was relegated to second to last in the early stages after taking a hard bump right after the break. It didn't get any better from there as she was in traffic every step of the way, never having any clear path to run. She was steadied twice throughout the race and finished 8th, beaten 4 and 3/4 lengths in that race, which for me will be a complete toss. I liked that she still had some fight despite just about everything going wrong. She may resurface in the Grade 3 Matchmaker here next month or look for another stakes race elsewhere. Wherever she lands, I would not hold this start against her.
Monmouth Park 6/25 Race 4: #1 Chispita: She was one of a few horses this week that had trouble at the start and lost their rider. She was favored in a $12,500-$10,500 maiden claiming contest when a first time starter in the stall next to her bumped her at the break, which led to her ducking out and losing the rider in the first 100 yards. She was getting back on the dirt after a pair of turf efforts in Florida. I will definitely play her back in her next start.
Monmouth Park 6/26 Race 3: #9 Estilo Elegante: She was making her first in eleven weeks when facing $16K-$14K maiden claimers after a respectable effort at Tampa in her second career start. Everything about her trip was a disaster in this race. She was bumped hard at the break, and when trying to secure position when moving closer to the rail, she ducked in a bit, causing another rival to run up on her heels and lose the rider. The riderless horse then ran inside of her on the first turn, forcing her out into the middle of the course. She was carried out wide again on the second turn, and fought on well enough to finish 6th, before being disqualified to last after the incident leaving the chute. I thought she was going to need that race before we saw her best effort locally. She ran hard despite multiple incidents, so I’d be willing to play her back next out.
Monmouth Park 6/26 Race 7: #4 Threeohtwocassie: This race was run on the turf in the middle of a brief, but strong downpour, which took the last two races off the turf. Threeohtwocassie prefers to race on or near the lead, and I thought he was the likely pacesetter in this race. He broke well, but was sandwiched in the first 1/16 of a mile, and forced back to fifth. From that point on, he appeared to be struggling over the wet course. He tried to make a middle move on the backstretch, but again, he was shut off. He was eased up late, so my first concern is that the horse is okay. As long as he is good, I would be willing to draw a line through this race for him. I would also make a note of the weather conditions for this specific race, as that could have adversely affected others in here as well.
Drew Coatney on Woodbine
WO 6/25 R2 #3 Anita Grigio – stuck on the rail the entire race, just trapped and checking the entire time.
WO 6/26 R10 #5 Fairywren - cozy stalking trip was not cozy at all as the jockey had a hell of a time find the seam at the top of the stretch, against the pace flow as closers from way out of it finished 1 & 2
WO 6/26 R8 #8 Rince Tapaigh – replays won’t show it, but the horse was traveling well in the 2-3 path entering far turn, was pushed even farther wide by the eventual winner, causing a bit of rank-ness and check, the horse eventually was pushed 6 wide as they turned for home, jockey realized gig was up, NF at top of stretch
WO 6/26 R7 #8 Heavenly Curlin - left way too much to do late, against the pace flow big time. Excited to see this one come back again and be near the pace.
WO 6/27 R9 #10 Souper Hot - amazing run staying in the 4path with a four horse dueled, stayed on well as the pace fell apart, did the dirty work but still had fight left, winning race
WO 6/27 R8 #8 In My Opinion - stalked pace, trying to shoot the gap on the rail and a 39-1 shot got in the way, NF effort at 1/16, terrible luck as horse looked loaded
WO 6/27 R8 #4 Green Gables - nice first outing, tending the pace 2w and finished on terms well enough, against the pace.
WO 6/27 R8 #2 Gospel Hill - front running early but odd running down the lane as the jockey more or less gave up, running into a bit of trouble, but didn't matter, horse still kept on terms with a wrap up effort. Look for bigger next out. against the pace
WO 6/27 R7 #6 Finalist - bit wide and just too much to do late against the pace flow. Would expect better things next out, especially with any pace signed on.