Fast and firm at Churchill with a very competitive card on tap the day after Thanksgiving.  In race 11, The Clark Handicap, Etched (#8) could stalk the pace and get the first run on the classy closers.  I’m boxing him with Blame (#5) and Bullsbay (#9) and keying in doubles and pick 3’s.

In race 9, The River City Handicap, Pleasant Strike (#7) just missed in last two for Todd Pletcher, can take this at a price.  I’m boxing with Karelian (#9) and Brave Tin Soldier (#8) and keying in doubles and pick 3’s.  Here’s the entire card and good luck!

Race 1: 3 and 4

Race 2: 5 and 8

Race 3: 4 and 2

Race 4: 11, 4 and 1

Race 5: 11 and 10

Race 6: 8, 7 and 1

Race 7: 10, 11 and 6

Race 8: 3 and 9

Race 9: 7 (Best Bet) with 9 and 8

Race 10: 3 with 7 and 11

Race 11: 8 (Best Bet) with 5 and 9

Fast and firm at Churchill with a competitive card on tap.  In race 3. Sarkozy (#3) can sit off a fast pace from the two horses to his inside and run down the leaders late in this 1 1/16th route affair.  I’m keying in all doubles and pick 3’s and making a big win bet.

In race 8, Hoopoe (#8) goes back to two turns and if he can handle Churchill, he can win at a nice price.  I’m playing an exacta box with Forest Warfare (#7) and Cross Village (#10) and keying in all doubles and pick 3’s.  Here’s the entire card and good luck!

Race 1: 6 with 5 and 4

Race 2: 10, 4 and 6

Race 3: 3 (Best Bet) and 1

Race 4: 11, 5 and 13

Race 5: 6 and 7

Race 6: 5 and 4

Race 7: 9 and 7

Race 8: 8 (Best Bet), 7 and 10

Race 9: 6 and 9

Race 10: 5, 8 and 9

Yes — it was a tale of two handicappers on July 4th.  The one at Churchill made the rockets red glare and the one at Belmont was very unpatriotic to his followers.  I hope you bet Churchill!  Here’s the summary:

Churchill: Listed 8 winners, 6 on top, including a $15 winner in race 1 and a $18 winner in race 9!  Had a cold $85 double in races 1 and 2, 3 cold exactas in races 4, 9 and 11, plus listed the pick 3 in races 9-11.  Last but not least, a flat bet profit of $31.60! Not even my best bet losing in race 5 could dampen the celebration!

Belmont: Reality set in when I couldn’t navigate the main track bias.  Speed was great again on Saturday and closers couldn’t make up ground except to complete the number.  Did much better on turf.  Had a $14 horse on top in race 11 and listed a $20 horse in race 7.  Only listed 3 winners all day, but did have a cold exacta box in race 5.  Not nearly good enough but today is another day.  Watch for my picks at 12:30pm today!

Fast and firm at Churchill and it’s time to add a little culture to your Independence Day!  In the 5th race, Art World (#2) is my best bet on the card.   She drops in class, cuts back to her favorite distance and gets a fast pace to run at…will run first or second at 4-1! Play her with Little Springer (#1) in exactas and key in doubles and pick 3’s.

In the 10th race, The Firecracker Handicap, the pace will be hot and set up for some late running fireworks!  I’m keying Wise River (#3) in exactas with Mr. Sidney (#5) and Passager (#6) and using all 3 in pick 3’s.  Here’s the entire card and good luck:

Race 1: 4 and 6

Race 2: 3, 6 and 7

Race 3: 2 and 1

Race 4: 2 with 1 and 10

Race 5: 2 (Best Bet) and 1

Race 6: 6, 2 and 4

Race 7: 5 and 4

Race 8: 7, 8 and 4

Race 9: 2 and 1

Race 10: 3 (Best Bet) with 5 and 6

Race 11: 4 with 9 and 3