Calvin Borel is a solid rider. He can, and will win anywhere.

But, he will not be riding Mine That Bird. Chip Woolley needed a commitment, and Borel had business to tend to.

Woolley told Borel’s agent, Jerry Hissam, on Wednesday that he and Mine That Bird’s owners “had made a decision to go elsewhere,” after not receiving a firm commitment that Borel would ride Mine That Bird in the West Virginia Derby.

Borel also rides the promising 3-year-old Warrior’s Reward, who races in Saturday’s Dwyer Stakes at Belmont. That colt is expected to run in Saratoga’s Jim Dandy Stakes the same day as the West Virginia Derby, with both horses looking at Saratoga’s Aug. 29th Travers. Warrior’s Reward is trained by Louisville-based Ian Wilkes, with whom Borel has a long association, including riding 2007 Derby winner Street Sense for Wilkes’ training associate Carl Nafzger.

Calvin is a good hand in the barn, a solid man of his word, and in the end, all good things come to an end. He got to do many things after the Derby that many riders would not have had the luxury. Just ask Chris Rosier after watching Summer Bird win the Belmont.

I enjoyed the story of this year’s Triple Crown more than ever. Long shot runner with the “average guy” in the saddle gunning down the big dogs. What a story. In the end, things do change, and Calvin will never forget 2009. It is extremely rare to win the Oaks and Derby in the same year. Then, you choose the filly over the Derby winner in the Preakness. What a ride!

In the end, we will all look back and smile. It was a good run, and Calvin would have been the first to tell you. No matter where he winds up, I’ll bet we will hear from him soon.

Let us take a look at the opener at Evangeline Downs. A rider by the name of Shane Sellers was back in action after 4+ years. He tore his knee up something bad, and tonight had returned to the place where he rode his first pari-mutuel winner.

They were going to go 5 1/2 on the main track. This distance was a long way from the bush tracks and Breeders’ Cup races for this gent. He has seen it all, and tonight he was back in the saddle for his fellow ex-rider Mark Guidry.

They broke from the three-hole and a minute and one second later, Sellers came back home. He was in the winner’s circle again.

Just think, he was back at his home track in his home state. He was riding for a fellow rider who rode more winners than most ever will. He was coming back with a bum knee to compete against kids ten years younger. But none of this mattered. He was back.

Sellers wrote a book a few years ago. He was going to tell all. After reading about the man, the story was a tell all. It told of man who had to overcome much in his life. Tonight was no different. Welcome back, Shane… Job well done, and when many doubted you most, you proved the critics wrong again, with a picture in the winner’s circle. I hope you get to come back many more times, and it was good to see you back in the saddle.

Meet my friend Danny. Well, you don’t get to meet him, but let me tell you all about him.  You’ll feel just as good.

Dan is an older gent. I never put down an age, but Abe Lincoln and he would have been about the same age! He is from New York, and his wife has passed and his kids live in Florida, with his three children and ten grandchildren.

I see him slowly walking to his seat, as soon as the doors open every day. I just bought him a cup of coffee, and you would have thought it was the world. Good guy… The kind you would like to call a friend.

I asked what he did for a living and he just kinda mumbled a bit. It took 15 minutes, but finding out he was a bookie was really neat in my book. He took bets from all over the city, and had over twenty guys working for him. He was large in the world of betting. “Hell, guys couldn’t get to the track or go to the ballgame and I just kinda stumbled into this life.”  It was good and bad.

The good was the money he made over the years. He told me of huge weekends, and how guys paid up back in the old days. Something the younger guys don’t do now.  (I agree)

Over 40 years doing his trade with no “Godfather” moments he said. Nobody got hurt, and it was just a job. Sometimes you had to call a guy’s wife, or threaten to call his boss. But that was it. It would have made for a boring story…. Things were good until the O.T.B’s came into action, and then people could make bets everywhere. It was at that time when sports betting became huge. He even told me that the first line in sports came from Lexington, Kentucky… Things were great, and it put all of his kids through school. It was the day a new player was referred to him, that was his undoing.

His little bar where he held court was taking bets, and his new player came in to pay up his $110 in losses. He was a loser every game. It was at this time he was raided for illegal bookmaking. This is when things got bad…

He ended up going to jail for two years, and never told on a soul. He took the heat all by himself. But while he was doing his time, the business kept going. When he was released, he was given $30,000 to start up his life again. It was at this time he and his family moved to Dayton, Ohio and continued to live until Mae passed away. He moved because he couldn’t be there without her.

He now lives in a retirement community in Northern Kentucky, and even has a gal. His days are spent doing what he loved the most (besides Mae), and that was gambling. He makes three to four plays, and shoots to keep pocket money to take his gal out for dinner and movies. He loves Brad Pitt and Robert Redford. His favorite movie is “The Sting.”

I shook his frail hand, and he smiled. “Best of luck big guy, and don’t bet too much.” Talking to Dan was a pleasure. I loved his story, and saw the look in his eye as the ponies went to post. I guess some things only get sweeter with time…

Mostly the groups that want to interact with tracks, will show their strength by asking in a blast email and advertising to bet into a particular pool or race to show their influence.

This is wrong… Tracks and O.T.B’s will listen and react to customer forums. There is plenty to be gained by having a focus group that includes all types of players. Not just the “million dollar men” who make the pools dip or raise. I want to hear from players from all levels. The ‘whales” are few, and the “average players” are many. They have kept the lights on for years. They have paid salaries long before a whale was just the biggest mammal in the ocean.

I have been hearing in blogs and articles that many are mad that tracks do not march to the tune of this group, or that membership. If that is to be the case, why doesn’t present management just pack up and leave to allow these groups to take over. But, the process starts over again with another group taking the place of the new managers.

This process is asinine. Please try and use your suggestions in a constructive way. All tracks cannot become Royal Ascot at your asking, but many will respond in a positive way. What happened to the old days? You know, when the tracks ran the show and listened to feedback. I said, listened to feedback and not ran from suggestions that may “black-ball” the track itself.

When you gather powerful players together to push their weight around, there can be dangerous changes. Changes that are made out of fear rather than what is good for the business. They should be heard. But do not abuse your power. I believe your collective voice would be better served by sending out a suggestion list to each particular track. Each list could c0ntain the names and info of the major players that need to be identified be each individual track. This would be more effective, and the tracks could better serve the players with suggestions about a particular circuit, instead of a blanket grocery list to be put in effect. I like the idea of pulling together, but use your power in a positive and constructive way.

Today you got to see the best two gals in our sport. There are no real scary three-year-old colts, and these gals have caught national attention.

Zenyatta ran in the Vanity at Hollywood Park. Maybe someday when Hollywood goes the way of a strip mall and housing development, they will name a road after her. It could be located behind Bed Bath and Beyond, and next to Starbucks….

She packed 129 pounds today, and she did her usual dance. She came rolling like a train, and at the top of the lane made Mike Smith go to the whip. I think she does this just to see if he is awake… It looks like she is running downhill against the competition. Impressive to say the least. Where will she go from here? I guess they will weigh her down with a V.W. and see if she can close like the wind. My bet is that somehow she will find a way.

On the East coast, there was a three horse race called the Mother Goose. Rachel Alexandra was going against her own sex, and did so quite impressively. She split the speedsters like the Red Sea and opened up under wraps. She cruised home the last sixteenth of the race, with Calvin happy to see her back. All the while, she broke the stakes record after being eased up. What would have happened if he would have given her a vigorous hand ride? The margin of victory looked like the Kentucky Oaks again..

OK, then why won’t this gal go run on the plastic? She has won before, and looks like a hurricane. She is fit and ready, and the competition is looking hard to find. There is one reason she won’t go to Santa Anita: Zenyatta…. She is perfect in record, and can carry a load. She is special, and you won’t get to see her do it many more times. Rachel’s owners know what they are facing. It all came pretty clear today. You don’t need to go to the plastic. It is her turf, and she rules. It will look like a scene from West Side Story, and she will be the one taking the long walk home.

Don’t get me wrong, Rachel is a star. But beating two runners of suspect quality can be a good reason to stay East. I love her, and I don’t want to see her face the boys. I would love to see the battle. But until that day comes, we will just sit around the stove and talk about what could have been…

Until that time, you need to dial up WinningPonies.com and hook up with New York and California.

In New York, you have a shot at a guaranteed Pick-4 for $350,000. The best part is that this can be a P-3. Rachel Alexandra is running in the $300,000 Mother Goose, and it looks like as close to a lock as you can get. Things do happen, but with a little racing luck, this gal should roll with ease. To me, she looks unbeatable on this day. She is also the top tier selection, and sports a 54 speed rating with a 60 rating for her last three. The 1 1/8th distance looks to fit her much better.

Lets go West…. It is Zenyatta that will hook ‘em and cook ‘em in the G-1 Vanity. Mike Smith is the rider for John Sheriffs, and she is looking to go 11/11 in her career. I think you should also focus on the multi-race gimmicks to make this a smaller stretch for the money.

So there you have it. Plenty of great racing, and it is not even Breeders’ Cup Day. Be sure to be loaded before you pull the trigger, and WinningPonies is ready and waiting.

Before I left, I downloaded two tracks that I enjoy playing. They are Belmont and Monmouth. I knew that I was going to make some plays, and not try to take down the entire card at two tracks. I made four wagers, and I cashed in on three. Not bad for a day off, and a good day from WinningPonies.com.

In Race #3 at Belmont, I snagged the Trifecta 3-5-1 for a sweet little pearl of money – $120 with Quisom on top, paying $11.00 on the front end.  I even made a $10 win bet for an additional $55.00.

For Race 7, I had my eye on a runner by the name of Crazy Thing. I made a nice $20 win bet on him for $72.00, and I caught the Trifecta with a $12 part wheel for $141.50.

I really only liked one race at Monmouth today. It was Race #5. The lead pony for me was #1 Posse in Effect. I had a $10 win bet on him for $37.00, and I took down the Superfecta for $125.20, for a $1 part wheel in the 5th race.

So, back to work I go on Thursday. I can’t wait for the weekend, but today wasn’t bad at all. I had a little time and things went well with WinningPonies for me…  Maybe this is the earliest start to the weekend I have had in a while.

As business gets tough, we need to stop crying. Things will get better, and if they don’t, what difference does it make to go the extra mile?

I applaud Churchill Downs for the lights. But, all new things take time to grow roots. OK, it was blow-up for night one. Let’s wait and see what they have up their sleeve this time. My bet is that they will be prepared, and the idea of lights will come into play for the future. Think about it… Churchill being the night signal.. It would kill off all of the others that attempt a twilight or night card. Good move, make it more accessible for the people.

Give the fans easy access to handicapping information.  Allow the tracks to have tip sheets, websites to use, and all of the other information services. The tracks can work out a deal with these entities and find a suitable price for players. The tracks can split the cost, and keep it only on track so the players have to be there to get the deal. Everybody wins..

I think you should only charge admission on the Triple Crown events, and the Breeders’ Cup. Why charge people to gamble? Are you crazy? That idea died in the 70’s. Give away parking, and have a modest priced valet. That way everyone is a VIP. Treat them as your business depends on it, because it really does.

Have fun days. I know, how corny does it have to be? The idea of the NTRA was to bring together tracks and form an alliance. They have plenty of bright minds. Give them a hat on a day, allow them to win tickets to another track in the VIP room. Hell, make them feel good and appreciated. They are paying our salaries.. I greet every person the same at the track where I work. I even have interns who ask me why I treat people so nicely… I simply inform them that they are preparing for the future. I don’t know of many baseball players who hit homers the first time at bat with no practice. No matter what field they choose, treating customers with respect, and doing it cheerfully, will go a long way.

Recognize players who hit big with a “wall of fame.” That is, if they agree to be honored. Some just want to be left alone. I don’t think we can thank the people who wager enough. If it were not for them, the horses would be running for blue ribbons. Honor and recognize your stars.

Here is an idea that may have some impact for new players. Just last week, I took a family up to the press box and let them watch a great race call, meet the stewards, and get the best seat in the house for a race. Guess what? They wanted to know what time post time is next Saturday. I think we may have created some new players.

There are no left fielders in racing. That means, we don’t just have a special department that handles guests. We are all employed in this area. From the parking lot boy to the president of the track, take the time and treat people right. Just act as if your job depends on it…..

The VLT movement was rolling. It looked good. I love the idea of keeping the game alive and well. It is our duty to pass the torch to the next generation and allow them to see the beauty.

With increased competition, all tracks need to have the tools to survive. This week, Sen. Damon Thayer spoke with Gov. Steve Beshear about an alternative idea brought up, about using funds from the existing lottery taxes to supplement purses.

Like him or not, I have worked with Damon Thayer many moons ago. This is a young man who will make a difference, if he can. I think we need to focus on the horsemen and the survival of the game before we worry about the coffers of the tracks. If he can find a way to keep the game afloat while discussions for the future are discussed, I think we should back and support that idea. The solution will be examined and tweaked, and in the end, Kentucky will have a life jacket to hold them up until a later date.

Now, if you give me the idea of surviving until a later date, I would buy that idea rather than go to your corner and be counted out. There are many good people employed in the industry. We need the big picture, and not the short term solution.

I know, it is our loss. Racing’s loss.. History’s loss… Hell, I don’t know of any winners. When you keep Rachel Alexandra out of the Breeders’ Cup, you are holding back one of the bright stars of the game.

If you make the move and decide not to run her on the “plastic” as Jess Jackson puts it, you will draw many people to scratch their heads about this move.

She will reappear at Belmont this Saturday in the Mother Goose. That is the good news. Jackson, who in all accounts is a man of the game, wants to run her against the males possibly in the Haskell and the Travers later this summer. But this weekend will be dedicated to raising awareness for Susan G. Komen for breast cancer, by giving away 10,000 bracelets.

As a fan, I would love to see her hook up on B/C Day and do battle. She is truly a sight to behold, and we are keeping her from the public. The Jacksons regret running Curlin on the synthetic. But, maybe she will take differently to the surface.  After all, she is 1 for 1 on synthetic surfaces (she won a race at Keeneland last year).  Just give it a chance. Try her out for a few works, and we will be satisfied.

I would love to see Rachel and Zenyatta put on the gloves and do battle.  This would be a race to be remembered. I sure hope they hook up, and do battle. If not on B/C Day, then on a national stage. Racing needs our grand gals, and to keep them apart will only keep us guessing.

I sure hope he reconsiders. Santa Anita is a fine oval. Plenty of runners have made the transition. Just think it over, and don’t wait too long.. The race will be here before you know it.

I have talked to ten friends that work in racing; they have never been so scared.

The writing is on the wall, and the leaders that pleaded the case could not have done a better job. I guess all the talk in the world will not be heard by deaf ears. The team that was brought together to pass on the message and educate the people are presidents, chairmen of boards, and leaders that wanted to keep the sport alive.

Kentucky has been dealt a heavy blow today. In my opinion, the elected leaders let the pe0ple down. I guess you can only play Switzerland for so long. You cannot straddle both sides of the fence to ensure a long political career. No matter what decision, they would have lost support. That is the nature of their game. They chose, and after election time this year, maybe they will join the unemployment ranks of those they squashed today.

The game of racing is down, but not out by a long call. You can bet after going home to a sleepless night, these leaders of the Bluegrass will be looking at another round to fight. This is the nature of their game. You can also bet on that.

This has been a sorry day. But tough times, and tough men/women, will hold their ground. You can bet they will be back. But in the meantime, for the uninformed and non-believers, you will see what toll the decision of the day has taken.

The states in question would be Kentucky, and now Ohio. I know, you probably are saying what does this have to do with me? How does it hurt or help my cause?

Well, if there is no change in gaming, both states will lose racing. In Kentucky, you can bet that Ellis Park, The Red Mile, and then Turfway Park will fall. The land will be sold off, and we as players will lose more tracks to wager. Many will lose jobs, farms will lose employees and stallions, and the beat goes on. If you do not believe me, just watch this Monday as the Senate in Kentucky is preparing to talk the issue. It can make or break racing in the Bluegrass state. Can you believe that? Only Keeneland and Churchill will remain. Bet your bottom dollar that Churchill will reduce the days as well.

In Ohio…the toll will be a bit heavier. They will ALL disappear. One by one, and you can take that to the bank. Thistledown in Cleveland came to a last minute $36,000 close call from closing. But, Governor Strickland has now backed VLT legislation. That gives a breath of hope to Ohio, the budget, and the over 100,000 employees that could face the pink slip for good.

No matter what happens, the state of racing will never be the same. If passed, it will grow and change into a new animal. If it fails, racing will disappear like a mid-morning fog burned off by the sun.

Help if you can, call if you will, and hope like you never have before. Our sport has been given the standing eight count, and they are wobbling against the ropes. The game is hurting, and must be given the tools to compete. It is not asking for a bailout, just a chance to play fair. So keep your eyes on the news. This will be a big month for both.

Go to Race #9 at Belmont on Saturday. It is the G-2 New York Stakes, and it offers a bit of value to be had.

#3 Criticism is the 5-2 favorite. This mare has lost some of her races when the green gets wet. After watching the races yesterday, it is hard to believe that the turf course will be dry without a magic wand.

With that being said, you may want to take a look at a couple of runners that may offer a run for your money. Go to #5 Backseat Rhythm. If you look at her PP’s, she has run very well over yielding and good courses. She is 3/4 at Belmont ITM, and is cutting back in distance which is always a good thing.

How about #6 Dynaforce? She is 2/2 ITM at Belmont, and her dam has dropped 10 turf winners from 12 starters. Now, that is good shootin’. Second time off of a layoff is a nice angle, and made a middle move as a beaten favorite last out. Add all of this up, and she is a player.

I would advise downloading the entire card to max out your gimmicks. WinningPonies has been on fire, and the trend should continue. Just take a look at the predictions, and remember that you can update the turf rating, if the card has a new track condition.

Personally, I have many friends who made the ride to Frankfort, Kentucky today. They are from all walks of life. Some are tie-wearing execs, some are union personnel throwing their voice to the cause, and many others came in hopes of continuing the tradition of racing in Kentucky.

For the naysayers who don’t believe this is it, just watch. If it is good news, you will see the industry flourish and jobs and monies generated. If for some reason the powers that be do not hear the call of the many, there will be a deafening silence. This will be the sound of jobs, taxes, and more importantly the livelihoods of many deflating.

If there has ever been a bigger week in racing for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, I surely don’t know when it was. Never has so much, for so many, weighed on the opinions of so few. This is the place you think of when racing is mentioned. Tobacco, Bourbon, and Thoroughbred horses. No other place on earth has what this state offers. Oh, there may be many who have products of the same kind. But, the specialness of the Bluegrass is stamped with these brands.

Keep your fingers crossed, and hope that common sense weighs over moral opinions. The state will never be the same either way the vote comes down. One will ensure that generations to come will enjoy what makes Kentucky special. The other will end a long tradition, and fill the void with sadness. Either way, it will never be the same…….

Chris Rosier was the only guy that sat atop Summer Bird. The big boys’ agents always start calling when the big races are at hand. This story was no different.  Thanks to trainer Tim Ice. He had faith in his rider and workout boy. Early in his career, I can remember him on the Kentucky circuit and riding in Ohio. He was a little full of himself, and man did it show. It wasn’t until he hooked-up and married a woman who humbled him with a good home and kids. Funny how that works….

Well,  the rider can join the ranks of many who have been pulled off to ride a big name. Trainers have the final say-so to a great degree. There are bill-paying folks called owners who see the big money on the line and start wondering what it would be like to have a hot hand in the saddle that has proven themselves. I have personally known many that have been pulled off, even though they may know the horse better than the “name” rider. I have read about many former stars that are given second, third, and twentieth chances to get it together. Maybe so, but they have a history that is proven.

Kent Desormeaux is a fine rider. He is a settled journeyman that is not distracted by the big lights or the purse money that could be a life changer for the smaller guy. When the money is on the line, and history is calling your name, you always want to go with a proven name. What would you do?  If your runner does well, you get a handful money, and have a date with the breeding shed for mega-bucks down the road.

Rosier rode his first G-1 in the Arkansas Derby, finishing third. He has changed his tune, has a wonderful family, and is battling diabetes due to struggling to make weight. The guy is definitely a winner. He came into town a punk kid, and now he is a man that gets bigger mounts. We just hope that it is not a long spell before he gets another chance. I like to think about a saying I once read. “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” I sure hope we see him in the big race soon……

Kick it off in the opener. They are traveling 7f on the Widener course. The runner in question is #4 For Free. He has the services of Ramon Dominguez, who is a 23% winner on the weeds and 56% ITM. These are solid numbers for a rider. They team up to 22% the last 60 days together.

The mare – Frio Town has 2 turf winners to her credit. She also has 5 starters with 4 winners and 1 stakes winner. Now, that is pretty solid.

This gal runs well off of the shelf, and should enjoy the distance on this day. To make the race more lucrative, you may want to to look at #2 Mindbender. She is 5-1, and Jose Lezcano is aboard for Allen Jerkins. They work well together winning 33%. She shortens up from a mile distance and should relish 7f. Her dam has 6 starters, and 6 winners….

So, there you have it. Download the WinningPonies selections and get ready for the weekend.  It is always good to plan ahead, and having your data in hand puts you ahead of the game.

When his family first started out, his father was a top notch rider who garnered a great deal of attention. After his retirement, he turned to training. He and his brother followed suit, and while his brother is ranked nationally for wins, he toils in the game he loves.

The problem he told me about was getting the word out about attracting new owners. His father use to tell him that you are only as good as your past meeting. Maybe he was right, back in the day.

We talked some more, and after further discussion about the business, I offered a little advice to market his product in today’s time. Things have changed, and you better adapt if you want to keep up with the trends.

He is on the computer constantly and talks about his friends from all over the world. He even told me he was on Myspace and Facebook. It was at that time we kicked up the conversation, and he bought beer number one.

I told him to use his Facebook account to get out the word. He could send a gentle message that his stables have a horse running at Indiana Downs this Friday, and anyone that would like, was welcome to come to the paddock or hopefully to the winners’ circle. I told him that this would keep people informed about his stable, and would create a new closeness to the game by allowing people an up close experience. He is the kind of guy that never meets a stranger, and invites the crowd into a winning photo. So, this would not be much of a stretch, and may open the door for potential clients.

This man is active with charitable organizations, and has allowed handicapped children to come to his barn to pet and feed horses. He also keeps a pony there for rides and pictures. This was something his dad did because he loved kids, and the tradition carries over. I asked him to go a step a further and contact the publicity department to get a hold of the local media to promote this wonderful event. He could even get the track to sponsor a cook-out for families to enjoy while their children were in the best of hands. Now comes beer number two…..

You love your computer I said, and it is time to take your game to the people. He asked how with his ever-smiling face. How will they come? I told him at this point we need to create a website with a brief description of his family history, and what he offers. All the text could be over a wonderful racing landscape, which would be attractive. Now, people all over could stumble on to his hard work, and he could be easy to follow. Beer number three coming right up…

He loved the ideas. This man who loves the sport as many on the backside do, was ready to take his game and grow. He was really excited about the kids coming back… I think he liked that the best.

Beer four was being served and the sun was starting to go down. We sat at the outside patio of a track bar and enjoyed the conversation, I about his life, and he about how to change for the future. Overall, it was a good night. Just two guys talking about horses and sipping beer. What could have been better? I am sure his dad would have been proud. He not only kept up the family tradition, but wanted it to grow for the future for his own children.

Lets take a look at Race #3 at Thistledown. Go to #3 Flying Peak who is 4-1. He is 11/19 ITM lifetime, and has a 57 speed rating and a 52 for the last three efforts. The 57 has been on an upward swing from 43 – 47, and capped out at a nice 57 last out. This can very easily climb again after this race.

He has the services of Luis Martinez Jr. and trainer Randy Faulkner, who is winning at 29%. He has a consistent look about him, and seems to enjoy the Cleveland surface. The jock switch back to Martinez is a positive sign. Take a gander at the “Has improved” icon, and your confidence begins to grow.

I would box him up with the other top tier runner #2 Sailfin who is 5-2 on the morning line. He sports a 57 speed rating, and is trained by red-hot trainer Jamie Ness who is getting his picture taken at a 69% clip.

So, if you like top tier runners who may offer value, this is a good place to start. He is 2/2 with wins at TDN, and you will want to download the entire card to cap on the multi-race exotics.

Just because the weekend is over doesn’t mean your bankroll should lay asleep until Saturday. Lets keep things rolling, and be sure to keep WinningPonies close in hand.

Good luck!

He has made ten plays up to this point, and he has $2,883.26 from a $50 investment. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. But, this guy is sharp and he does keep his plan no matter what.

So, on Sunday his roll is at stake. I have to say that I may have called it quits with the investment / return at this point. But this guy is one of the only folks I know who has focus and determination at the track. If he said it would have been three bets, he would have stopped. But, it is a staggering 12 wagers.

I guess by now you want to know where his last two wagers are going to take place. Here is his plan win or lose. In Race #2 at Arlington he likes #4 Rahoo. The parlay finishes out with a dead-chalk in the 4th Race at Hollywood with #6 Indian Blessing.

I guess wagers like this can make your knees weak. But, for the “Railbird” he sees it as his $50 original wagering dollars allotted. He stands to make it a good weekend. I tried not to pry too much into his plan, but this was one that caught my interest. So, if you are combing through the results on Sunday night take a look at these two final plays. I sure hope he takes it down…..

Head to Race #8 at Belmont and take a gander at a top tier runner with a price attached. Look at #1, Sailor’s Cap at 10-1.  This is a tidy field of six, and there is a 4-5 favorite named Kip Deville, who looks tough to beat.

Let’s examine the race. Sailor’s Cap is a top tier runner, and has a 35.3 turf rating, and has a 58 speed rating for the day and a 53 for the last three efforts.  These numbers are only the beginning, and they don’t lie.

Garcia has been making a big name for himself. He sports a “Monster Workout” icon at 1:13.2 for 6 panels with the (d) dogs up. This means he was out and away from the rail and had to cover more ground. The “dogs” are cones that protect the inside running area from rutting. He ran 196 days ago, and will come back well rested after exiting the Hollywood Derby on 5/2/09.

The most attractive thing about this runner is that he enjoys soft courses. In the Colonial Turf Cup, it was a soft course and he relished the give to the weeds. He went on to win by seven lengths that day.

This 6-year-old by Kipling is 7/9 ITM on the turf, and showers are expected for the day in New York.  But, you can cash in bigger if you download your data and stretch out a bit.

Don’t forget to take a look at the chalk Kip Deville. He is 4-5, and looks every part of it. He enjoys all surfaces, and his record and bankroll speak volumes. He has a 54.9 turf rating, and that is white hot!

So, prepare to shuffle em’ up as the Poker can be an excellent source of action for this Sunday. Just don’t leave home without your data for the entire card.

Good luck!