Handicapper's Journal – Doug Mcpherson Saturday, October
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Handicapper’s Journal – Doug McPherson Race 4 Saturday, October 24th 2020 #10 Coconut Grove #4 Tiz Affair Race 1 #3 Sky Dragon #6 Pitching Fast #8 Excelling #5 Phantom Dance #10 COCONUT GROVE looked very good when finishing #2 Voltamour second in her debut but was completely empty in her second attempt travelling 10 furlongs. This is not an #4 Flame Zapper obscenely tough race; if she can run back to her first start #6 PITCHING FAST made his local debut three weeks she should be tough. #4 TIZ AFFAIR showed plenty of ago, racing rank early but finishing up very well and potential in her debut last year but has been empty in two galloping out strong. The rankness is a concern on the tries this year. She has switched barns and returns from a stretch out, but if he can settle early he should be tough. three-month break. #3 SKY DRAGON was a beaten #5 PHANTOM DANCE was second in a blanket, four- favourite in an inner turf route for $25,000 last month. horse photo on the inner turf on September 19. He had a Turf specialist was competitive at this level a few weeks very wide journey in his only poor start this season; this ago and is intriguing shortening up to a sprint. #8 will be his first try on the Tapeta. #2 VOLTAMOUR has EXCELLING tracked the pacesetter and was a clear shown good finishing interest in both of his starts second best last time out. She should be near the lead sprinting so far. He draws well for his first opportunity to again. route. #4 FLAME ZAPPER was a very good third two starts ago but came up flat last time on the inner turf. He had a wide journey in his only synthetic start last year; Race 5 tough to endorse at a short price but not out of the #8 Diamond Ore question. #4 Love in the Air #7 Spirit Dance Race 2 #10 State Crown #6 In Pursuit #8 DIAMOND ORE, the half-sister to Arrogate, was no #9 Born to Be Good threat for Souper Sensational and Speightstown Shirl in #3 Lost Corsage her debut but was well clear of the rest of the field. It is unlikely this field will prove to be as tough; if she takes a #11 Frame This step forward she is a contender. #4 LOVE IN THE AIR is #6 IN PURSUIT came up empty after pressing the pace a daughter of the very good juvenile debut sire for $25,000 last month when returning from a two-month Commissioner, who is 22-for-93 with two year old firsters. break. Lightly-raced filly should appreciate the drop in for She is the first foal out of a mare who was four-for-four in $10,000. #9 BORN TO BE GOOD has run well in her last her career, all against New York breds; she easily two starts in spite of wide trips. Unfortunately she doesn’t outworked an unraced three year old from the gate on draw great today but this post is better than the 12 hole September 19. #7 SPIRIT DANCE worked evenly from she has had in her last two attempts. #3 LOST the gate on September 20 with Secrets Told, who ran a CORSAGE has had two consecutive third place efforts decent fourth on debut with a 56 Beyer. Ghostzapper is against similar company. She takes a drop in value and 10% juvenile debut sire; the dam has produced restricted should continue to be competitive. #11 FRAME THIS was Stakes winner Dance Again and debut winning, multiple a well-beaten fourth in a $25,000 route last time. This will Stakes placed Swoop and Strike. #10 STATE CROWN be her first try in a traditional sprint. had some early traffic but finished up well enough when debuting on turf in New York three weeks ago. She has Race 3 the opportunity to train over the synthetic at Fair Hill. #1 Lauderdale - Best Bet #2 Fright Night Race 6 #6 Suitedconnected #8 Diamondback #4 Am Prepared #2 Jojomar #1 LAUDERDALE had a wide trip in his only inner turf #1 Heehaa foray back in August, emptying out after a stretch bid. He #11 Last Endeavor should be able to work out a much better trip from the rail. #8 DIAMONDBACK ran a much improved fifth on #2 FRIGHT NIGHT ran a decent fifth with a wide trip in a September 20 for this price. He was still visibly green in sprint when making his turf debut last time. He is better at that race but should appreciate the added experience. #2 a route and draws well. #6 SUITEDCONNECTED was a JOJOMAR rallied to be third, 2 ½ lengths better than very easy winner against a soft field in his first start for Diamondback last time. There are a few speed types in this barn three back, returned 13 days later with a good this race so he should have pace to chase. #1 HEEHAA second on this surface then ran a flat race on October 11. outran his 51-1 odds when running second on debut over His best effort is enough to win this. #4 AM PREPARED the inner turf 16 days ago. A repeat of that effort will put had a perfect trip but came up empty on the Tapeta nine him in the hunt again. #11 LAST ENDEAVOR was a days ago. He is far better on turf and should offer some disappointing favourite for this price last month. The value on the rise in value from $5,000. runner up in that race came back to win for $40,000. His #6 DEAR ONE exits an okay fourth in a synthetic sprint first two starts were good. last time. We’ll see if the turf and/or route distance help her improve. Race 7 #7 Jeanie B (GB) Race 10 #5 Holyanna #8 Mighty Heart #4 Say Hey (FR) #4 Olliemyboy #8 Grey Seal #3 Clayton #7 JEANIE B (GB) ran very well in two starts at the #9 Belichick second allowance level including a fourth behind next-out #8 MIGHTY HEART was extremely impressive in his Grade 2 winner Rideforthecause. She was a vet scratch front-end romp in the Queen’s Plate, then took back into from a race on September 12 and now returns; this is a a stalking roll for the Prince of Wales. This versatile colt’s significant class drop. #5 HOLYANNA will make a lone turf try in New Orleans is a complete cross-out that delayed 2020 debut here. She showed all kinds of should not be held against him whatsoever; his running potential in her first start last year but did not live up to style here will be interesting as the other speed types are the hype in her subsequent starts; the blinkers come off cheaper and probably not huge threats even if left alone; for her return. #4 SAY HEY (FR) attracted a $40,000 obviously the one to beat in his Triple Crown bid. #4 claim when winning against non-twos over this course OLLIEMYBOY angled wide over an inside favouring last month. This is a tougher assignment but she is one of surface last time when finishing fourth behind some only two in this field with a win over this course. #8 GREY respectable foes, including the very talented Mnemba SEAL was a bit of an underwhelming fourth on Island. His trip in the Queen’s Plate was obscenely wide, September 12. She was a winner on the front end three and his runner-up finish behind Mighty Heart four starts back going a one turn mile and may try to get to the front ago was quite good. He obviously needs to improve, but end getting out to two turns. there are positives in his form for those looking for an upset. #3 CLAYTON looked a winner late on the turn in Race 8 the Queen’s Plate but could not get the better of Mighty #3 Fact Checking Heart, then had to settle for second after making the lead #6 Eyeinthesky in the Prince of Wales. In typical fashion his head was #8 Charmaine’s Mia cocked when galloping over this turf last week; we’ll see if the grass puts him over the top. #9 BELICHICK rallied #7 Hell N Wild through traffic to finish a good although non-threatening #3 FACT CHECKING knifed her way between horses to second in the Queen’s Plate. Lightly-raced maiden has win her first level allowance two starts ago, then returned had a lot asked of him in his short career but has with a nice third behind two classy males. She should fit responded well; it certainly wouldn’t be a big surprise to very well with this group. #6 EYEINTHESKY closed into see him get the job done. the insanely hot pace to be second in the Royal North, then returned to be second in this condition behind Summer Sunday. Thankfully there are no Summer Race 11 Sundays in this field. #8 CHARMAINE’S MIA had some #5 French Charm trouble going into the turn when finishing fifth in the same #6 Could Be Fate race that Eyeinthesky and Hell N Wild exit. She runs #2 You Cant Catch Her plenty of good races and is often a good price. #7 HELL #10 This Round’s Mine N WILD gets onto turf for the first time in her career.