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Mike Dempsey

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After failing to turn a profit with my top picks on Thursday for the first time this year, I came back with a vengeance on Friday.

While we were cashing tickets, the real fireworks occurred at Philadelphia Park.

Jockeys Eriluis Vaz and Ademar Santos exchanged blows heading down the backstretch in the fifth race.
Vaz, who was aboard Divine Light, and Santos, aboard Mi Helena both went to the lead, and on the head on replay it appeared the two jockeys were exchanging words.

On the backstretch Vaz veered inward intentionally to interfere with Santos.
Santos cocked his head and there was no doubt he had a few words for Vaz, who then struck Santos.
They exchanged a few swings, with Vaz getting in a hard right with his whip.
Divine Light, finished fifth and was disqualified and placed ninth, while Mi Helena faded to finish ninth.
It was one of the ugliest incidents involving jockeys I have seen, and it was lucky nobody was hurt.
It will be very interesting to see how the stewards handle the incident.
Vaz came back to win the seventh race, and I was surprised the stewards let him ride.
Both jockeys have a suspension in their future, and Vaz could be looking at a lengthy one.

Here is today's opening race from Aqueduct to get our day off to a good start:

AQU Race 1 Clm $7,500N2L (12:30 ET)

#3 Bold Vindication
#10 Triple Glory
#1 The Mayor / #1a Larrys Revenge
#2 Monster Boots

Analysis: #3 Bold Vindication gets the nod in a very weak non winners of two in which none of these look very interested in finding the winners circle. The colt had a tough trip last out going a mile, having to steady heading down the backstretch and again approaching the quarter pole, weakening to finish seventh. Note the jock upgrade to Chavez, who hits at a 33% clip riding for Guillo. The colt is dropping into an easier spot here and while the 4/1 ML looks more than fair, the price is likely going to be lighter.
#10 Triple Glory raced evenly last out in a fourth place finish against $10K non winners of two. With the jock switch to Chuckie I am expecting to see this guy in the mix quicker today breaking from the outside. Two back he was a solid second, beaten just 3/4 of a length in a 12 horse field.

Wagering

WIN: #3 to win at 2/1 or better.
EX: 3,10 / 1,2,3,10
TRI: 3,10 / 1,2,3,10 / 1,2,3,5,10

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Aqueduct:

AQU Race 3 Busanda Stakes (1:26 ET)

#5 Judge Sonya 5/1
#4 Fuzzy Britches 6/5
#2 Age of Humor 5/2
#1 Anchorage 7/2


Analysis: #5 Judge Sonya returns off a two month break where the filly beat Alw-1 foes at Penn. Three runners have come out of the race to win next out including the runner up Listen In, who won the Pa bred Blue Mountain Stakes in her next outing on Nov. 27. The filly has popped three bullet works since her last outing and is in good hands with the Perkins barn. With her last win coming at Penn this gal might get overlooked on the tote.
#4 Fuzzy Britches stretches back out to a route after beating $60K starter allowance company going six furlongs last out. She has finished in the money in three tries in stakes company and turns back quickly having run on Jan. 6. The barn is good bringing them back quickly and is 20% winners moving runners from sprint to route.

Wagering

WIN: #5 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 4,5 / 2,4,5
TRI: no play

Today's Featured Race of the Day from Gulfstream Park:

GP Race 7 Mr. Prospector Stakes (4:07 ET)

#2 Custom for Carlos 3/1
#4 Munnings 2/1
#3 Prince Joshua 6/1
#1 Past the Point 5/1


I will try to beat the likely favorite with #2 Custom for Carlos, who was a sharp winner of the Bet On Sunshine Stakes in his last start at Churchill Downs. Two runners came out of that race to win stakes in their next starts. Two back this guy was beaten just a nose in the Gallant Bob at Philadelphia Park behind a quick runner in Pachito the Che, who won the Dudley Sprint in his next start, then was beaten a nose in the Gravesand Handicap at Aqueduct on Dec. 26.

#4 Munnings may end up one of the top sprinters in the country this year, but he is returning off a three month break and may catch a wet track. The colt looked super in winning the Woody Stephens (G2) and Tom Fool (G2), but could not handle Grade 1 company on wet tracks in his last three starts, although he did run into tough company, among the runners that beat him was Rachel Alexandra, Vineyard Haven, Fabulous Strike and Kodiak Kowboy. He drilled a bullet work at Palm Meadows on Jan. 3 and the barn is strong off the bench, but the price may end up on the light side.
#3 Prince Joshua looks like he may be sitting on a good one here in his third start of his current form cycle, and appears to be the best shot of breaking up a chalky exacta. The gelding earned a career top two back in a neck loss in the Dudley Sprint Handicap at Calder, and then regressed last out in the Kenny Noe. He is 0 for 4 over the main track here but if he bounces back, he could be in the mix here at a decent price.


Wagering

WIN: #2 to win at 2/1 or better.
EX: 2,4 / 1,2,3,4
TRI: 2,4 / 1,2,3,4 / 1,2,3,4,6

Live Longshots:

These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.


Aqueduct

R2: #1 He’s a Scrooge / #1a Freshman Dorm 8/1
R4: #7 Second and One 12/1
R7: #4 Pals First Lady 8/1
R8: #3 Success Fee 8/1
R9: #8 Last Noble 12/1



Good luck today!

Aqueduct Saturday

6th (2:52)
1 Mile 70 Yards | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up Claiming ($15,000) | Purse: $18,000

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 1 Marscaponi Serpa A Ubillo Rodrigo A 115 5 $15,000 L 10-1
2 2 Really Somebody Napravnik A R Callejas Bernardo 120 $15,000 L 5-1
3 3 Pavlov's Dog Bocachica O Fisher Linda 120 $15,000 L 50-1
4 4 Zeppies Shadow Musarro J Imperio Joseph 113 7 $15,000 L 50-1
5 5 Brendan's Warrior Hill C Mcgillycuddy K L 120 $15,000 L 7-2
6 6 Fortune Faded Cohen D Schosberg Richard 120 $15,000 L 4-1
7 7 Coaltown Legend Rodriguez R R Feron Kathleen M 120 $15,000 L 8-1
8 8 Saarlandisourland Saez G O'Brien Keith 115 $15,000 L 12-1
9 9 Nolite Timere Davis J A Ferraro James W 115 5 $15,000 L 15-1
10 10 Longing for Malibu Alvarado N R Conway Daniel H Jr 120 $15,000 L 5-2
11 AE Flo's Honor Rodriguez R R Iselin James H 120 $15,000 L 20-1

Exacta, Trifecta, Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (6-8), Pick 4 Races (6-9) Daily Double Wagers

Brian Blessing's Pick's 5-2-10

Brendan's Warrior was flying at the end of a six furlong dash last race. He should be a handful with the added distance today on the stretchout.

Gulfstream Park Saturday

1st (Post time 1:15)
5 Furlongs (Turf) | Open | 3 Year Olds Maiden Special Weight | Purse: $45,000

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 1 Crimson Glory Castanon J L Ward Wesley A 117 L 3-1
2 2 Top Yank Rose J Weaver George 122 FTL 8-1
3 3 Montana Knight Leparoux J R Hushion Michael E 122 FTL 6-1
4 4 Nehru Bravo J Breen Kelly J 122 L 5-1
5 5 Major Momentum Lezcano J Klesaris Steve 122 L 8-1
6 6 Punta Nizuc Maragh R Cesare William 122 L 15-1
7 7 Anwar Sadat Marquez C H Jr Zito Nicholas P 122 L 10-1
8 8 Wise Connection Coa E M Brownlee David R 122 L 6-1
9 9 Assorted Colors Saez L Hills Timothy A 117 5 L 4-1

Exacta / Trifecta / Superfecta / 10 Cent Superfecta / Daily Double (Races 1&2) Bet 3 (Races 1-2-3)

Battagliaspicks 1-9-5
#1 Crimson Glory- Trainer Ward is very strong with his second time runners winning at a good 38%. He has all of his horses sharp right now and they won't be able to beat this one.

Santa Anita Saturday

3rd (1:32)
About 6 1/2 Furlongs (Downhill turf) | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up Allowance Optional Claiming ($62,500) | Purse: $49,000

Prg. # PP Horse Jockey Trainer Wt. Claim $ Equip. Med. ML
1 1 Unusual Smoke Berrio O A Avila A C 119 L 15-1
2 2 Banner Lodge Smith M E Sadler John W 119 $62,500 L 2-1
3 3 Cadillac (NZ) Bejarano R Sadler John W 119 L 5-2
4 4 Calimonco Gomez G K Mott William I 119 L 6-1
5 5 Achak (IRE) Solis A Puype Mike 119 $62,500 L 4-1
6 6 Position A Espinoza V Mandella Richard 119 L 3-1

$1 Exacta / $1 Trifecta $2 Rolling Double / $1 Pick Three (Races 3-4-5) $1 Superfecta (.10 Min.)

Battagliaspicks 2-3-1

#2 Banner Lodge- trainer Sadler is ganging up on the others by running an uncoupled entry that looks easily best. This looks like a good exacta play 2-3