The picks from the Star Tribune's handicapper:
Post time: 12:45 p.m. Best bet: Lunar Gaze (7th Race). Best play: 50 cent—Pick 4, Race 7, (7/1,2,4,5,6,9/1,4,5,6,7,11/3,4,5), $54.
Race 1: 330 yards. Open. 3-year-olds and up. Maiden claiming: $6,250. Purse: $7,250
#: Horse, Jockey, TrainerWt./Odds
1: Zoomin Sucess (Goodwin, Hybsha)124/6-1
2: Unforgottenrareform (Beaty, Miller)124/7-2
3: The Secret Toole (Pinon, Hardy)124/2-1
4: Prima Fire (Smith, Johnson)124/8-1
5: Minnieapple Lips (Martinez, Harris)124/10-1
6: James the King (Swiontek, Livingston)124/3-1
7: Jess a Casanova (Golibrzuch, Miller)124/12-1
THE SECRET TOOLE jumped in the air out of the gate last start and never became a factor; look for better break today. UNFORGOTTENRAREFORM ran a game second last out. JAMES THE KING dueled but came up a tad short last effort.
Race 2: 250 yards. Open. 2-year-olds. Maiden. Purse: $11,500
#: Horse, Jockey, TrainerWt./Odds
1: Pyc Cierra (Golibrzuch, Charette-Hill)122/10-1
2: Lynns Leaving You (Eikleberry, Harris)122/12-1
3: Racy Time (Delorme, Hunt)122/10-1
4: Trippys Hawk (P. Canchari, O'Callaghan)122/20-1
5: Wr Lets Jet (Richard, Johnson)122/20-1
6: Unfinished Biz (Pinon, Hardy)122/6-1
7: Hr Chatter Wagon (Beaty, Charette-Hill)122/2-1
8: One Ivory Sign (Luark, Olmstead)122/5-2
9: Jam (Smith, Hunt)122/8-1
10: Separated by a Dash (S. Ricardo, Hanson)122/20-1
ONE IVORY SIGN has been facing stiffer rivals down south and comes in with a bullet drill on the local track. HR CHATTER WAGON is alert gate-breaker and will come out smokin. PYC CIERRA failed to fire as the favorite last out and looks to improve.
Race 3: 6 furlongs. Fillies and mares. 3-year-olds and up. Claiming: $20,000. Purse: $19,000
#: Horse, Jockey, TrainerWt./Odds
1: So What (Murphy, Ledgess)119/4-1
2: Gold Dust Diva (Butler, Keen)119/2-1
3: Miss Cat Dancing (Carreno, Bravo)119/3-1
4: Score More (Keith, Biehler)123/8-1
5: Raven Rise (Goncalves, Keen)123/5-2
6: Lily the Bear (Franco, Sweere)123/15-1
MISS CAT DANCING has been second last two spins but needs to break habit of running in holding pattern behind the pace; has finished ahead over most of today's combatants. GOLD DUST DIVA likes to unleash middle move coming from off the pace and now gets Butler as the pilot; logical choice for win honors. Stablemate RAVEN RISE, has been inactive for 15 months but supports a encouraging work tab for return; going to take a wait and see approach.
Race 4: 6 furlongs. State-bred. Open. 3-year-olds and up. Allowance. Purse: $36,500
#: Horse, Jockey, TrainerWt./Odds
1: Bold Raider (P. Canchari, Cole)121/15-1
2: Slippery Ice (Golibrzuch, Miller)121/2-1
3: Chris Mars (Escobar, Rhone)117/5-2
4: Runaway Chance (Carreno, Van Winkle)123/6-1
5: Bet Your Socks (Franco, Rhone)121/8-1
6: Stormy Affair (Eikleberry, Sweere)121/6-1
7: Bold Advantage (Goncalves, Holder)121/8-1
8: Somerset Jackson (Hernandez, Donlin)119/15-1
RUNAWAY CHANCE should get terrific position sitting in the wind tunnel behind the loaded pace duel in front of him; comes off a confidence building win. SLIPPERY ICE and CHRIS MARS will be key factors on the front end knocking heads from the start; scramble for the lead could take its toll on the stretch run.
Race 5: 6 furlongs. Fillies and mares. 3-year-olds and up. Claiming: $4,000. Purse: $10,000
#: Horse, Jockey, TrainerWt./Odds
1: Smarty Prance (Butler, Rhone)123/5-1
2: Cassidilly (Hernandez, Bera)123/6-1
3: Talk About Me (Velazquez, Berndt)123/7-2
4: My Place Or Yours (Sanchez, Van Winkle)123/5-1
5: Hawkeye Honey (Goncalves, Litfin)123/9-2
6: Wild Luna (Franco, Turco)123/6-1
7: Lady's Edition (Delorme, Pfeifer)123/15-1
8: Chumash (Smith, Rarick)123/8-1
9: Tiz Playtime (Carreno, Arnett)123/12-1
CASSIDILY exits a late rallying win at a big price and should be compromised by quick fractions today for her late closing kick. TALK ABOUT ME is a new acquisition and drops to new career low in search of previous form; seasoned veteran will come rolling late. MY PLACE OR YOURS will prompt the pace with ample early speed but has failed as the chalk the past two efforts.
Race 6: About 7½ furlongs. Open. 3-year-olds and up. Claiming: $10,000. Purse: $17,000
#: Horse, Jockey, TrainerWt./Odds
1: Callingahardten (Franco, Chambers)123/3-1
2: Born Force (Butler, Donlin)119/6-1
3: Mec Dancer (Martinez, Rengstorf)119/5-1
4: Pastero (P. Canchari, Holder)119/20-1
5: Behr Strike (Murphy, Westermann)119/12-1
6: Corporate Chapel (Lopez, Jr., Sweere)119/6-1
7: Moonlit Park (Sanchez, Rarick)119/10-1
8: Keep Me Posted (Vergara, Van Winkle)119/7-2
9: Indy Racer (Willey, Lund)114/8-1
CALLINGAHARDTEN got an impressive win last out after sitting for three months; figures to keep improving off that effort rolling late. KEEP ME POSTED has been second best last two outings flying late while suffering from wide trips; merits respect without the traffic filled stretch. INDY RACER doesn't need the lead but might grab it with lack of group speed, encouraging works off the three-month rest period.
Race 7: 6 furlongs. Fillies and mares. 3-year-olds and up. Allowance optional claiming: $35,000. Purse: $32,000
#: Horse, Jockey, TrainerWt./Odds
1: Aunt Sherri (Murphy, Amoss)115/7-2
2: Gypsy Melody (Sanchez, Robertson)119/8-1
3: Sky and Sea (Butler, Rhone)119/12-1
4: Somerset Swinger (Martinez, Robertson)119/15-1
5: Makinmymark (Eikleberry, Lund)123/5-1
6: Queen Kate (Franco, Lund)119/6-1
7: Lunar Gaze (Goncalves, Amoss)117/6-5
LUNAR GAZE is stamped in as top choice after a nine-length victory for her Canterbury debut last out, anything close to that performance gets her picture taken. AUNT SHERRI cuts back to one turn and could be the main threat to her stablemate Lunar Gaze; should be plenty fit second off the layoff. GYPSY MELODY returns to the main track after finishing off the board in turf route experiment.
Race 8: About 7½ furlongs. Open. 3-year-olds and up. Claiming: $20,000. Purse: $25,000
#: Horse, Jockey, TrainerWt./Odds
1: Cactus Son (Goncalves, Keen)119/5-2
2: Mr. Vegas (Martinez, Scherer)119/2-1
3: Bernie the Jet (Murphy, Ledgess)119/8-1
4: Affirmed Cure (Richard, Peters)119/20-1
5: Clone (Butler, Arnett)119/9-2
6: Our Lucky Son (Eikleberry, Rarick)123/8-1
7: Hansboro (Velazquez, Sweere)121/30-1
8: Go Gold (Sanchez, Westermann)119/12-1
9: Dr. Spin (Franco, Biehler)119/10-1
10: Sweeping Victory (Goncalves, Amoss)119/6-1
MR VEGAS has favorable speed numbers and should be forwardly placed to stretch run for first assault on pace setters. CACTUS SON projects as the one to catch and gets perfect inside draw to get first crack around the first turn, will be a handful to tracked down before the wire. CLONE and OUR LUCKY SON are major players coming off the dirt track at square prices.
Race 9: 6½ furlongs. Open. 3-year-olds and up. Claiming: $6,250. Purse: $10,500
#: Horse, Jockey, TrainerWt./Odds
1: Wildcard (Escobar, Riecken)123/6-1
2: Grannys Pro (P. Canchari, Hawley)119/20-1
3: Tough Toy (Vergara, Silva)123/12-1
4: Beauziggity (Martinez, Ritter)119/5-1
5: V B and Me (Keith, Biehler)119/8-1
6: Don't Claim Me (Butler, Bolinger)123/10-1
7: Karber (Goncalves, Litfin)123/8-1
8: Antioch Native (Murphy, Westermann)123/20-1
9: Flasha (Sanchez, Scherbenske)119/9-2
10: Mr. Jerry (Hernandez, Litfin)119/12-1
11: Master Master (Carreno, Diodoro)123/7-2
Good betting race with many ways to go. BEAUZIGGITY jumps off the lawn for over half the price in a solid angle for trainer Ritter; last win was sprinting on the dirt. WILDCARD also switches surfaces with class relief, expect to be in the hunt early and late. MASTER MASTER had a contaminated start last break and deserves another chance with clean start.
Race 10: 6½ furlongs. Open. 3-year-olds and up. Claiming: $6,250. Purse: $11,500
#: Horse, Jockey, TrainerWt./Odds
1: My Rochester (Martinez, Westermann)123/15-1
2: Royal Mocha (Murphy, Smith)123/10-1
3: Mojave Secret (Fackler, Turco)123/8-1
4: Closet E (Eikleberry, Diodoro)123/2-1
5: Gray Day Lover (Goncalves, Keen)123/5-2
6: Decantered (Vergara, Silva)123/6-1
7: Uncle Ron (Sanchez, Westermann)123/4-1
CLOSET E is strictly the one to beat out of the Diodoro barn and will get bet at the window due to connections; expect to let others do the dirty work sitting off the pace. MOJAVE SECRET is the speed of the race and one to catch to get the win. GRAY DAY LOVER exits a well deserved driving win last out and might be a new runner off that victory.
With an investigation ongoing and the girls team's season over, Kurt Weber steps in to try to lead the boys team back to the state tournament.
