A look at Monday's races from Star Tribune handicapper Johnny Love.
Post time: 12:45 p.m. Best bet: Half Dome Dude (5th race). Best play: 50-cent Pick 4, Race 2 (All/All/2,5,7/1).
1 350 yards. Open. 3-year olds and up. Optional claiming $16,000. Purse $16,000.
#/Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt.Odds
1: No Regrets Here (Velazquez, Olmstead)1245-1
2: Cr Wagon Man (Martinez, Olmstead)1267-2
3: Lika Nightmare (Clark, Miller)1268-1
4: My Girls Toasted (Cruz, Pride)1269-2
5: Irish Brew (Swiontek, Livingston)1264-
6: Ricky Separate (Goodwin, Hybsha)1262-1
RICKY SEPERATE had steady gain last out at shorter distance and should appreciate extra yardage Sunday flying late. IRISH BREW had a couple of wins here last summer and could prove tough if ready to fire. MY GIRLS TOASTED comes in with two bullet drills off the extended layoff. All systems say go.
2 1 mile, 70 yards. Open. 3-year olds and up. Waiver claiming $16,000. Purse $16,000.
#/Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt.Odds
1: Dominic's Way (Franco, Diodoro)1185-2
2: First to Fight (Cruz, Silva)1238-1
3: Real Windy (Velazquez, VanWinkle)1232-1
4: VB and Me (Keith, Biehler)1236-1
5: Asi Si (Butler, Bravo)1239-2
6: Wood Machine (Canchari, Silva)1235-1
DOMINIC'S WAY comes off the turf with slight drop in class and tactical speed to get ground-saving trip off the rail. ASI SI exits a nice going-away win at this distance, and it doesn't hurt to get Butler at the helm. REAL WINDY last effort on dirt was a pulling-away victory, and extra distance shouldn't be a problem.
3 6 furlongs. Open. 3-year olds and up. Claiming $12,500. Purse $14,500.
#/Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt.Odds
1: Shemp (Rosier, Diodoro)1234-1
2: Friarcracker (Butler, Bravo)1235-1
3: Leavinglosangeles (Martin, Rarick)12310-1
4: Kill Shot (Carreno, Diodoro)1238-5
5: Smiling Charlie (Canchari, Robertson)1237-2
6: Da's Legacy (Bethke, Bethke)1236-1
KILL SHOT has strong class edge and should benefit from a quick pace. Stablemate SHEMP will hook up in early duel with a few rivals. Stamina is the key here. SMILING CHARLIE will make a strong middle move in a race that sets up perfectly for him.
4 5 furlongs on turf. Open. 3-year olds and up. Claiming $20,000. Purse $25,000.
#/Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt.Odds
1: Purimeter (Sanchez, Perez)1197-2
2: Super Charlie (Franco, Liffin)1215-1
3: Shangrila Bar (Castro, Riecken)11910-1
4: Hard Nosed (Bethke, Riecken)11920-1
5: Smoltz (Velazquez, Berndt)1191-1
6: Wildcat Moon (Hernandez, Fields)11912-1
7: Yes by Gold (Goodwin, Sheehan)1198-1
SMOLTZ looks awfully tough if he can adjust to the surface switch. Strictly the one to catch to get the win. YES BY GOLD was second best last out on the sod while chasing the pace before losing at the wire. SUPER CHARLIE has quick early foot and attempts turf for the first time for a trainer who has started the meet hot.
5 5½ furlongs. Open. 3-year olds and up. Starter optional claiming $5,000. Purse $14,500.
#/Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt.Odds
1: Half Dome Dude (Carreno, Diodoro)1232-1
2: Rodriguez (Martin, Berndt)11910-1
3: World Famous Sam T (Bethke, Bethke)1196-1
4: Leroidessioux (Velazquez, Scherer)1219-2
5: This Cat's Awesome (Hernandez, Hartman)1213-1
6: Duke of Luke (Butler, Padilla)12110-1
7: Speeding Spike (Delorme, Miller)11920-1
8: Doinmysongndance (Sanchez, Padilla)11912-1
HALF DOME DUDE didn't disappoint as the heavy favorite last out and will probably be the favorite once again. Expect him to be on or near the lead. THIS CAT'S AWESOME will be chaperoning our top choice from the get-go and is coming off a top speed figure victory. LEROIDESSIOUX is the late threat if a pace meltdown occurs.
6 7½ furlongs on turf. State bred. Fillies and mares. 3-year olds and up. Maiden special weight. Purse $32,000.
#/Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt.Odds
1: St. Paddy's Gray (Sanchez, Tracy)1195-1
2: Peytons Sky Dancer (Butler, Rhone)1198-1
3: Blazing Angel (Velazquez, Scherer)1197-2
4: Rudys Cabello (Delorme, McShane)11920-1
5: Cozzy Kinda Love (Hernandez, McKinley)11930-1
6: Tahkodha Queen (Cruz, Sheehan)12315-1
7: One Won Eleven (Bethke, Peters)12312-1
8: Tahkodha Dutchess (Rosier, Sheehan)11912-1
9: Alesha Maximus (Franco, Thompson)11910-1
10: Cup o'Tea for Me (Martin, Wolff)12320-1
11: Blackhawk's Sis (Canchari, Robertson)1192-1
12: Rodeoactive (Canchari, Broberg)1199-5
Wide-open turf affair to kick off the Late Pick 4. BLAZING ANGEL has the best numbers with three starts on the lawn, but they don't actually scream for attention. BLACKHAWK'S SIS pedigree suggest she'll perform well on turf and has the speed to be involved early. PEYTONS SKY DANCER and ST. PADDY'S GRAY should be major players.
7 Honor the Hero Stakes. 5 furlongs on turf. Open. 3-year olds and up. Purse $75,000.
#/Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt.Odds
1: American Sailor (Rosier, Sharp)1216-1
2: Mongol Bull (Velazquez, Rainwater)1176-1
3: Shrewd Move (Franco, McFarlane)11712-1
4: Nesterenko Ridge (Carreno, Rengstorf)11720-1
5: Dog Soldier (Butler, Rhone)1178-1
6: El Seventyseven (Canchari, Robertson)1173-1
7: Richies Sweetheart (Baird, Rivelli)1122-1
8: Majestic Pride (Sanchez, Robertson)1178-1
AMERICAN SAILOR got squeezed and taken out in Grade 3 Turf sprint last out and looks to rebound with slightly softer competition. RICHIES SWEETHEART will be involved from the bell and too looks to rebound after a bumper car start last out. MONGUL BULL will be rolling late in what appears to be a race with contested fractions.
8 5½ furlongs. State bred. Fillies and mares. 3-year olds and up. Maiden special weight. Purse $32,000.
#/Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt.Odds
1: Your Last Warning (Butler, Rhone)1235-2
2: Foxy Felicity (Goodwin, Rengstorf)12315-1
3: Anzoo (Sanchez, McShane)11912-1
4: Somerset Bing (Escobar, Rhone)1238-1
5: Queen Sammy (Martin, Rarick)1194-1
6: Girlatwerk (Canchari, Robertson)1192-1
7: Dusty Princess (Delorme, Turco)11915-1
8: More Mona More (Rosier, Thompson)12312-1
First-time starter GIRLATWERK has a shot to get the win with this mediocre maiden field. Flashing some ability with her works for strong connections. QUEEN SAMMY appears to be the one they'll be chasing and might be tough to catch if goes unchallenged. YOUR LAST WARNING draws the pine and regains top pilot Butler, but it would've been nice to see a couple more works off the nine-month hiatus.
9 7½ furlongs. Open. 3-year olds and up. Waiver claiming $20,000. Purse $19,000.
#/Horse, Jockey, Trainer Wt.Odds
1: Visitation (Carreno, Diodoro)1234-1
2: Trill Point (Canchari, Brinson)1196-1
3: Proud Royal (Velazquez, Rengstorf)1238-1
4: Hot Hand (Sanchez, Stuart)11910-1
5: Mr. Arturo (Butler, Bravo)1236-1
6: Cable Jett (Franco, Diodoro)1195-1
7: Schindlers Risk (Delorme, Schindler)12312-1
8: Bellamy Run (Rosier, Sharp)1235-2
9: Wildcard (Franco, Riecken)12312-1
If VISITATION returns to her form from two back on the turf, he will be tough to beat. BELLAMY RUN is a consistent money-maker and might put himself in the hunt from the start. CABLE JETT exits a maiden win drawing clear of the field but will have to step it up another notch to get it consecutive wins.
The Wolves didn’t appear engaged at either end of the floor and lost for the third time in four games.
