CHOICES FOR SATURDAY JAN. 6

GULFSTREAM...

RACE 1: Last Shake (7), 5-1 ML.

... nope.

RACE 2: Primo Nova (2) 3-1.

...paid 11.40

RACE 3: Bedford Falls likely to go underwater on the tote. If under 3/2, play Robbies Charm (5)

...paid 8.00

RACE 4: Two Heros (3) at 6/1 ML.
... loser

RACE 6: Barclay Tagg has been running Diamond Spirit over her head now for 20 races. In first level allowances, she has been really tough. She's the big dropper and that's why she's 7/2 ML favorite. But Irish Ballerina has been fantastic in her three races with Barbara and is 10/1. Beautiful Danielle is ready to peak at 5/1. Acquiliea at 20/1 is the sleeper with a new trainer and nice works. Dyna's Gold Legend, 6/1, has the Beyers. Take a flyer at 5-1 or better on any of these.

Beautiful Danielle paid 10.40

RACE 7: Paradise Dancer (5) at 4-1. Beyers are strong, and Ziadie is tough in dirt sprints. Weigelia has much the class in this race, but will be overbet, and could be worn down by speedball Slam Bammy. Kelly's Landing has more class than Paradise too, but as a closer needs a great trip. Weigelia's a 2-1 horse, really, and you won't get that today, so you might as well go fishing for a fluke. Paradise is consistent and well trained, and his only G3 try was his last in the slop at Calder...

... Paradise scratched. Kelly's Landing paid 6.20

RACE 8: Dreadnaught (7) at 6-1. Beyers are mediocre, relatively, but he has class, which counts on the grass.

... Placed at 10-1.

RACE 9: Wow, this is tough. But Sweetnorthernsaint (3) breaks from a good post, won't have particularly tough competition for the lead, and is likely to be daylight ahead when Rehoboth, etc start their stretch campaigns.

... he showed as the favorite.

THE BIG A:

RACE 1: Bruce Levine's Quahada at 9/2 ML.
.... nope.


RACE 3: Sway With The Wind 7/2 with Klesaris in the barn.
... not even close.

RACE 4: Wally World, with Levine again. Anything above 3/2 is an absolute steal.

.... Wally paid 4.40.

RACE 5: The Argentinian Lethal Weapon at 5/2.

.... showed.

RACE 7: Maybe Prince Rattle. But can you bet on a Levine horse 3 times in one day? Isn't that against some sort of NYRA regulation?

.... loser.

RACE 8: Johannesburg Star is going to drop right off the tote. So we go with Believeinmenow at 4/1.

.... Pink Viper at 9/1.

RACE 9: Southern Prince will wrap up our winning card. But only if the tote holds at 2/1 or better. Otherwise, we take a cab to Katz's to celebrate our winning with a pastrami on rye.

The Prince paid 5.70.

SANTA ANITA

RACE 3: The DRF boys are picking Drysdale's Terroplane. That will kill his odds. So we'll go with Toasted at 5/1.

... placed at 5-1.

RACE 5: I hate to agree with Mr. Morning Line, but I, too, like Sunset Place. Not under 2/1, though. Diamond Hondo has a shot at 6/1 or better.

... Diamond 3rd, Sunset 4th at 2.70 to 1.

RACE 7: Let's watch in awe as the crowd bets Mistical Plan down to pennies on the dollar. Let's then bet Baroness Thatcher, with Senor Gomez yanking the reins.

Yes, Miss Mistical is the most talented horse in the race by far. She has the best chance of winning, which is to say, 40% to 45%. That would justify odds of no lower than 3/2. You're unlikely to get that.

The Baroness has a real shot, and at a price. Biancone is the new trainer. Gomez is the rider, and won big with her once already. Her last race was at the nasty CD, and she had a bumpy, wide trip. She ran a bullet on Jan 2 and get this-- handily from the gate. Her maiden win was actually better than Mistical's.

Negatives: She has never raced at SA or at this distance.

That's why they call it gambling.

... Bingo! $8.60

RACE 8: (The San Pasqual) The Beyer Boys, the ML Boys, and the DRF Boys all are absolutely in love with Dixie Meister. Or maybe the crowd will go nuts for Declan's Moon, the so-cal darling who won his first five races and then trailed off badly.

The ensuing tote board madness will allow us to back Bobby Baffert's Preachin' at the Bar at, oh, 5-1. Or more!

Dixie has beaten Preachin twice now. But he went wobbly in June, came back weak for the Cigar and can't possibly be worth the price the crowd is going to hang on him. Dixie, a $2500 horse, has won over a half million bucks now, and that's pretty cool. But Baffert brings his horses back ready, Preachin' earned a bullet on Jan. 2 and if the crowd goes for Dixie and or Declan, we could have a good bet.

... nope, the crowd focused on Preachin' who came in 3rd to Dixie.


RACE 9: 6-1/2 furlong downhill turf maiden. How could we skip this gem?


SCORE FOR THE DAY

5 winners in 17 races. $34 bet, $38.10 back. A 12% profit. No, we're not counting the races where we hedged and gave multiple picks. Those are pass races, even though we named the winners. We only count a victory when we pick one horse.