CANTERBURY JUNE 27

RACE ONE
Short field allowance.
4 Alex's Tomcat (A) Classiest winner here.
6 Conkigo (B ) Very big, very cheap, maiden win.
3 Hopetown Hero ( B ) 3-1 lifetime and won last.
5 Better Make Money ( B ) Closer and place candidate. New trainer.
2 Senor Smiley (B ) Can't eliminate, but would need twice his ML odds.

RACE TWO
A weak field of maiden females.
1 Echoing Hills ( A) Wonderful mud effort in debut.
4 Breezey Hills (C) Long layoff, new trainer, maybe worth mega-odds.
6 Run Sammy Run (B) 31 races, no wins, and the favorite? No way at short money.
11 Suprem Glory. (C) Better of the two firsters and worth the 10-1 ML.

RACE THREE
Maiden race with no horse deserving short odds.
9 Golden Brew 6/1 ( B) Long time off, many works, biggest drop in class.
8 Karazor ( B) New trainer, big drop, learned about early speed last time.
12 Clemson ( B) Lots of good finishes at Tampa, but not much in only Canterbury race.
10 Moeka (C) Would need to improve 7 lengths at this level.
11 Smoky Storm (C) Big drop.

RACE FOUR
Nobody deserves short price.
1 Freckles O'Brien (A) A closer most likely to place, but sneaky class.
4 Squeezable ( B ) Toss the slop and reveal a beauty at this level.
9 Astar For Dina ( B) Another closer to consider for place.

RACE FIVE
High level claimer for multiple winners. No deserving favorite.
5 Claxton (B ) Might wake up at good odds off vacation.
8 Silver War (B ) Awful form, but give him a break. That was on funny dirt down in Shee-Kaw-Go.
2 Silver Wilbur (B) Has a local allowance win.
4 Rapid Jack (B) Don't be surprised by a longshot score. Sneaky class, first lasix, 2 local wins.

RACE SIX
Turf claimer
3 Mister Merz (A ) Brisnet gives him 10 prime points, an outrageous advantage.
5 Dawn Raider ( B ) Peak form, but not dominant, and not worth 9/5 ML. How about 7-1?
4 Deputy Tice 5/1 (B ) Needs some racing luck but has beaten better.
1 Green Lemon (B) Finally drops to right level, but has always waited too long to move.

RACE SEVEN
Claimer for hosses that haven't victorified in 2009.
4 Tytus (A) has failed as odds-on chalk the last five times. That means he has burned $75,000 or more of dopey money. Dopey because who the hell would bet this guy or anyone in the win pool at 3/5? Because of the conditions, he's the best horse in this race too, but anything less than 3/2 is pure larceny. He's a 2-1 horse lifetime, and 6-1 at this distance. Do you still want to back him at odds-on? And if he beats you at 3/5, so what? Goddamn it, people, you cannot make money betting odds-on horses.
6 Ragin Nonno (C) Ya never know whose barn this guy's going to turn up in. Worth big odds.
7 Wantedtobeagray (B ) 8 years old, some glory in the wayback. Suppose he looks around, recognizes that these are cheap youngsters around him, and decides to give it one last try?.
1 Suchahunter ( B) Loves to fade, but has beaten better.

RACE EIGHT
10 Si Si Mon Amie (B ) 12 points of prime power, according to Brisnet.That would typically make this guy plunge from the 4/1 morning line into the hell of odds-on. He's the best horse in the race, most likely. But that's not nearly as important as the question of what odds is he worth? And I believe there are other horses so close to him in ability that he isn't worth a dime less than 5-1.
11 Positivelycharming (B) 3-1 lifteime odds and top class in the race. His last win was better than Si Si's. So whatever Si Si turns out to be worth on the tote, this guy is worth at least that.
6 Mizzcan'tbewrong (B) 7 wins. 2-1 lifetime odds. Excellent turf rider. Do not let this fillie go off at long odds without your backing.