By Thomas Chambers
I get the heebie jeebies in River North.
I’m thinking of opening a ministry there, like the Save-a-Soul Mission in Guys and Dolls. My apostles will walk the sidewalks telling the tourists that just because it’s bigger – maybe the biggest – it’s still just a McDonald’s, with higher prices. Don’t be tempted by the frog on the roof, and you’ll be disappointed that it’s not very hard rock. No, there’s no gangster museum here anymore. And the chicken-wing girls aren’t any different from the ones you have out by your airport.
Now I walk among these downtrodden of our Tourist Economy. I will reach out to these souls of limited disposable dollars, providing guidance to true neighborhood spots unique to Daley City. Watch locals drown sorrows, and with good food. I’ll recruit the microphone preacher from Washington and State, for he’ll become our human Green Sheet and spread the word on pace scenarios and false favorites and PolyTrack tendencies. If one should have a need to testify with $2 on a horse, one of His great creatures, as such a man, from Ohio, did last Saturday, we will remain true to our calling and show him the way.
At any rate, it felt like the first day of sixth grade Saturday as it was my first time setting up with the regular gang at the Stretch Run OTB on LaSalle Street, at Ohio, since the closing of Jackson Street. You know the feeling. It’s the first day and the seating arrangements have to be figured out and the space and the staff are different. But like grades 1-5, it’s still just an OTB. The TVs and the betting stations and the people are the same. Nevertheless, it felt weird, with the grizzled players pronouncing their likes and dislikes at every turn.
At Jackson Street, everyone knew where everyone else sat and it was respected. That’s not so easy at Stretch Run because the place is so small. Jackson had several open areas where horseplayers could stand, as many preferred to do, but the new place does not.
But my question is this: How on earth are they going to be able to handle the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Breeders Cup crowds? This Saturday’s clientele consisted of us usual suspects and we filled the place! Or so it seemed unless they have other rooms we couldn’t see.
I’m not sure of that grand marketing plan, but the net result of closing Jackson, it seems to me, is that both Stretch Run and Mud Bug will be packed for such days and because it is smaller, Inter-Track Partners will not do the wagering handle it otherwise might have with both Stretch Run and Jackson open. I can see how Inter-Track Partners might have been looking to boost its weekday crowd at Stretch Run, which must now be getting the guys who wager nearly daily.
Bottom line is that there is not enough OTB capacity in this city.
Calvin’s Choice
Triple Crown goat/king Capricious Calvin Borel appears to be off Kentucky Derby winner Mine that Bird for good. ‘Bird’s connections wanted him to make a commitment through the Breeders Cup and apparently Borel wasn’t willing to do that.
The immediate conflict was with Warrior’s Reward in the Jim Dandy or Mine That Bird in the West Virginia Derby the same day, August 2. Borel appears to be on the side of Warrior’s Reward. But Reward’s next race will be interesting because he stumbled very badly out of the gate Saturday in the Grade II Dwyer at Belmont. Despite the misstep that put him last, Borel and ‘Reward did get up to finish third, less than four lengths back. That’s a watch-out-in-the-next-race angle if I ever saw one.
This jockey jockeying can have implications throughout these summer stakes races. While Borel is a good jockey, he’s not considered among the elite. And remember that Mine That Bird’s connections are not considered among the top trainer/owner combinations in the game, so what future spoils could that barn offer? But whoever takes Mine That Bird could tip the dominos. I wouldn’t mind seeing a Martin Garcia or Joe Talamo from the West or Alan Garcia or Ramon Dominguez from the East. Or could they possibly get Edgar Prado?
Red’s Right
It was a fun wagering Saturday at the aforementioned Stretch Run, with a full slate of good races.
I must acknowledge my old friend Red for keeping me on the straight and narrow with Kensai in the Dwyer. “It’s Prado, you know.” Red loves jockey Edgar Prado, and on this horse, one of my angles was that Prado was a jockey upgrade. I also liked Convocation. I tossed Warrior’s Reward from the exacta, inserted Kensai and enjoyed the race; $119.50 worth of exacta enjoyment, to be precise. Red was beside himself. “Fifteen-forty ($15.40 paid for the win) on Prado and I didn’t bet him! You always take 7-1 on Prado.” Then I felt a little bad. But that’s how this game goes and nobody seeks any sympathy.
Prado came through again in the 10th, The Suburban Handicap (Grade II). I went contrarian as It’s a Bird and Asiatic Boy got all of the pump all week and nothing is a lock in this game. ‘Bird had a few giant Beyer Speed Figures, but against lesser company I thought, and six-year-old Asiatic Boy was in his second American race since a tough winter-spring campaign in Dubai. So after Prado’s Dry Martini came in for $23.60 and $8.30, I was up exactly one dollar on the day.
It regressed as I felt good and stayed for the nightcap 10th at Arlington. Informed Decision had made a joke out of the Chicago Handicap in the feature ninth at Arlington – trainer Jonathan Sheppard even thanked the AP racing secretary for scrounging up five horses to run against him in the sure win – so that one was unbettable. Long story short, lost a few bucks on that last race and left.
Arlington’s Million
It’s a big day of racing at Arlington Park as Turf Mahal hosts Arlington Million Preview Day, the last local prep card for the August 8 Arlington Million Day races. And you’ve got your frou frou too as it’s also Ladies Day, so watch out for fast-moving hat brims, they’ll take our eye out. I just printed out my online ticket – they’re promising a free Arlington Million hat – so I guess I’ll see you out there.
The notable races, in post-position order:
* The Modesty Handicap (Grade III, 1-3/16 mi., fillies and mares, three and older, turf)
Pure Clan will be the big favorite in her second race of the year. This prep for The Beverly D. will also include Tizaqueena and Dynaforce. I’m going to gawk at Inez Karlsson on Ciao. Some things against, but maybe Frank Kirby and Inez can at least sneak her into the exacta. Take a look at Colina Verde too.
* American Derby (Grade II, three year olds, 1-3/16 mi., turf)
Illinois’ own Giant Oak takes the next step in this prep for The Secretariat. He’s already won the Arlington Classic, so if he adds this and then wins The Secretariat next month, it’s a $500,000 bonus. Dakota Gypsy and Oil Man figure to challenge and I also like No Inflation.
* Arlington Sprint Handicap ($200,000, three and older, 5.5 furlongs, turf)
Chamberlain Bridge invades and should be the favorite. He’s a turf sprint specialist who’s on a 9-5-1-1 roll since last August, including a clunker at Tampa, which is quite different as a turf course. Our special gray Fort Prado goes, just off a thrilling win in the Black Tie Affair June 20. He doesn’t seem to figure here in this big distance cutback, but that’s what I said June 20. Also take a look at Yankee Injunuity, a big run from St. Joe, and Shrewd Operator.
* Arlington Handicap (Grade III, 1-1/4 mi., three and older, turf)
This Arlington Million prep is a balanced field that will take me a while to gauge. But look for Plan, Just as Well, Ordination, Stream Cat, Cosmonaut, and Thabazimbi. Old warrior Silverfoot will go, coming out of The Tin Man at Arlington along with Public Speaker, Embossed and Telling. Last, but not least, 2008 Illinois Derby winner Recapturetheglory makes an appearance in this race. He’s in pretty tough here, but following a descent that started with the ’08 Kentucky Derby, he’s been looking decent lately, albeit on the $30k allowance level. But he’ll take more than a few dollars on the tote board, simply because of his name.
Tip Lines
* At Calder Race Course, it’s the 10th Annual Summit of Speed, a sprint-heavy card that this year lures Benny the Bull to South Florida. I’m a bit bummed about this because if I land out at Arlington this week, this makes it difficult to bet on the Calder races as well. I don’t do simulcast very well at the track because I’d rather be outside and watch the horses run. But if Calder gets one of its patented summer downpours, I won’t be as bummed and I may not bet it.
Benny will run in the Grade II Smile Sprint Handicap, carrying a highweight 124 pounds, six more than any other horse. He hasn’t won since this race last year, but ran a gutty second off the bench in the True North last month. He’s a horse with heart you just gotta watch. His chief rivals include How’s Your Halo and Ikigai.
The biggest news in the six-furlong Grade I Princess Rooney is that Indian Blessing is out of the race. Seems trainer Bob Baffert was afraid she’d test positive after a recent, necessary treatment of penicillin. Other challengers will include Marina Ballerina, Game Face and Orinoquia.
* At Belmont it’s the Grade I Man o’ War, 1-3/8 miles on the inner turf. Gio Ponti runs after an impressive win in the Grade I Manhattan Handicap last month. Other seasoned older turfers in the race include Grand Couturier, Midships, Chinchon and Quijano.
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Thomas Chambers is the Beachwood’s man on the rail. He brings you Track Notes every Friday. He welcomes your comments.
Posted on July 10, 2009