Up to Triple Crown Articles

posted May 15, 2008 at 17:17 in Triple Crown Articles

Don’t look now but the dwindling economy in the states is affecting online sports betting, specifically horse racing and that is just one more reason why sharp bettors should pay attention to who is buying and who is losing horses.

Forget about the high gas prices and the spike in the cost of food, for horse bettors the key to getting an edge is to pay attention to what stables are making moves and claiming horses.

Unlike Del Mar, where you can not keep a claiming horse in your barn unless he or she is under lock and key, there have been few claims at Hollywood but the claims that have been made must be scrutinized for prime betting opportunities.

Through May 9, only 34 runners changed hands and a paltry million has been spent, but the runners that have attracted multiple suitors must be followed.

Enter Sneaky Jack. The first week of the meet he went from the Bob Hess Jr. barn to the stable of Vlado Cerin and this guy loves Hollypark. He’s not the classiest of runners, he’s done his best stuff running between $25K and $32K sellers, but Cerin took a shot at him when he was entered for 10 grand and he had to out shake 2 others for the runner.

A ‘shake’ is when two or more horses are coveted and dice are rolled and the winner gets the horse. Jack has been off slowly in his last two races but he loves the synthetic and if he breaks, astute horse bettors should pay serious attention.

Doneitagain was claimed in his Gulfstream finale and taken again by Mike Mitchell when he showed up in California. New owner Bob Bone is one of the sharpest guys on the circuit and he has a big input on whom and what kind of horses he buys.

As a son of Awesome Sword, Doneitagain has only run poorly once and he had a valid excuse that day when forced to steady.

He is the first from and unraced dam, but dam is kin to a double winner and if Doneitagain comes back on the stretch out, say in a 7 and a half furlong turf fray, cagey bettors should circle him and get down.

The final horse to be watched early in the Hollypark meeting is Tanzanite.

Formerly owned by the president of Santa Anita Ron Charles, this mare can run all day and really doesn’t get warmed up until she goes a mile.

New trainer Rafael Becerra learned his trade from the legendary Gary Jones and he is awesome with new stock and he’ll have options with this acquisition.

All 4 of the mare’s wins have come on grass but she was third of 13 on the Polytrack with trouble just over a year ago in England and clever bettors should not be put off if this mare comes back on the Cushion Track.

She has a nice stalking style and if Becerra tinkers with blinkers, double up. The mare sometimes breaks poorly but with shades, she could be on the muscle.

Just like with coaches in the NBA or the NFL or managers in baseball, the sharpest players around know who is pulling the strings and make those adjustments.

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