Posted on 10/17/2007 1:33:47 AM

Horse Racing Betting: Home Court Hopes

By Brian Mulligan

Those that play on the diamond fight for 162 game to get an advantage in the post season and NBA stars sweat for 82 games to get that coveted home court so it makes sense to give a long look to the Breeders’ Cup hopefuls this year that have already performed well at Monmouth Park.

Let’s isolate three budding stars to watch.

Smart horse bettors are well aware that, just like people, horses like certain things, certain tracks, certain configurations and certain conditions and the local contingent on BC Day are often overlooked.

Enter Z Humor, who just may get the last laugh on his Juvenile foes when the race goes at about 1:10 on Saturday October 27.

This son of Distorted Humor has never been out of the money in three outs and even though he bobbled badly in his Monmouth debut, he held together pretty well in a better than looked effort then ran well right back in the Champagne to put him on schedule for a huge day at the shore.

There is also quality on this guy’s bottom side as his dam’s dam won multiple Graded stakes and nearly $450,000 and nobody in the country has been hotter since the summer than his trainer Bill Mott.

Expect a change in tactics here in that Mott will likely instruct Z’s rider to take a little hold and save something for the end. Bettors have to be aware of his ability and his value in the gimmicks on BC Day.

The Dirt Mile will go as the second BC race on Friday and sharp bettors are already licking their chops because there could be a false favorite in Discreet Cat. This runner is brilliant at times, but he has some major physical issues and sharp players should look to Gottcha Gold for a local longshot that is very live.

Those trying to turn Gold into green should know that this guy will bring the top last-race Beyer to the party and that must be respected. He posted a 107 figure when drawing away at the shore on August 18 and two races back he beat the very talented Lawyer Ron.

For his career, Gottcha has won 5 times at Monmouth, boasts brilliant speed, has a great front-end rider in Chuck Lopez and he doesn’t absolutely need the lead to win.

And his quality is no fluke as his dam banked 6 figures and is kin to 3 others that won at least $200,000 including near $400,000 earner Stem the Tide.

This guy could very well be the 24-carat play of the day.

The obvious horse for the course this year will show up in the BC Classic and despite his special score at the shore this summer, he could be a bit overlooked on the board.

Any Given Sunday was an Al Pacino football vehicle on the big screen but Any Given Saturday already has proven he loves the smell of the salt air in Jersey.

He blew away a quality Haskell field off a month layoff posting a career 113 Beyer figure and beating quality horses like Hard Spun and Curlin in the process.

He then overcame a troubled start to win his next out but the best thing is he has been pointed to the Classic even since his Haskell heroics.

Consider his trainer’s quotes after the Haskell. Todd Pletcher: “We’ll work out his schedule to get to the Cup. Using Curlin and Hard Spun, he beat them convincingly today and is obviously as good as any 3-year-old in this crop.

Even if Saturday goes about 5-1, the other 2 locals mentioned here will likely be double digits on the board so sharp horse racing bettors would be wise to give them all long looks in the exotics at least.

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