posted May 13, 2008 at 16:08 in Triple Crown Articles

My pick of the day runs in race 9 at Mountaineer, but if you take a closer look you will notice that she comes from some place else in the country- - the Fairgrounds in Louisiana.

Horses shipping to Mountaineer for their excellent purses should not be taken lightly by BetUS online betting racebook fans. Shippers to Mountaineer tend to do very well and at nice prices to boot.

Mountaineer Race 9

$75,000 Hancock County Handicap

Fillies and Mares 3 years old and up

5 furlongs on dirt

Sunshine State - - 10/1 morning line

What’s not to like about Sunshine State in this race? Yes, her speed ratings are decidedly lower than some others in here, but she comes out of the Merrill Sherer barn. Sherer is getting 29% of his horses into the money at Mountaineer. Not only that, but Sunshine State is the only closer in a race loaded with serious speed. By serious I mean that a 44 and change half is not out of the question in this race. That would spell doom for the three or four horses on the lead, right? Sunshine State won her last race at Keeneland. Before that she ran at the Fairgrounds. Her class should prevail in this one.

Pola’s Place - - 7/2 morning line

This is another who ran her last race at Kenneland. Pola’s Place finished 9th losing by 10 lengths in the $100,000 Giant’s Causeway Stakes. What online racebook bettors need to realize, however, is that Pola’s Place steadied at the ½ pole in that 5.5 furlong race on the turf. Now, she returns to dirt and gets a much better post then morning line favorite, La Chica Rica. That makes Pola’s Place well placed for a nice run in this restricted stakes.

Moonlight Dreamer - - 12/1 morning line

Based strictly on class, Moonlight Dreamer probably doesn’t have a chance in this field, but look at what has happened since trainer John A Booker brought her back from a freshening in early April. She’s won a 6 furlong race on the Mountaineer main track by 4 ¾ lengths. Then, she won a 5 furlong race on the Mountaineer main track by 11 lengths. That makes her more then capable in this race. The only issue, of course, is whether or not she can face the other speed in this thing and hang on. I’m thinking she can…for third.

Wagering Strategy

If Sunshine State holds her odds, then betting the win, place and show is definitely the way to go. I would also use her in an exacta and trifecta box with both Pola’s Place and Moonlight Dreamer.

Keep checking the Locker Room all through the Triple Crown season, as we will cover the trainers, horses and jockeys in each race. You can get your early Kentucky Derby Odds at Churchill Downs bets in now in the BetUS sportsbook in the Future / props section, under Horse Futures: 2008 Kentucky Derby Betting.