posted January 4, 2008 at 20:52 in Triple Crown Articles

As always horse racing provides excellent opportunities for bettors to make a nice profit. Horse racing is still the king of overlay betting and, even though the Breeders’ Cup has long been over, the industry continues to thrive. Two big races this weekend! One, the Grade II Hutcheson, at Gulfstream Park and the other, the Grade III San Pasqual, at Santa Anita.

Grade II Hutcheson - - Gulfstream Park

7 Furlongs on the Dirt

Lots of ways to go in the first major 3-year old prep race of the year. The reason for that is simple. War Pass, Pyro, and Country Star will all show up later this year, but, for now, trainers will be looking for the potential horses that could take them to the promised land that is the Kentucky Derby. My money, and my eyes, will be on Nick Zito’s Coal Play in this race. Coal Play tired in his first race around two turns and, to me, that’s a good thing. Why? Because he’s got the breeding up and down to run all day and no doubt should start improving by leaps and bounds. Zito is a master with these three year olds and Coal Play should love the turn-back in distance. Expect this Zito charge to put forth a brilliant effort. For second place, I’ll take a stab with Golden Spikes. Trained by 2006 Breeders’ Cup Mile winning trainer, Martin Wolfson, Golden Spikes is also bred to run all day. He’s stretching out in this race which makes him positively dangerous as he’s out of Seeking the Gold and an A.P. Indy mare. Let’s tab Grand Minstrel, the likely favorite, for the third spot and I think we’ve got a good chance at a nice trifecta.

1. Coal Play

2. Golden Spikes

3. Grand Minstrel

Grade II San Pasqual - - Santa Anita Park

1 1/16th Miles on Cushion Track

Bobby Frankel has three in here and all three have a shot at winning this thing. I’m not going to try and separate the three because, well, I just can’t. But what I can do is take the two best ones and tell you that I will be using them as key horses in trifectas and pick-3s. Frankel’s best horse, and best shot in this race, is Racketeer. Racketeer was actually my pick in the Grade III Native Diver at Hollywood Park a few weeks back and I thought he was going to pull me through at the top of the stretch, but Heatseeker, who is also in this race, wouldn’t be denied. I think Racketeer has a great chance at turning the tables on Heatseeker in the San Pasqual and to prove it I will once again make him my top pick. For second, let’s go with Thousand Words. This will be Thousand Words first race stateside. Frankel is deadly with these types and look who bred this guy? Why none other than Juddmonte Farms. If Frankel though enough of this horse to throw him into this Grade II off the plane, then I expect him to run huge. Why not tab Frankel’s third horse, Hello Sunday, for the third spot? Hello Sunday hasn’t developed into the type of horse Bobby envisioned, but that’s okay. He’s good enough to contend in this spot.

1. Racketeer

2. Thousand Words

3. Hello Sunday

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