"Lock of the Week" and Weekend Preview

Belmont Park will feature the $500,000, Grade 1 Man o' War Stakes on Saturday, and the favorite in the 1 and 3/8 miles turf contest will most likely be Gio Ponti, who is coming off a score in the Manhattan Handicap on the Belmont Stakes undercard. He will line up in the gate against a very strong field which features a slew of graded stakes winners. Grand Couturier, Quijano, Marsh Side, Midships and Dancing Forever all have an excellent chance of crossing the wire first in what should be an excellent betting affair. Grand Couturier and Dancing Forever were both major players in the turf division last year, and their efforts here could determine the path either takes for the rest of the year. The former likes a softer turf whereas the latter prefers to have a firmer going. Obviously, they both will not get ground to their liking, but however the course turns up on Saturday could have serious influence on the finish. My choice to win is the European shipper Quijano. He is 14 for 27 lifetime and may have an edge since he has been competing against the top horses from across the Atlantic. 

Hollywood Park will feature it's flagship race, the $700,000 Hollywood Gold Cup, on Saturday. The 1 and 1/4 miles Cushion Track affair features a very intriguing field of thirteen, of whom creating the most fervor is the 4-year old filly, Life is Sweet. She is coming off a second place finish to super-lady Zenyatta and was pointed towards this race so she could avoid the undefeated mare. Parading is the morning-line favorite at 4-1 as a result if his victory in the Dixie Stakes, with Life is Sweet coming in next odds-wise at 9-2. Rail Trip, Mast Track, Dakota Phone and Song of Navorone all have a more-than-realistic chance of winning here, and even Big Booster, Bullsbay  or Magnum wouldn't be a surprise. My selection is Rail trip. He has flashed brilliance during his short career, and I feel he is a horse who is vastly improving from race to race. He will either set the pace or set himself up in a stalking position and hopefully get first jump on his competition. 

It's not often that the spotlight falls onto Florida's Calder Race Course, but this weekend's "Summit of Speed" program summons the nation's top sprinters to the Sunshine State to compete for large purses at short distances. The defection of 2008 Eclipse Female Sprinter Award winner Indian Blessing took some of the allure away from the $350,000, Grade 1 Princess Rooney Handicap, but the six-furlong stakes still features a solid field. Favoritism will most likely fall upon Game Face, even though she is entering off of back-to-back off the board finishes. Dubai Majesty and Keep the Peace are coming off of a first and second respectively in the Winning Colors Stakes at Churchill Downs and they will likely be the biggest threats to the lukewarm favorite. My pick to win is Game Face. She has been off form recently, however she seems to love racing in Florida since she has won three graded stakes at Gulfstream Park in the past. Hopefully it was her love of the weather and not that specific track that triggered those victories, but I have a feeling the very capable hands of Edgar Prado will be able to guide her home.

Benny the Bull will make a second appearance on his comeback tour in the $350,000, Grade 2 Smile Sprint Handicap. Benny is the defending champion in the six furlong event, and he is also the 2008 Eclipse Award winner for Champion Sprinter. He was last seen finishing an outstanding second to Fabulous Strike in the True North Handicap on Belmont day. It appears as if the nearly one year "vacation" that Benny took did not take him off of his game, and he definitely looms the one to beat. Only five others will be lining up against Benny, with Ikigai, Yesbyjimminy and How's Your Halo the only ones that would seem to pose any threat. Benny has shown in the past an ability to close from well back or be closer to the pace, so the small field should only give him less obstacles on his path to victory. In case you haven't sensed it yet, Benny the Bull is my pick for the "Lock of the Week" which will try and extend it's perfect streak to three. Look out Zenyatta, you're not the only undefeated game in town.