Good touts always whisper…

By Jude T. Feld

Lookin At Lucky, arguably the best three-year-old in training, proved his superiority by beating the extremely strong Haskell (G1) field assembled at Monmouth Park like a drum. Sunday’s visually impressive victory caused many to contemplate a magnificent Travers (G1) later this month, but when trainer Bob Baffert reported his colt came out of the race with a 102 fever, that dream seemed to evaporate in a puff of smoke.

Speculation now points to a possible start in the Pacific Classic (G1) or the Pennsylvania Derby (G2), both million dollar races.

From a wagering perspective, it is neither here nor there where Lookin At Lucky runs. Unless he hooks up with Zenyatta someplace, he will be the heavy favorite, so let’s focus on the Travers (G1) because we might have a “fuzzy.”

I was at the Haskell (G1) and during the course of the day, a member of the Monmouth Park publicity corps interviewed Sir Calvin Borel. We all know that America’s favorite jockey is as down to earth as they come and like George Washington, he, “cannot tell a lie.”

When asked about Super Saver’s long layoff and if it would be a factor in the Haskell (G1), Calvin said, “Todd told me he was almost ready,” and added, “I believe him.”

Having been around our sport for decades, I have learned the little nuances in owner, trainer and jockey conversations can lead you down the yellow brick road to riches.

Just last month, Martin Wolfson, one the most articulate and thoughtful trainers I have ever met, was being interviewed by Mike Penna of the Horse Racing Radio Network.

When asked which of his four Princess Rooney (G1) entrants he felt had the best chance of winning, he said, “Well, probably First Passage. She loves it here and has been training very well.”

Then after a long pause he added, “But don’t ignore Jessica Is Back. She is a very underrated filly.”

My translation as a handicapper was: “First Passage is the favorite and deservedly so, but Jessica Is Back is doing great and has a big chance to win.”

Who doesn’t just love a $19 single in the Pick Four?

After the Haskell (G1), Calvin’s nose hadn’t grown a centimeter. He was still as honest as Abe.

The Daily Racing Form chart comment read, “Super Saver stumbled at the start, stalked three wide, bid between rivals on the far turn, dueled with the winner approaching the stretch, weakened and just missed for the show.”

“He was almost ready.”

Trappe Shot will probably be the Travers (G1) favorite by virtue of his tiring second-place finish to Lookin At Lucky, but if he got late going a mile and an eighth on a pretty glib Monmouth surface, he’ll need a taxi cab to get a mile and a quarter at the Spa.

A Little Warm will probably take a lot of dough too. After all, he won the Jim Dandy (G2) over the Saratoga main, like an international goodthing and New York horseplayers are nothing if not loyalists.

So we’ll have Super Saver, hero of the Kentucky Derby (G1), who needed his last race and ran like it, at four or five to one. Pretty juicy for such an accomplished athlete sitting on a big performance.

Save your money.

Beg, borrow and steal.

Cash in on the overlay.

(Heaven forbid it rains!)

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 22nd, 2010 at 2:24 pm and is filed under Featured Articles. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.