Saturday, May 30, 2009

Gamely S. (G1)

Hollywood Park
Gamely S. (G1)
1-1/8 - Fillies &Mares Three-Year-Olds and Upward - $250,000


For a turf race at 1-1/8th the Gamely promises to have a good pace led by the filly Tuscan Evening. She will break from the inside post and attempt to go gate to wire. The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee went 1-1/16th in 1:40 2/5 on May 2. It was her first attempt at over a mile. Since then she shows a nice 4f maintenance work in 48 3/5 on 5/21. Her pedigree suggests the added distance should not be a problem. She is fit, improving and likely to be the pace setter on a turf course where speed can hold. She will finish in the money.

Magical Fantasy from the barn of Paddy Gallagher is already a Grade I winner and has recently returned to excellent form. She has the ability to track a good pace and finish well. She exits a nice victory in the Santa Barbara H. (G2) 42 days ago so she is well rested. I expect a big effort from this filly. She will be tracking the pace by several lengths and finish well for second.

I like Modification to win. I am a bit concerned that she may have some distance limitations but I feel she can get the 1-1/8th on the turf even though she has come up a bit short on synthetics at that distance. She is coming off of a 7f win in the GI Humana Distaff at Churchill in 1:23 3/5. So I don’t think she was completely extended. As far as turf form she shows only one race but it was a good effort coming off the bench. With her pedigree she can probably run on anything. I also think her last race, 28 days ago, sets her up perfectly for this spot. I think this is how Allen Jerkens would get a horse ready for a spot like this, albeit the 7f may have been a work and not a race. Nonetheless, I see her putting in a career best performance in the Gamely. Cory Nakatani has the mount and is a perfect fit for this filly that will finish with a flourish to win the B.C. Gamely (G1).

The Picks:
Win: Modification
Place: Magical Fantasy
Show: Tuscan Evening

2 comments:

Amateurcapper said...

George,

I'm gonna take you on in the Milday today! May the best 'capper win...I hope that will be one of us :)!!!

Amateurcapper said...

You are very right...TUSCAN EVENING would have controlled the pace, been very difficult to catch. Do you know why she was declared?

Thanks for the props on VISIT...she nearly pulled off a big upset. Right back at you with MAGICAL FANTASY as your second choice...she wound up tremendous value with the money going on DIAMOND DIVA.

At least a saver exacta kept me from being too disappointed. I tiered the exactas $3 w/ DIVA on top, $2 w/ VISIT, and $1 w/ MAGICAL FANTASY over each other.

Too bad I didn't box the tri!!!

I love handicapping stakes races...with all the internet info, I can plan wagers going forward on the top four.

As for MODIFICATION...I don't know what to think of her. Is she a sprinter or router? Will she return to turf or go back on synthetics. Poor girl...O'NEILL has her so confused.

Any ideas on the Honeymoon H. later? Check out my post if you have a chance.