My Magician, here winning the Maryland Million Lassie, delivered a game effort Sunday but had to settle for second. Photo by Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club.
In Friday’s On Tap, we highlighted four horses we’d be watching over the weekend. Here’s how they did:
[su_list icon=”icon: arrow-circle-right”]- Of Smash and Grab, we said, ” At 9-5 there’s no great wagering value – but if he punches his General George ticket here, there’ll be much juicier odds on offer then.” As it happened, the five-year-old’s odds drifted up to a tick over 5-2 by the time the gates opened in Saturday’s allowance test. As is his wont, he sped to the lead and, this time, controlled throughout en route to a 5 1/2 length score over a salty field. As for the General George, trainer Damon Dilodovico said, “It will all depend on how he comes out of this race.”
- We thought Elevated “worth a look” at his 7-2 morning line, but Saturday evening’s race at Charles Town wasn’t so pretty to look at for the Phil Schoenthal trainee. Bumped at the break and five wide on the turn for home, the son of Jump Start ran evenly in the lane, finishing sixth, though beaten just four lengths, in the allowance test.
- We said, “There’s plenty of reason to expect an improved effort” from My Magician in an allowance yesterday at Laurel Park, and that turned out to be correct. The Mike Trombetta-trained daughter of Street Magician raced three wide on the turn, was fanned wider in the lane, and ran on gamely — but just missed, finishing second by a head to Spotted Heart, who won for the third consecutive outing. It was a good effort for a horse sent off at 5-1 and validated her win in the Maryland Million Lassie last October.
- We wanted to watch Love Came to Town in a first-level allowance at Parx Racing on Saturday, but that card was canceled after the fourth race; and as a result, she did not get to race.
- Our handicappers both enjoyed successful days at Laurel Park Sunday. Gabby Gaudet gave out the late Pick 3 ($55.80 payout for a $2 wager), while Gary Quill hit the early double ($11) and a Pick 3 ($88.60).
