We are pleased to welcome into the fold Gary Quill, whose GQ Approach handicapping selections will be a regular feature on The Racing Biz.  Gary, whose work also appears over at Horse Racing Nation, e-ponies.com, and wnst.net, has been playing the ponies since the 1960s, and his passion for the game is evident.  Gary has also been a guest handicapper in the Preakness infield’s corporate village.  Gary especially focuses on horizontal wagers — that is, multi-race bets — and that focus is the GQ Handicapping Approach  Follow him on Twitter @HorseRacingNut.

[su_heading size=”21″ align=”left”]Multi-race wagers[/su_heading]

    • Race 1: $2 Double: 2, 4, 6 w/ 2, 5, 6 ($18)
    • Race 3: $0.50 Pick Three: 1, 4, 6 w/ 2, 4, 5 w/ 4, 5, 6 ($13.50)
    • Race 5: $0.20 Jackpot Pick 5: 4, 5 w/ 1, 2, 7 w/ 3, 9, 10 w/ 9, 10 w/ 1, 9 ($14.40)
    • Race 7: $0.50 Pick Three: 3, 9, 10 w/ 1, 9, 10 w/ 1, 2, 9 ($13.50)

 

SPECIAL PLAYS Best Bet: Race 5/#5 – Bret’s At Caddies

Longshot: Race 7/#9 – Went the Day Well

 

[su_heading size=”21″ align=”left”]Analysis[/su_heading]

Race 1

  1. #2 – Peron (3-1): Steep class drops for Kobiskie barn results in a win 39% of the time
  2. #4 – Patsy’s Princess (2-1): Drops another level, stretches out and adds blinkers     
  3. #6 – Flatter’s Secret (5-2): Dumped rider at start of only dirt effort when 10-1; drops again

Race 2

  1. #5 – Printasticat (2-5): Yeah, this 6 y.o. mare really deserves to be 2-5 M/L – a stand out!
  2. #6 – Air Alaska (12-1): Prx invader is quick from gate with a chance to steal this one         
  3. #2 – Chance Encounter (3-1): Beaten favorite in last two efforts no match for top pick 3 back

Race 3

  1. #6 – Marvelous Chester (9-5): Lone Speed but 0 for 13 at distance & 1 for 21 on Lrl oval
  2. #1 – Aji (9-2): Possesses one hell of a late kick, but frozen track likely to be speed favoring   
  3. #4 – Prizes Included (8-1): Desperately seeking old form prior to Bernardini claim 3 back      

Race 4

  1. #4 – D C Dancer (2-1): Had a great ’14 campaign; should get a nice stalking trip    
  2. #5 – Wonderfella (5-2): Candidate to go gate-2-wire; was beaten favorite to top pick 3 back
  3. #2 – Barracuda Wayne (15-1): Been facing better lately; could surprise at a big price

Race 5

  1. #5 – Bret’s At Caddies (9-2): *Best Bet* Took 17 tries to break maiden & can repeat v. this group
  2. #4 – Gallivanting (7-5): Lone win came on turf; 2nd as 1-1 favorite in last outing  
  3. #6 – Grandiflora (8-1): Only one in here dropping a tad in class, could be the difference          

Race 6

  1. #7 – Twelve Stone (5-2): Owns highest Brisnet Prime Power# and speed fig for distance                         
  2. #2 – Northern Label (7-2): Will need an alert start & be more forwardly placed today
  3. #1 – Compulsive (9-2): Continues to climb class ladder… successfully                        

Race 7 – $100,000 John B. Campbell Handicap

  1. #9 – Went the Day Well (20-1): $Longshot Play$ 1st win since ’12 Spiral indicates Jerkens found old form
  2. #3 – Page McKenney (7-2): OMG what a ’14 (12:6-4-1) but winless in 8 starts at Lrl
  3. #10 – Sailor’s Revenge (9-2): Two triple-digit Brisnet figs since De Masi claim    

Race 8 – $300,000 G2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap

  1. #9 – Lady Sabelia (7-2): Has toyed w/ competition lately winning 5 of last 6; 1st graded stakes
  2. #10 – Sam’s Sister (5-2): Hollendorfer ships from CA to Lrl?! G1 winner is 3 for 3 at distance
  3. #1 – Princess Violet (3-1): Been training in FL for this, her ’15 debut; G1 placed behind Untapable

Race 9 – $100,000 Maryland Racing Media Stakes

  1. #9 – Zucchini Flower (6-1): Only mount for Serpa; can wake-up on fast track     
  2. #1 – Luna Time (6-1): Only runner to have won at this 9f distance… and has done it twice!
  3. #2 – Flores Island (5-1): Runner-up in both 9f outings; threat to go gate-2-wire   

YESTERDAY’S NEWS

  • On Friday, Feb. 13th at Laurel had 6 winners from 9 races (3 Top Selections; payoffs in BOLD) having $2 WIN pay-off of $4.60 (2nd race), $8.80 (5th), $4.80 (6th), $11.40 (7th), $7.80 (8th) and $8.00 (9th). Of the suggested Multi-Race Wagers cashed the Jackpot Pick-5 (R5-R9) for $177.12 and R7-R9 PICK-3 for $46.05.
  • The BEST BET of the Day (16: 3-5-1) Top of Mind (6th race: 2-1 M/L; 7-5 PT) took a ton of late action and when the gates opened attended the pace four wide while between rivals heading towards the turn, bid five wide while remaining under some rating near the quarter pole, battled outside rivals leaving the three sixteenths, shook clear under solid hand rousing past the furlong grounds, was kept alert with one crack of the right handed whip a sixteenth out then eagerly pulled away to win by 3¾ lengths returning $4.80 to WIN, $3.20 to PLACE and $2.60 to SHOW.
  • The LONGSHOT PLAY OF THE DAY (14: 1-0-5) Big Guy Ian (8th race: 5-1 M/L; 5-2 PT) accelerated to a clear lead leaving the chute, set a solid pace while nudged along off the rail, responded when put to a right handed drive in upper stretch and held firm to prevail by 1¾ lengths to return $7.80 to WIN, $4.60 to PLACE and $2.80 to SHOW..
Long-time racing fan and analyst Gary Quill brings his ‘capping insights to The Racing Biz. Follow him on Twitter @HorseRacingNut.