The GQ Approach features full-card selections from Laurel Park (live racing Friday-Sunday; Post Time 12:25pm), including a daily Best Bet, Longshot Play, and multi-race wagers — including the 10 cent Rainbow Pick-6 ($77,000+ carryover), Pick-4s and rolling Doubles and Pick-3s. Today’s GQ Approach has a special guest writer, pinch-hitting for GQ: his ne’er do well cousin QG.  You have been warned.

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

  • Race 1: $5 Double  QG turns his nose up at multi-race wagers….
  • Race 3: $0.50 Pick-3  
  • Race 4: $0.10 Rainbow Pick-6 
  • Race 6: $0.50 Pick-4  
  • Race 8: $2 Double  

 

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  • Best Bet: Race 1 / #2 – Ebony Bird (7-2)
  • Longshot: Race 6 / #10 – Strawbridge (8-1)

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

* Expected track conditions: Fast/NA

Race 1

  1. #2 – Ebony Bird (7-2) — BEST BET: Toss seven fruitless turf tries and this miss has been in the money two of three; nothing wrong with last, as she was stalled for a long way awaiting room and finished nicely
  2. #5 – Gladys’s Ring (5-2): No idea what trainer Potts was thinking when wheeling runner back for $16k after claiming for a nickel, but she’s back where she fits and picks up top jock Carrasco
  3. #4 – Ready It (6-1): Closed nicely to be in time last out and bred to like two-turn distance

 

Race 2  

  1. #4 – Venetian Cat (9-2): Late rally stymied last out when taken up in the lane while rallying alongside eventual winner (who was then DQed) Sunny Mills
  2. #6 – Finito (9-5): Just missed in three-horse photo first after claim for Linda Gaudet; was the fave that day and might be again here
  3. #8 – Thurmont (5-2): After 22 tries (and just one win) against non-claiming company, trainer Robin Graham’s patience has expired and this guy’s yours for the low, low price of $10,000

 

Race 3

  1. #7 – Puget Sound (9-5): Closer drops to a level where he’s won before, wheels back just a week after last; makes two-in-six-months condition by three days
  2. #1 – Joni’s Wildcat (6-1): Sprinter stretching out figures to control the pace; can he stay on?
  3. #3 – Vasten (3-1): Speightstown gelding figures to sit a stalking trip after thrashing similar last out; that race produced two next-out winners to date; likes the distance

 

Race 4

  1. #8– Oh What a Delite (4-1): Good effort to be a clear second against allowance foes last out
  2. #9 – Imwiththeblonde (5-2): Thrashed starter allowance rivals last out and well drawn outside the other speed
  3. #3 – No Promises (6-1): Two straight wins for Holly Robinson trainee that suddenly seems to have figured it out; not sure she’s beaten much to date, so a class test awaits

 

Race 5  

  1. #9 – Magnettes (5-1): Improving sort gave good accounting of herself last out when third against similar, well clear of the rest; runner-up scored next out; Perkins 3-for-11 at the meeting
  2. #8 – Whipsnade (5-1): Credible effort against better at CD last out; second start with Lasix
  3. #2 – Town Leader (9-2): Just missed against much worse last out, so why the love? Trianer Magee 37% first off the claim with steep jumps

 

Race 6

  1. #10 – Strawbridge (8-1) — LONGSHOT PLAY: Sheppard trainee has been away since 9/27, shows a couple of modest 6f moves since; might get perfect pace scenario behind abundant early zip
  2. #1 – Hickory Hill (4-1): Giant effort last out to break maiden in first try in eight months after setting pressured pace, and runner-up scored next out; inside draw means he’ll be winging it, and others figure to do that, too
  3. #7 – Willie B Mine (6-1): Merryman trainee stuck with it despite rough trip last out; drawn better today, and a clean trip might be the answer

 

Race 7

  1. #7 – Metal Magic (9-5): Kenneally trainee has been keeping better company than this to date
  2. #4 – Fifth Avenue Flash (9-2): Trouble at the start against a rugged group in the Lewis, but steady improvement a promising sign for Lake runner
  3. #6 – Henry the King (5-1): Closed nicely to win on first asking; one of six to run back has won; gets Lasix for today

 

Race 8

  1. #2 – Candida H. (7-2): Steady improvement for lightly raced daughter of Lemon Drop Kid; top two from last made next start in Claiming Crown races
  2. #1 – Sweet on Smokey (5-2): Emptied out late to be second against similar last out, dials back to preferred 6f distance (2-for-2); winner last repeated next out
  3. #6 – Rocky Policy (8-1): Was just a half-length behind favored #1 last out in first start in nine months; can improve here, and shows a bullet work in the interim

 

Race 9*

  1. #8 – Pro Daddy (3-5): $90k Scat Daddy gelding needs to break his maiden here… right?
  2. #1a – Reason to Believe (8-1): Complicated trip last out compromised chances; one next-out winner from the bunch; first off the claim for Brooks and picks up Toledo in the irons
  3. #5 – Drive At Nite (6-1): In the money four of seven starts, and it’s not hard to see him sucking up into the triple here

 

 YESTERDAY’S NEWS

  • Yesterday, December 19, GQ had four of nine winners with payouts (top selections in bold) of $13.40, $18.60, $9.60, $11.80.
  • BEST BET of the Day (129: 34-28-23) Grain (6th race) was in tight early, then rallied belatedly to be third, paying $2.20 to SHOW.
  • LONGSHOT PLAY OF THE DAY (123: 14-15-22) Dr. Toole (8th race: 10-1 M/L; 11-1 PT) was wide throughout, rallied to be fifth, beaten less than two lengths for the win.
Long-time racing fan and analyst Gary Quill brings his ‘capping insights to The Racing Biz. Follow him on Twitter @HorseRacingNut.