Let’s take a shot at the pick 5 for BC 2 yr olds.
Who is the best favorite?
race #6. I cannot take a single in a 5 1/2 furlong turf race. No matter how good the horse is, I almost never single turf sprints. Here the favorite draws the #14 post off a big fig in a minor stake at Saratoga. One bad step and lots of long shots have a chance.
race #7. Battleground is my best favorite. The mare here was great at 1 1/2 miles. If any horse should ever stretch out, it is this one. It is not really close, even with a bad trip he shoud have enough. Aidan O”Brien is something like 1 for 50 in has last few years at the BC, but he certainly knows how to win races. The horse is also well rested. This will be my single. Maybe this is too much focus on breeding, and not enough focus on results.
race #8. Sure Princess Noor can win, but I will have to take shots against her. This is Andy Beyer’s and my worst favorite.
race #9. My second best favorite is Campanelle. Again, the horse is bred for two turns, but I will also add Aunt Pearl just in case. Hopefully, they will not duel each other into submission.
race #10. Maybe I should just accept that Jackie’s Warrior will get two turns. I am a fan of Maclean’s Music, and I think they should should stretch out. But the owner of JW usually buys sprinters, I just do not trust this horse. I have to at least have the son of Tapit (Essential Quality), but I also like the closers if JW and EQ go out too fast.
My main ticket is singling Battleground:
3,4,5,9,13,14 / 9 / 2,4,5,7 / 5,10 / 4,5,7,14 / = $96
The back up is singling Golden Pal and adding Battleground’s top 2 competitors
14/ 4,5,9 / 2,4,5,7 / 5,10 / 4,5,7,14 = $48
The second backup is to single Essential Quality:
3,5,13,14 / 4,5,9 / 2,5,7 / 2,5,10 / 5 = $54
My top favorite is Battleground
My favorite to fade is Princess Noor
My best longshot is Calibrate in the Juvenile, maybe the closers get home, he is a grandson of Dynaformer
Buying A Race Horse 