Daily Racing Form expert handicapper and analyst Scott Ehlers handicaps the Monday, February 2 racing card at Turf Paradise, including his projected 1-2-3 finishers. His best bet of the day comes from Race 6.
Also, view FREE DRF Past Performances for today’s Race of the Day.
BEST BET: Marking Broadway (Sixth race)
Sixth Race
1. Marking Broadway
2. Secret Insanity
3. Cactus League
MARKING BROADWAY was tardy to start in his debut here, yet still ran evenly. He turned into a very good horse over the summer in Canada. His versatile style is always a huge plus. His last race came back key when 2 of 3 returned to win with figs of 57 and 65. Connections find a good spot where this colt is protected. Race flow is more than fair for a forward approach. SECRET INSANITY learned to pass foes last out, and it worked at 7/2. This is the only entrant to have won going this distance. Win rider stays put all for a barn that is 29% with their repeating winners. CACTUS LEAGUE has improved his Beyer in every start. Yes, he is still a maiden, but his figs figure. The other Eikleberry runner will be the better price. T’S HEATER exits a key race where 2 of 7 returned to win with figs of 64 and 54.
Here are Scott’s thoughts on the other seven races on Monday’s Turf Paradise card.
First Race
1. Makin Traxx
2. Feisty Jo
3. Hs Trigger
Quarter horses.
Second Race
1. Dinero de La Casa
2. Fancy Dancer
3. Deep Creek Storm
DINERO DE LA CASA has some speed and draws the rail, all while facing very little. Current form isn’t very good, but you can say the same about all of these. We will take a possible pace play every day of the week and twice on Sunday. FANCY DANCER actually ran OK on the grass two back, and in fact, that might actually be his best surface. That does little good in this dirt race, right? Let’s see if this guy can get the distance, something we are unsure of for many of these. DEEP CREEK STORM puts route races back-to-back. His recent work was a bullet. We shall now forget this race.
Third Race
1. Cane Creek Road
2. Rodeo Champ
3. Shot of a Lifetime
CANE CREEK ROAD is just better on the turf, something he gets back to today. This gelding has speed as he tries this sod for the first time. Local works are a plus as is Mojica up. RODEO CHAMP just ran better on this sod and has put good races together before. He has tactical speed from this inside draw and just needs to relax some early. Second time with Lopez up can’t hurt. SHOT OF A LIFETIME ran evenly off the long layoff and is more likely than not to move forward off it. This 11YO gets good race flow and figures a solid price all with Americano up. It seems this jock wins at least one race every day.
Fourth Race
1. Denada
2. Hazael
3. Blue Mocha
DENADA has a versatile style that should come in handy today. If this 6YO insists on the front end, then drawing outside main pace foes should help. If able to stalk, what might be a quick pace, then that would be better. She is a beaten favorite in back-to-back starts, but does put races together. HAZAEL can run OK without an early breather. We don’t think anyone is quickest in this race. Her return try was OK, and now this filly cuts back a full furlong. BLUE MOCHA returns off the long layoff, but that alone doesn’t scare us. Four listed works should be enough at least going this short. Like many in here, working out a good trip is the tricky part.
Fifth Race
1. Bendettijoe
2. Cliff Diver
3. Silver Dash
BENDETTIJOE is the value. He puts three races together and gets back to routing. Distance tab is strong at 10-2-3-0. This guy caught a good track last out and then was off slow yet still matched his Beyer of 47 from his return. CLIFF DIVER has solid figs and now runs for a new barn that is 35% off the claim. This guy is good on the dirt and turf, so this surface switch is fine. Class drop is another plus. SILVER DASH ran OK off the layoff and then had all kinds of trouble last out (hopped start). He puts three races together and gets back to a mile where he has hit the board in 6 of 10 starts.
Seventh Race
1. In Open Court
2. Yogya
3. P. S. Rising Star
IN OPEN COURT is the value. That turf try off the layoff four back was OK. She didn’t like the dirt three back. We bet she needed that local start two back. She was only 1 1/4 lengths back at the 1/8th pole in her most recent and then tired. This mare won’t be that far off the early pace and goes for a favorite barn of ours. YOGYA has speed and in a race with little pace. She has hit the board in 4 of 10 local starts. Her turf starts last meet were all against better. Even that try two back was solid. A return to the turf rounds out the appeal. P. S. RISING STAR shipped in from Woodbine and actually got the show dough. Second time here will help. A return to the grass would be even better. Lack of speed hurts but class drop helps offset.
Eighth Race
1. Rascally Rabbit
2. Whiskey High
3. La Cat
RASCALLY RABBIT broke last in her most recent and was trying an elongated sprint for the first time. Now she gets Lasix and blinkers. She has good speed and draws inside main pace foe all while cutting back a half furlong. Time to turn the tables while recent work was quite sharp. WHISKEY HIGH just beat our top pick. This filly puts three races together and goes for a high percentage barn that is 27% with their repeating winners. LA CAT is by a 13% debut sire. Her dam went 2-0-0-0. One of three sibs won and is a multiple winner of 150K. That December 31st work might tip hand as it was 4th best of 42. MO PRECIOUS CARGO is by a 0-for-17 debut sire. Her dam went 12-1-1-2 and earned 69K. One of three sibs won and is a multiple winner of 13K. WINNING NATION is by a 14% debut sire. Her dam was unraced. Lone sib is 15-3-0-2 and earned 24K.
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